Kevin spoke this morning from 1 Chronicles 28:1-12 and 20 on the sound advice given to his son, Solomon, by King David as he drew towards the end of his earthly life. He had wanted to build a temple for God but had been told through the prophet Nathan that this was not part of God’s plan for his life (see 2 Samuel 7). Now, he passes on the duty to do this to his son, Solomon, and gives him also sound advice for wise living, in the presence of all his officials. This was an important gathering, a significant meeting where a large number of people would hear important advice for living God’s way.
1. Know God
In 1 Chron 28:9, David urges Solomon to know ‘the God of my father’. He needed to have a personal knowledge of God and be acquainted with Him. The Creator God, the Eternal One, is willing to enter into a personal relationship with us. Knowledge has to be more than just head-knowledge; it has to be a life-changing knowledge. In order to know God, we need to spend time with Him in prayer and in reading the word so that we can grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
2. Serve God
We have to ‘serve God with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind.’ Solomon was the one chosen to build a dwelling-place for God. He had to learn to serve God with pure motives and with devotion (see also Ps 51:10-12). We have to be willing to do whatever God tells us; He loves a cheerful giver and a willing servant! God knows our hearts and motives; there is no way we can hide anything from Him, so our service needs to be pure and devoted.
3. Seek God
David reminds Solomon that those who seek God will find Him. Psalm 9:10 tells us ‘those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You’. Ps 34:10 tells us that ‘those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.’ We need to give God the time He deserves; seeking Him involves time and effort (think of every courting couple who seeks to spend time with each other in order to deepen that knowledge of and relationship with the beloved. Our relationship with God requires the same level of time and commitment.)