Topical Bible: the First Temple: David: Made Preparations for Building

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The First Temple, also known as Solomon's Temple, holds a significant place in biblical history as the central place of worship for the Israelites. Although King Solomon is credited with the construction of the Temple, it was his father, King David, who laid the groundwork for this monumental project. David's preparations for building the Temple are a testament to his devotion to God and his desire to establish a permanent dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant.

David's Desire to Build the Temple

David's aspiration to build a house for the Lord is first recorded in 2 Samuel 7. After establishing his kingdom and finding rest from his enemies, David expressed his desire to the prophet Nathan, saying, "Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent" (2 Samuel 7:2). Although God commended David's intention, He revealed through Nathan that David would not be the one to build the Temple. Instead, God promised that David's son would fulfill this task (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

Divine Prohibition and Promise

Despite David's earnest desire, God prohibited him from building the Temple because he was a warrior who had shed much blood (1 Chronicles 22:8). However, God assured David that his son Solomon would build the Temple during a time of peace. This divine promise is reiterated in 1 Chronicles 28:6, where God declares, "Solomon your son is the one who will build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father" .

Preparations for the Temple

Understanding the significance of the Temple and the divine promise, David took extensive measures to prepare for its construction. He gathered materials, including gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and precious stones, to ensure that Solomon would have all the resources needed (1 Chronicles 22:14). David also organized the Levites and priests, assigning them specific duties related to the Temple service (1 Chronicles 23-26).

David's preparations extended beyond material resources. He provided Solomon with detailed plans for the Temple's construction, which he received by divine inspiration. As recorded in 1 Chronicles 28:11-12, David gave Solomon "the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, storerooms, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat" . David emphasized that these plans were given to him by the Spirit, underscoring the divine origin of the Temple's design.

David's Charge to Solomon

Before his death, David charged Solomon with the task of building the Temple, encouraging him to be strong and courageous. In 1 Chronicles 28:20, David exhorted Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished" . David's charge reflects his unwavering faith in God's promise and his confidence in Solomon's ability to complete the task.

Legacy of David's Preparations

David's meticulous preparations for the Temple laid a solid foundation for Solomon's successful construction of this sacred edifice. His efforts ensured that the Temple would be a place of worship and a symbol of God's presence among His people. David's dedication to the Temple project exemplifies his deep devotion to God and his commitment to establishing a lasting legacy of faith for the nation of Israel.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Chronicles 22:2-5,14-16
And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew worked stones to build the house of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Chronicles 29:2-5
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

That David Made Great Preparations for the House of God; and That ...
... the priests and the Levites; and having first numbered the ... take care of the building
of the temple, and out ... to sing to the instruments which David had prepared ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 that david made.htm

Great Preparations for a Great Work
... compare with verse 3, where He is called David's God ... he had held by the faith of
his first days of ... service of God, whether it is busied in temple-building or in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/great preparations for a great.htm

David's Prohibited Desire and Permitted Service
... We may almost say that he was the first to give ... Solomon could not have built the
Temple unless, through long, apparently idle, years, David had been ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture g/davids prohibited desire and permitted.htm

The Return of the Exiles
... also as Sheshbazzar), a descendant of King David, Cyrus placed ... ancient men, that
had seen the first house, when ... out His purpose for Israel, the temple built by ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 45 the return of.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... How Every Nation Was Denominated From Their First Inhabitants ... What Charge David Gave
Tohis Son Solomon At The ... Things He Left Him For The Building Of The Temple. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Altar and Temple
... In verse 2 the ecclesiastical dignitary comes first, but in ... do everything 'according
to the order of David king of ... for the foundations of the temple which they ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/altar and temple.htm

Results of Transgression
... a spirit of sacrifice were the first requisites in ... to self-sacrifice was made when
David turned over to Solomon the responsibility of building the temple. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 4 results of transgression.htm

The Cleansing of the Temple - the Sign,' which is not a Sign.
... have been, through Joseph, the heir of David's throne (according ... when Joseph and
the Virgin went first to Bethlehem ... on the occasion of the visit to the Temple? ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the cleansing of.htm

The Best of All, God is with Us
... enquire, "What shall I do?" Why, do the first thing that ... Chapter 22:1. Then David
said, This is the house of ... apart as the site of the future temple, and the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/the best of all god.htm

Thoughts Upon Worldly-Riches. Sect. Ii.
... it was too in the building of the Temple, which David, and the ... same was also observed
in the building of the second Temple, as the raising the first out of ...
/.../private thoughts upon a christian life/thoughts upon worldly-riches sect ii.htm