1 Chronicles 28:18
And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD. And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
The verse records David specifying refined gold by weight for the altar of incense and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. The design, including its sacred furnishings and the pattern of its instruments of service, was given to David by God through divine inspiration and was not conceived by Solomon. Christ Himself was the heavenly Architect who specified the house built to honor His name.
The exact plans and measurements were put in minute written specifications rather than left to memory, covering every portion of the temple on Mount Moriah and requiring the work to be done with exactness. David said the Lord had made him understand the whole pattern in writing by His hand upon him. The building work itself was to be carried out by Solomon, while David could advise and encourage him from his experience.
The pattern Solomon built was to be carried out only by the most skillful men of design and art. Every stone was prepared to exactly fill its place before being brought to the temple, so that it came together without the sound of an axe or hammer, producing a building unmatched in the world for beauty, richness and splendor. Solomon should have looked to God in faith for consecrated helpers to whom God would grant special skill to do the required work with exactness, but he lost sight of this opportunity to exercise faith and instead sent to the king of Tyre for a master workman to superintend the construction.
The chapter belongs to God's people in every age as showing that responsibility for God's kingdom and its sacred service is entrusted to appointed people whose experience and character can be relied on. The temple at Jerusalem was built in accordance with special directions from God, who gives wisdom to all who are engaged in His service and who was particular as to the design and accomplishment of His work from the very beginning. The verse means God's work in this age is to be carried forward on an elevated, refined, ennobling basis according to the much light and instruction He has given. He is displeased with those who in their service do not carry out His design, separating such men from His cause and proving others, who if self-sufficient will in turn be replaced by still other laborers. The temple materials were prepared through the Lord's blessing and its services were divinely instituted, so its splendor belonged to God's honor and not Solomon's, and calling it Solomon's temple wrongly credits the human agent with glory due to God.