Reading 2 Chron.2:1-14
Text 1 Chron 29:5.
“who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?”

The reason I have chosen this text is because although our reading has been about Solomon building the Temple the lessons are ours to learn.

We were made in the image of God and God is the creator of the Universe. It therefore follows that He has placed within us that creative ability. “And God said, Let us make man in our image,” [Gen.1:26]

Let us see what lessons we can draw from the passage in 2 Chron 2:
[1] God chooses people to do a work. “the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?” [ 2 Sam.7:4 &5]
[2] God chooses the plans for the work
a. David to draws the plans “All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.” [1 Chron.28:19]
b. Solomon follows the plans “Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern .....”1 [Chron.28:10,11]
[3] God chooses the place to work.
A. David purchases the site “Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. And king David said to Ornan,....... I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost. So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.”

.[1 Chron. 21:18,24,25,28]
b. David prepares for the work “Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God” [1 Chron.29:2]
c. David prays and praises God for the work [1 Chron 29:10-19]
[4] The people’s responsibility
a. The people gave willingly “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given....” [1 Chron.29:9,14]
b. The people rejoiced that they could give. Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy: [1 Chron. 29;9]
Equal to Ł147 billion in today’s money. I’m told.

c. The people had skills These skills were recognised by the leaders. Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.”
[2 Chron.2:7]
d. The people had influence This influence was recognised. “And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.”
[2 Chron.2:3]
e. The people worked hard
i. 12,000 horsemen with 14.000 chariots to collect materials
ii 70,000 to carry the stone and wood
iii 80,000 to quarry the stone and shape it
iv. 3,600 supervisors to over see the work
v. 24,000 Levites to oversee the building work
vi. 6,000 bailiffs and judges to control the building
vii. 4,000 guards for security
viii. 4,000 musicians practising to play in the Temple
ix. 288 special singers to sing when it was completed.
It took 7 years to build but many before to gather and prepare the materials for building.
All those involved used their creative qualities and working together to see that this work of God was completed satisfactorily and correctly to the praise and honour of God. Each person was important and each one had a part to play working side by side for the benefit of the whole finished work of the temple.
Now back to our text “who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?”
Are the leaders willing to give their creative talents to leading God’s people according to God’s plans?
Are those with a talent with children willing to sanctify those talents to God’s service among children?
Are we willing sanctify our money to to the work of God home and abroad?
Those who have creative practical talents willing to work practically to the glory of the work of God? Are you a singer , musician, administrator, visitor, are you using your creative talents for the benefit of the whole work?
Are you gifted in the art of organising and helping people work together well are you doing it gracefully to the Gory of God’s name?
Are we as God’s servants working together “Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?” [ 2 Chron. 2:6]