CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service. He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service: the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand; the weight of gold for each table for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables; the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish; and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

“All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.”

1 Chronicles 28:11-19

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In Chapter 28 of 1 Chronicles, David has reached the point where he is ready to pass on his throne to his son Solomon. You’ll recall that this was to fulfill God’s will as He had told David that one of his sons would succeed him as king of Israel and David had made Solomon that son (1 Kings 1).

Now in the preceding chapters, we read how David went through a great deal of advance preparation to ensure Solomon would have success once in power. As we look at our passage, we see a summary of all David had done as he passed it to Solomon:

Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service. He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service: the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand; the weight of gold for each table for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables; the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish; and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

The advance preparation was comprehensive. Every detail of the temple construction was laid out: the portico, the buildings, the storerooms, the upper parts, the inner rooms, the place of atonement, the courts, the surrounding rooms, and the treasuries. Those who had special responsibilities like the priests and Levites were identified, divided, and assigned. Additionally, the articles to be used in the temple services were defined and designated by weight: the gold lampstands and lamps, the silver lampstands and lamps, the golden table for consecrated bread, the silver tables, the gold forks and sprinkling bowls and pitchers, the gold dishes, the silver dishes, the gold altar of incense, and the gold cherubim with spread wings that would overshadow the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

Nothing was missed. Everything was perfect. And it wasn’t because David was some kind of master planner. Even he said so.

Look at these two statements from David in the midst of this turnover of information:

1. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord.

2. “All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.”

Can you see what David does here?

He simply gives credit where credit was due.

First, the Spirit had placed all the plans for the temple courts in David’s mind. If it was to be the Lord’s temple, it only makes sense that the Lord would give direction as to the way He wanted it built.

This was reinforced in by David’s own testimony. For the Lord had placed His hand on David and given him the plans in writing, enabling him to understand all the details. And in turn, David was passing them onto Solomon.

Friends, the Lord always longs to do this with all of us, to reveal His plans in great detail so we can understand them and then fulfill them to His glory. He guides us and leads us to accomplish great things, not because of who we are but because of who He is. Without Him, we cannot achieve anything that is kingdom advancing. With Him, there is no limit to what we can do and as we accomplish His purposes, we, like David, should always seek to give credit where credit is due.

If you are successful, give the credit and glory to the Lord first as He was the One who led you there.

If you make the difference in the life of another and they wish to thank you for it, give credit and glory to the Lord first as He was the One who led you to the matter and gave you what you needed to make the difference you did.

If anyone seeks to give you recognition for anything you’ve done, give credit and glory to the Lord first as He was the One who allowed you to distinguish yourself to the place of recognition.

The Lord and the Lord alone is the giver of every good and perfect thing from above (James 1:17). He is ever wanting to use us as instruments of His will and way to further His kingdom here on earth. Today and every day, let us offer ourselves to Him as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), allowing Him to use us to His glory and then giving credit where credit is due – credit to the Lord God Almighty, the only One worthy of all honor and glory and praise.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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