1 Chronicles 28:1

1 Chronicles 28:1 says, And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.  Matthew Henry says this was shortly after the great indisposition David suffered that is mentioned in 1 Kings 1:1, and he had now revived enough to do a little more service to God and also to the people of Israel.  As we grow older, we may have times when we aren't physically able to actively serve God, but when we are revived enough to do so, we can still be of service.  David gathered all the leaders one more time.  Verse two adds, Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:  David told them of his desire to build a house for God as a resting place for the Ark of the Covenant.  We don't need to see church buildings as resting places for the gospel but as launch points instead.  Verse three continues, But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.  David then said God forbid for him to build this house.  We many have desires to do something that we think will be for the church's good and God's glory, but we must make sure that it isn't just something we want to do without God's endorsement.  Verse four states Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:  David said he and his descendants were chosen by God to be the rulers of Israel.  If we are serving in the church today, it should be because God has called us to that place of service.  Verse five adds, And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.  David said that God had given him many sons, but that God had chosen Solomon to replace him as King.  Of course, the ultimate fulfillment of a descendant of David ruling forever over God's people came with Jesus Christ.  He is forever the ruler of God's people.  Verse six continues, And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.  David said that God had told him that Solomon would build the temple because God had chosen him to be His son and God would be Solomon's Father.  This is one reason I believe that it is important to distinguish Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God and not just as the only son of God, because when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we become sons and daughters of God.  Verse seven says,  Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.  David said that Solomon's kingdom would be established forever, if he obeyed God's commandments and judgments.  The kingdom of God was established forever by Jesus Christ, and if we would be s part of it, we have to put our faith in Him as our Savior and Lord and then we should obey His commandments.  Verse eight adds, Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.  David called on all the people to keep and seek the commandments of God so that they and their children could possess the land of Israel forever.  We know this didn't happen as an earthly kingdom but as a spiritual kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ, and we must do all that we can to bring our children into God's kingdom.  Verse nine continues, And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.  David then called on Solomon to serve God with a perfect mind and a willing heart.  He also said that God searched all hearts and understood all the imaginings of the thoughts.  This is still true today.  David then said if Solomon sought God that He would be found.  God reveals Himself to us today, but it is up to each individual whether or not they will accept His gift of salvation.  David also warned Solomon that if he turned away from God that he would be cast off forever.  This applies to us today based on whether we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord or not.  If we do, we are forever saved by God's grace and if we don't, we are forever condemned because of our sins.  Verse ten concludes, Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.  David told Solomon to take heed of his relationship with God, because God had chosen him to build the house of God and to be strong and do it.  We have been chosen as Christians to spread the gospel to help increase the kingdom of God, and we need to be strong in our faith and do it.