At the opening of 1 Chronicles 22, David says, “Here shall be the house of the LORD God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel” (v 1). So the temple shall be built in the place which David bought from Ornan in the last chapter. Here the angel of death sheathed his sword of judgment, and David called on the LORD with sacrificial offerings as an atonement for his sin (21:25-27). On this same hill, 800 years earlier, another sacrifice had been offered and another disaster averted. The LORD’s house will be set on “Mount Moriah” (2 Chronicles 3:1), where Isaac once lay bound on an altar, until God provided a sacrifice and gave Abraham his son back from death. Still more remarkable, on this same hill a thousand years later, the ultimate sacrifice will be offered, and divine judgment finally and fully satisfied, in the death of God’s own Son, offered at Calvary for all who would believe in Him. As we ponder the events which happened here, and “the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died,” we can understand the zeal of David to make appropriate provisions. He insisted on paying for the site (21:21-24), but it was a gift of God’s grace to have this place where the ark and the altar could be brought together. In response, David gathers formidable supplies of building materials, even from heathen nations, for “the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands” (22:1-5). All contributions are welcome, as God owns it all anyway; and one day all nations will be blessed to bring their glory and honor into the LORD’s eternal temple. Just as there is an abundance of materials, David also ensures that there is an abundance of workers to carry out the job. Skilled craftsmen are rallied around Solomon, who is himself gifted with “discretion and understanding.” Unlike his father, who was gifted to lead military battles, Solomon was gifted as a statesman and diplomat. David had “shed much blood,” but his son was “a man of rest,” blessed to lead the people in a time of “peace and quiet.” An even more important qualification is emphasized when David urges Solomon to carefully obey the LORD’s commandments. The right to be God’s leader demands the responsibility to heed His Word and do His will (v 6-16). Then David commands all of Israel's leaders to help his son and embrace the task before them, saying, “Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God.” Whatever God has given us to do, whether related to a building or not, may we also respond with sacrificial and joyful generosity, for His glory (v 17-19). For further meditation: