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1CHRONICLES
CHAPTER 22

1 Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. 2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. 3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight; 4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. 5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

David may not be able to build but he can certainly prepare. We, as Christians, need to pay attention to preparing in detail!
You'll notice that he got masons to even cut the stones to the prescribed sizes (verse 2). And he even went so far as to prepare nails and joinings.
How much attention are you giving to the DETAILS of preparing the next generation? Are you visiting the lost and the wayward? Are you teaching the saved in Sunday School? Are you seeking God for vision and communicating that vision to those who will come after you?
Detail - let's pay attention to DETAIL!

6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel. 7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God: 8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. 10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. 11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.

Speaking of detail, David called Solomon to him and began to instruct him. Parents should instruct their children in the details of servitude to God.
Notice that David said God promised Solomon would build the temple. He would do that because David, as a man of war, will have accomplished the purpose for which God had called him, and would have obtained "rest" from the enemies. Therefore, Solomon would have TIME to do the work of building the temple.
David then "charged" Solomon with the responsibility of building the temple for the Lord.
We need to "charge" our children with the responsibility of carrying on the work of Christ. We should charge not only our physical children, but also our spiritual children.
They need to be taught how to lead the lost to Christ, and they need to be taught how to teach the saved to follow Christ, and they need to be taught how to work together in the church for the benefit of the whole "body" of Christ.

12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. 13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

David knew where wisdom originates. He prays that Solomon will obtain wisdom from God. When David died, and Solomon realized the fullness of the task before him, he prayed for wisdom from God also (see 1Kings3:5-14).
David also prayed that God Himself would "charge" Solomon for the responsibility of leading Israel by the WORD of God. And David assured Solomon that if he would pay attention to God's Word, God would lead, guide and protect him and there would be no need for fear.
Friends, we live in an awfully complex age where young people need careful instruction about living life and dealing with the questions of life.
For instance, a young person (even under 18), can go to the State Health Unit and get all the condoms they want. The Unit will even put young ladies on the "pill." And all this happens WITHOUT PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT! The government has determined that they are old enough to make these decisions.
HOWEVER, those same young people cannot have their ears pierced without parental consent! Ridiculous? YES! But true!
Parents need to instruct children, and spiritual parents need to instruct spiritual children FROM THE WORD OF GOD! And we need to show them that REAL WISDOM comes from God and the study of His WORD!

14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto. 15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work. 16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee. 17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.

Even in his "trouble" David has taken time to prepare. This is a legacy that needs to be passed on to children. Teach them that even in DIFFICULT TIMES they need to prepare for the next generation.
God has given us all we need to accomplish the work for Him: Christ, His Holy Spirit's presence, the Word, and the church.
David also calls attention to helpers (verse 17). The church is filled with people who are helpers in fulfilling our responsibilities to God as we live our lives.

19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

Now here's the real "charge." The charge is to SEEK GOD and be DUTIFUL in accomplishing His CALLING in life.
Parents and teachers can "charge," children and students, but it must become THEIR DECISION!

Please continue in Bible Study with us.