1 Chronicles 22:7

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:

And David {H1732} said {H559} to Solomon {H8010}, My son {H1121}, as for me, it was in my mind {H3824} to build {H1129} an house {H1004} unto the name {H8034} of the LORD {H3068} my God {H430}:

"My son,"said David to Shlomo, "my heart was set on building a house for the name of ADONAI my God.

“My son,” said David to Solomon, “it was in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God,

And David said to Solomon his son, As for me, it was in my heart to build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God.

1 Chronicles 22:7 records a pivotal moment in Israel's history, as King David addresses his son and successor, Solomon. This verse encapsulates David's heartfelt desire to honor God and sets the stage for the monumental task of building the Temple in Jerusalem.

Context of the Verse

At this point in his reign, King David was an old man, and his thoughts had turned to the future of the kingdom and, more importantly, the permanent dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant. David had expressed a strong desire to build a magnificent "house" for the LORD, feeling it was inappropriate for him to live in a palace of cedar while God's presence resided in a tent (2 Samuel 7:2). However, God had revealed through the prophet Nathan that David, a man of war, would not be the one to build the Temple. Instead, this sacred task would fall to his son, Solomon, a man of peace (1 Chronicles 22:8). In this verse, David is actively preparing Solomon, sharing his original intention and implicitly passing on the divine commission.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Devotion and Desire: David's statement, "it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God," reveals his profound love and devotion to God. His heart's desire was to provide a fitting place of worship and honor for the Almighty.
  • Divine Sovereignty: This verse subtly highlights the tension between human intention and divine will. While David had a noble desire, God's plan for the Temple's construction involved Solomon, demonstrating that God's ultimate purposes prevail, even over the most pious human plans.
  • Preparation and Succession: David doesn't just lament his inability; he actively prepares his son for the task. This shows David's commitment to ensuring the spiritual well-being of the nation and the continuity of God's work through the next generation. It's a powerful example of mentoring and equipping future leaders.
  • "House unto the Name of the LORD": The phrase "unto the name of the LORD" is significant. In ancient Israelite thought, the "name" (`shem` in Hebrew) represented the essence, character, and presence of God. Building a house "unto His name" meant dedicating it entirely to His glory, worship, and the manifestation of His presence among His people, not just as a physical structure but as a symbol of His covenant relationship.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase "unto the name of the LORD" (`l'shem YHWH`) emphasizes that the Temple was not merely a building for God, but a place where His character and authority would be invoked and glorified. It was to be a center for worship and the manifestation of God's presence, rather than a dwelling that contained God (who is omnipresent, as Solomon himself would later acknowledge).

Practical Application

1 Chronicles 22:7 offers several timeless lessons:

  • Noble Intentions are Valued: God acknowledges and values our sincere desires to serve Him, even if our specific plans don't come to fruition exactly as we envisioned. David's desire was good, even if God had a different builder in mind.
  • Submitting to God's Plan: We must be open to God's alternative plans and timing. Our role may be to prepare, to support, or to witness, rather than to execute the main task. Faith involves trusting God's wisdom in how and through whom His work is accomplished.
  • Investing in the Next Generation: Like David, we are called to equip and empower those who come after us in faith and service. Passing on a spiritual legacy and providing guidance for future endeavors is a vital aspect of stewardship.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 132:5

    Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty [God] of Jacob.

  • Deuteronomy 12:5

    ¶ But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

  • Deuteronomy 12:11

    Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

  • 2 Chronicles 6:7

    Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:9

    Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.

  • 1 Kings 8:16

    Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.

  • 1 Kings 8:20

    And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
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