1 chronicles 28 and 29

Read 1 Chronicles 28 and 29 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

1 Chr 28:1-10 {p} David’s charge to the leaders of Israel and to Solomon, to build the house for the Lord’s name
1 Chr 28:11-19 {p} David gave Solomon plans + divisions of the Levites + materials in abundance
1 Chr 28:20-21 {s} David’s charge to Solomon: Be strong and build the house of the Lord
1 Chr 29:1-9 {p} David’s charge: give to the work, whose heart is set on the house of God/ they gave in abundance
1 Chr 29:10-19 {p} David blessed the Lord, prayer to fix the hearts of the king and the people toward Him
1 Chr 29:20-25 {p} The assembly blessed the Lord, and confirmed Solomon as king in royal majesty
1 Chr 29:26-30 {p} David reigned over Israel 40 years, and he died, and Solomon his son reigned in his place

The strong themes:

1 Chr 28:1-10 {p} David’s charge to the leaders of Israel and to Solomon, to build the house for the Lord’s name
1 Chr 28:11-19 {p} David gave Solomon plans + divisions of the Levites + materials in abundance
1 Chr 28:20-29:9 {s+p} David’s charge to Solomon + assembly: Be strong and build/ provide for the work
1 Chr 29:10-19 {p} David blessed the Lord, prayer to fix the hearts of the king and the people toward Him
1 Chr 29:20-25 {p} The assembly blessed the Lord, and confirmed Solomon as king in royal majesty
1 Chr 29:26-30 {p} David reigned over Israel 40 years, and he died, and Solomon his son reigned in his place

The chiastic structure:

1a) 1 Chr 28:1, David assembled the leaders of the people together at Jerusalem;

1b) 1 Chr 28:2, David made preparations for building the house of God;

1c) 1 Chr 28:3, But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war;’

1d) 1 Chr 28:4a, The Lord God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever;

central axis) 1 Chr 28:4b, For He has chosen Judah to be the ruler;

2d) 1 Chr 28:4c, And of Judah, the house of my father, and of my father, He made me king over all Israel;

2c) 1 Chr 28:5-10 {p} Solomon chosen to be king and to build the house for the Lord’s name;

1a) 1 Chr 28:5-6, He has chosen Solomon to be king + to build the house for My name;

1b) 1 Chr 28:7-8, I will establish his kingdom forever if he seeks out My commandments to observe them;

1a) 1 Chr 28:7a, Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever;
1b) 1 Chr 28:7b, If he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments;
central axis) 1 Chr 28:8a, In the sight of all Israel, and in the hearing of our God;
2b) 1 Chr 28:8b, Be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God;
2a) 1 Chr 28:8c, That you may possess this land + leave it for your children after you forever;

2b) 1 Chr 28:9, Serve Him with a loyal heart + seek Him, lest He cast you off forever;

1a) 1 Chr 28:9a, As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father;
1b) 1 Chr 28:9b, Serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind;
central axis) 1 Chr 28:9c, For the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts;
2b) 1 Chr 28:9d, If you seek Him, He will be found by you;
2a) 1 Chr 28:9e, But if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever;

2a) 1 Chr 28:10 {p} The Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it;

2b) 1 Chr 28:11-29:9 {p+s+p} David’s preparations for the building and service of the house of God;

central axis for this section) 1 Chr 28:20-21 {s} David’s charge to his son Solomon to build the house of the Lord;

2a) 1 Chr 29:6-22, The assembly at Jerusalem;

1a) 1 Chr 29:6-9 {p} The people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly with a loyal heart;
1b) 1 Chr 29:10a, Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said;
central axis) 1 Chr 29:10b-19 {p} David’s prayer of dedication for all the preparations for the house of the Lord;
2b) 1 Chr 29:20, The assembly blessed the Lord God + bowed their heads/ prostrated themselves before Him;
2a) 1 Chr 29:21-22a, The assembly sacrificed to the LORD God/ feasted before Him with great gladness.

One phrase that was repeated over and over again, in today’s reading, was “with a loyal heart.” Loyal is Strong’s H8003, shalem, meaning, whole, complete, undivided. Its root is Strong’s H7999, shalam, shin + lamed + mem. In the ancient Hebrew pictographs, it is the thorn (for the sin, thorn, had been transposed with the shin in the past, because of their similar sound) + the shepherd’s staff + the water. The shepherd used his staff to draw the sheep out of the thorn bushes if they had gotten their wool caught in them. He took away thorns from them that had been added to them, which hindered them. But he also used his staff to draw thorn bushes around the sheep enclosure at night, to protect his flock from predators. He added thorns to them which were lacking, which were necessary to secure their safety or wholeness. The story the ancient pictographs are telling of shalam, is being made whole or complete, by adding what is necessary that is lacking, and by taking away what is not necessary, that is hindering. Yes, this is the same root for shalom as well, peace or well-being.

The loyal heart, the undivided heart, is the heart which has been wholly circumcised to the LORD God, to love Him and serve Him only, and David understood that obedience to the LORD’s commandments was tied to the state of the heart. A loyal heart, a circumcised heart, will seek out YHVH’s commandments to obey them; a divided heart will find excuses to discard them. If I want to see myself, my household, my community, and my nation grow in obedience to the LORD God, then I need to pray the state of the heart, not the state of obedience!