1 Chronicles 28:12
And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
The verse sets out the pattern David received by the Spirit for the courts of the house of the Lord, the surrounding chambers, and the treasuries of the house of God including the treasuries of the dedicated things. It was given by divine inspiration in continuation of the pattern shown to Moses, with Christ Himself providing the specifications as the heavenly Architect of the house where His name would be honored. The design was laid down in minute written detail and preserved to guide the builders, so that Solomon would not have to depend on memory. It belongs to David's closing charge entrusting the temple work to Solomon, whom God had chosen to build, while David's part was to make abundant preparation and to counsel his son and Israel to seek and keep God's commandments. The teaching that carries forward is that God is particular about the design and accomplishment of His work and gives wisdom to those engaged in it, so His appointed work is to be carried out exactly according to His design and entrusted to people of genuine experience and dependable character.
Pattern Revealed to David
The pattern was received by the Spirit and covered the courts of the house of the Lord, the chambers round about, and the treasuries of the house of God including the treasuries of the dedicated things. David gave that Spirit-guided pattern to Solomon, so that Solomon received the courts, surrounding rooms, and treasuries as things already revealed to David by God.
The plans were given by divine inspiration, and David also gathered great stores of treasure for the construction. What was shown to Moses was continued and later presented by the Lord to David, so the temple was built according to that earlier pattern. Christ Himself supplied the specifications as the heavenly Architect, directing the arrangements of the house where His name would be honored.
The design and the arrangements for service were set out in writing in minute specification concerning every portion, in precise detail, and preserved to guide the builders. Because the directions were thus written down, Solomon did not have to depend on memory but possessed the exact divine pattern. He should therefore have looked to God in faith for consecrated helpers, to whom God would have granted special skill to do the required work with exactness.
It was made known in the closing years of David's life, when his course was marked by faithful devotion to God and by mourning over his sins and departure from God's precepts. At that time the Lord instructed David through His angel and gave him the pattern of the house Solomon should build for Him. An angel was commissioned to stand by David while, through the Spirit, he wrote out for Solomon's benefit the important directions regarding the plan and arrangement of the house, including its courts, surrounding chambers, and treasuries, and David devoted himself to preparing for the building.
The verse belongs to David's final instructions by which the temple and its courts were entrusted to Solomon, whom God chose to build. David made extensive preparations, yet the building work itself was assigned to Solomon to carry out. His own experience equipped him to advise and encourage his son, while his charge to Israel included seeking God and keeping His commandments.
Temple Built by Solomon
David gathered vast stores of treasure for the construction of the temple, and with his heart in the work he spared neither labor nor expense but made large donations from his own treasury. In this he set a noble example that the people followed with a willing heart, and God enabled them to provide and prepare the materials. The sacred temple on Mount Moriah was erected by Solomon, the wisest of Israel's monarchs, during the most prosperous period of Israel's history. It was the most magnificent building the world ever saw, with no building in the world like it for beauty, richness, and splendor.
Only the most skillful men of design and art were allowed to have anything to do with the work. Every stone was prepared to exactly fill its place before being brought to the site, so the temple came together without the sound of an axe or a hammer. Solomon possessed minute written specifications regarding every portion of the temple and thus held the exact divine pattern. He should have looked to God in faith for consecrated helpers, to whom God would have granted special skill for doing with exactness the work required. Instead he lost sight of this opportunity to exercise faith in God and sent to the king of Tyre for a master workman to superintend the construction.
The design was not devised by Solomon, and the services of the temple were divinely instituted. The temple was planned and built to honor the name of the Lord, so its splendor and the wisdom behind it belonged to God. For Solomon to claim the praise for himself diverted honor from the Giver.
Principles for God's Work
The temple at Jerusalem was built in accordance with special directions from God. He is particular as to both the design and the accomplishment of His work, and He gives wisdom to all who are engaged in His service to carry it out. In this age He has given His people much light and instruction that His work is to be carried forward on an elevated, refined, ennobling basis according to His design. He is displeased with those who in their service do not carry out His design, and He will separate such men from His cause and prove others in their place. The counsel of this chapter remains important for God's people today. His appointed work is to be entrusted to people with genuine experience and dependable character, fit to bear responsibility in sacred service.