1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 28: David charges Solomon

Begin in prayer

Before we hear David's charge to Solomon, let us come before the LORD together. Ask Him to show us that He searches every heart, and to lead us to Jesus, who came to save sinners.

“I, Yahweh, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Jeremiah 17:10

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You search every heart, and show us Jesus, who came to save sinners. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David gathered Israel's leaders and said he had wanted to build a house for the ark, but God said no (verse 3). The LORD had chosen David to be king, and Solomon to sit on His throne (verses 4 and 5). David told Solomon to know his father's God and serve Him with a perfect heart and a willing mind (verse 9). The LORD searches all hearts (verse 9). If Solomon sought Him, He would be found, but if he forsook Him, He would cast him off forever (verse 9). David gave Solomon the plans for the temple, which the LORD had made him understand in writing (verses 11 and 19).

As you read 1 Chronicles 28, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God searches every heart, and He promised to stay with Solomon until the work was done.

David was old, and he gathered all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem to speak to them (verse 1). He told them that God had chosen him to be king and had chosen Solomon to sit on His throne (verse 5). Then he charged Solomon to know his father's God and to serve Him with a whole heart and willing mind (verse 9). The reason is that the LORD searches all hearts and understands every thought (verse 9). If Solomon sought Him, He would be found, but if he forsook Him, He would cast him off forever (verse 9). This teaches that no one can hide a heart from God, and that God welcomes those who seek Him. David also said the LORD God would be with Solomon and would not fail him until the work was finished (verse 20). It shows God as the One who knows every heart and stays with the servant He has chosen. Jesus knows every heart (Revelation 2 verse 23), and He came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1 verse 15).

How does 1 Chronicles 28 show us that the LORD searches every heart, and that He promised to be with Solomon in building His house?

David told Israel that God had chosen Solomon.

David had wanted to build a house for the ark, but God said he was a man of war (verse 3). The LORD had chosen David to be king forever (verse 4). He had chosen Solomon to sit on the throne of the LORD's kingdom and to build His house (verses 5 and 6).

The LORD searches every heart, and Solomon was told to serve Him.

David told Solomon to know the God of his father (verse 9). He was to serve Him with a perfect heart and a willing mind (verse 9). The LORD searches all hearts and understands every thought (verse 9). If Solomon sought Him, He would be found, but if he forsook Him, He would cast him off forever (verse 9).

Jesus knows every heart, and He came to save sinners.

The LORD God would be with Solomon and would not fail him until the work was finished (verse 20). Jesus knows every heart (Revelation 2 verse 23). He knew what was in every person (John 2 verses 24 and 25). He came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1 verse 15).

Memorise

Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts.

1 Chronicles 28:9

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, does the LORD see my heart, and have I turned to Jesus for forgiveness?

David said to Solomon, “Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts.” Jesus knows every heart too (Revelation 2 verse 23). He sees every sin, and He still came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1 verse 15).

God sees every heart, and every one of us has failed to serve Him with a whole heart. Jesus came to carry His people's sin. On the cross He bore the punishment for it, and His death paid for it once for all. He rose on the third day, and He is with His people.

He sees your heart, and He came to save sinners. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus. Forgiveness is waiting for all who trust Him, and the Lord is with them always.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD searches every heart, and that Jesus came to save sinners. Parents, verse 9 warns that the LORD would cast Solomon off if he forsook Him, so please read it aloud with care. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He searches every heart, and that Jesus came to save sinners, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Psalm 46:11

Lord God, thank You that You search every heart, and that Jesus came to save sinners. Please turn each of us from sin to put our trust in Him. Help us to serve You with a whole heart this week. Amen.