1 Chronicles 29:19

And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all [these things], and to build the palace, [for] the which I have made provision.

And give {H5414} unto Solomon {H8010} my son {H1121} a perfect {H8003} heart {H3824}, to keep {H8104} thy commandments {H4687}, thy testimonies {H5715}, and thy statutes {H2706}, and to do {H6213} all these things, and to build {H1129} the palace {H1002}, for the which I have made provision {H3559}.

and give to Shlomo my son wholeheartedness to obey your mitzvot, instructions and rules, to do all these things, and to build the palace for which I have made provision."

And give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace for which I have made provision.”

and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.

Context

This verse is part of King David's final public prayer and blessing before his death, recorded in 1 Chronicles 29. Having amassed vast resources and made meticulous preparations for the building of the Temple in Jerusalem—a task God designated for his son Solomon—David now offers a profound prayer of dedication and intercession. He has just led the people in a freewill offering for the Temple, demonstrating their collective generosity and devotion. Here, David shifts his focus from the material provisions to the spiritual foundation of Solomon's reign and the successful completion of God's house.

Key Themes

  • A Perfect Heart: David's primary request for Solomon is a "perfect heart." This isn't about sinless perfection, but rather a heart undivided in its loyalty and commitment to God. It signifies integrity and unwavering devotion, essential for a leader. This concept of wholehearted devotion is central to biblical understanding of faith, echoing the call to love God with all your heart.
  • Obedience to God's Law: The perfect heart is directly linked to the desire and ability "to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes." David understood that true leadership and success, especially in God's work, hinged on faithful adherence to divine law. This emphasis on obedience is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, as seen in passages that stress the importance of keeping God's commandments as an expression of love.
  • Divine Provision and Human Responsibility: David acknowledges his extensive material preparations ("for the which I have made provision," as detailed in 1 Chronicles 29:2-5), but recognizes that the ultimate success of the Temple project and Solomon's rule depends on God's grace and Solomon's spiritual state. The physical building requires a spiritual foundation.
  • Legacy and Succession: This prayer highlights David's deep concern for his son's spiritual well-being and the continuation of God's plan through the next generation. It's a father's earnest plea for his son to succeed in the most crucial endeavor of his life—serving God and building His house.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "perfect" here is shalem, which means whole, complete, sound, or sincere. It implies an undivided loyalty and devotion to God, rather than moral flawlessness. It's the same root as "shalom" (peace), suggesting a state of wholeness and integrity in one's relationship with God.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • The Primacy of the Heart: Like David, our most important prayer for ourselves and others, especially leaders, should be for a heart wholly devoted to God. True spiritual success flows from an undivided heart.
  • Obedience as a Foundation: Our intentions and actions should be rooted in obedience to God's Word. Keeping His commandments is not a burden but a path to blessing and effectiveness in His service.
  • Intergenerational Faith: David's prayer for Solomon reminds us of the importance of praying for the next generation, that they may continue to walk in God's ways and fulfill His purposes, much like Solomon was called to build the Temple.
  • God's Work Requires Spiritual Preparation: While practical preparation is vital (as David demonstrated with the Temple provisions), the ultimate success of any endeavor for God's kingdom depends on the spiritual condition of those involved. We must pray for God to equip us with the necessary spiritual integrity to fulfill His will.
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 72:1

    ¶ [A Psalm] for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

  • 1 Chronicles 28:9

    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.

  • 1 Chronicles 22:14

    Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

  • James 1:17

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

  • Psalms 119:80

    ¶ Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:1

    ¶ Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, [is yet] young and tender, and the work [is] great: for the palace [is] not for man, but for the LORD God.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:2

    Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for [things to be made] of gold, and the silver for [things] of silver, and the brass for [things] of brass, the iron for [things] of iron, and wood for [things] of wood; onyx stones, and [stones] to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

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