2. The second account of God's promises to David chs. 22-27

In this section of chapters we have David's preparations for the fulfillment of those aspects of the covenant that extended beyond his reign. We can see David's belief that God would fulfill the rest of His promises in the ways he prepared for their fulfillment. He prepared in two ways: by gathering materials for the construction of the temple (ch. 22), and by appointing the officials who would guide Israel after his death (chs. 23-27).

David concerned himself with what God had promised. In this he was a godly example to the restoration Jews, and he is to us. He wanted to see God's kingdom come, namely, the kingdom that God had promised (cf. Matt. 6:10). The focus of the promise was the house for God that Solomon would build. David did all he could to pave the way for its coming into reality (cf. Ps. 69:9; John 2:17). The postexilic remnant demonstrated little zeal to rebuild the temple or to reestablish God's kingdom on earth (Hag. 1:2). The Book of Chronicles was one instrument God used to stir them up to action (cf. Hag. 2:20-23).

 Preparations for temple construction ch. 22

This chapter is unique to Chronicles. It records David's plans to assemble building materials and workers for the construction of the temple. He instructed Solomon carefully in what God had promised so his son would carry out the work as God wanted (vv. 5-13). This is the first of three speeches by David that the Chronicler recorded: 22:2-19; 28:1-21; and 29:1-9.

The writer provided another reason God did not permit David to build the temple himself. God wanted a man characterized by peace to build His house (v. 8). David not only shed blood in obedience to God (14:10; 19:13), but he had also been guilty of excessive violence (cf. 2 Sam. 8:2). Solomon not only ruled in peaceful times, after David had subdued Israel's enemies, but his name even relates to the Hebrew word for peace (shalom). "Shalom"does not just mean the absence of war, however. It includes the fullness of Yahweh's blessing that Israel enjoyed because of David's reign.

If God's revelation to David (v. 8) took place at the same time as the one mentioned in 2 Samuel 7:2, Solomon's birth appears to have followed the giving of the Davidic Covenant (cf. v. 9). However it seems probable that God gave the revelation in verse 8 to David before Solomon was born (v. 9). He evidently repeated it after Solomon's birth when He gave David the covenant (2 Sam. 7:2). Such a repetition is very probable in view of David's great desire to build a house for the Lord. This was the passion of his life from the time he became king and from then on.

David also mentioned a qualification on God's promise: obedience to God's will (v. 13). Solomon would only prosper as he submitted obediently to God's authority. Solomon and all who followed him failed God. Consequently the original readers of Chronicles anticipated a Son of David who would yet come and complete what Solomon and the other kings of Judah could not. These promises were still unfulfilled in the returned exiles' day as they are in ours.

"David is here to Solomon much like Moses was to Joshua. David could do all the preparations for the temple but could not build it, just as Moses could not lead Israel into Canaan."⁷³

 Preparations for temple service chs. 23-26

Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 23 provide an outline for what follows in chapters 23-27 but in reverse order. After David appointed Solomon as his coregent in 973 B.C., he began the preparations the writer described here.

David adapted the service of the Levites, who assisted the priests, to the new temple ritual. This form of worship was a combination of tabernacle and divinely approved revised worship (Num. 3; 23:3-32). The Chronicler gave the names of the family heads in Levi's tribe first (vv. 3-24). Then he explained the duties that David prescribed for them (vv. 25-32). In all this David was careful to abide within the guidelines of the Mosaic Law and other instructions he had received from the Lord (cf. 28:19). Previously the Levites had served mainly by carrying the tabernacle and its furnishings from place to place (Num. 2-4). Now their duty was to maintain the temple and its worship with the exception of matters reserved for the priests (vv. 28-32).

"To entitle this section the organization of the Levites' is to make it sound like bureaucratic regimentation. It is rather to be seen as a scaffolding for that house, a structure to enable God's people to function as they ought."⁷⁴

The high priest supervised the priests in their temple service (23:28; 24:1-19). Priests were descendants of Aaron and constituted only one branch of the Levitical family (Num. 18:7). The priests continued to offer sacrifices and offerings on the brazen and incense (golden) altars (Num. 18:1-7). David organized the priests into 24 groups each of which served for one week at a time (2 Chron. 23:8). Zadok and Ahimelech served as high priests. Ahimelech, a descendant of Eli, served at the Jerusalem tent David had erected for the ark until Zadok replaced him. Zadok originally oversaw the sanctuary at Gibeon until David brought him into Jerusalem to take Ahimelech's place. Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, revolted against Solomon, and from then on Zadok served as high priest alone.

The writer also recorded the order of Levitical service (24:20-31). The casting of lots determined this order. Every detail of temple service was important to David. This shows his heart for God and how he lived in the present with the future God had promised clearly in view. David lowered the age required for Levitical service from 30 to 20. He may have done this because there was a need for many more Levites under the new system of worship (vv. 24, 27; cf. v. 3).⁷⁵

David also organized some of the Levitical families as temple musicians. Asaph was a Gershonite (6:39-43), Heman a Kohathite (6:33), and Jeduthun (Ethan) a Merarite (6:44-47). They were responsible for singing praises to God and leading the people in doing the same. This is what "prophesying"included (25:1). The re-establishment of temple worship was important in postexilic Israel, and music played a large part in it. Consequently David's organization would have been of great interest then.

The organization of a temple choir is surprising since the Chronicler elsewhere presented Israel's worship as done in compliance with the Mosaic Law, which made no provision for a choir. However the prophets Nathan and Gad had authorized this choir (2 Chron. 29:25). Furthermore this choir was in harmony with other legislation in the Law directing praise of the Lord (cf. Num. 10:10; Deut. 10:8; 18:5). Also the general scriptural admonition to rejoice in God's presence encouraged creative expressions of worship in harmony with God's Word.⁷⁶

David also organized the officers of the Levites as gatekeepers (26:1-19), treasury guards (26:20-28), and leaders in external affairs (26:29-32). The gatekeepers were the temple guards (cf. 26:7-8).⁷⁷David even specified the number of guards at each temple gate (26:17-18). There were 24 guard stations manned 24 hours a day. In view of the wealth in and on the temple, security needed to be tight (cf. 26:27-28).

"In the capitals of the Asiatic kingdoms of antiquity, enormous quantities of precious metals were accumulated."⁷⁸

 Preparations for governmental order ch. 27

David also organized his army (vv. 1-15), Israel's tribal leaders (vv. 16-24), his administrators (vv. 25-31), and his counselors and advisers (vv. 32-34). He did all this to insure future stability so what God had promised could happen without unnecessary opposition or confusion. Again the writer mentioned 12 tribes, but in this list these included Levi and the two halves of Manasseh. He omitted Gad and Asher in this tally (vv. 16-24; cf. ch. 7).

Chapters 22-27 record David's preparation for the fulfillment of those Davidic Covenant promises that would come after he passed off the scene. His preoccupation with God's promises and his preparations for their fulfillment served as a good example for Chronicles' original readers. David's zeal for the house of the Lord reflected his zeal for the reputation of the Lord. He truly put God's glory before his own personal ambitions.