Okay, so now that we've consecrated our time and prayer, let's start with lesson five. I've entitled it Preparations for the Temple. This is First Chronicles, chapters 21 through 29. And this is going to be actually great.
There's a lot of big takeaway points from this, a lot of practical things that we'll review, of course, but a lot of really great theology here that I'm excited to share with you. So in the last lesson, lesson four, we ended really talking mostly about the Davidic Covenant, how important that was, almost really well over an hour talking about that, if I remember correctly. And then we breathed over pretty quickly chapters 18 through 20. And so now in chapters 21 and following, we're going to see really the Davidic Covenant start to be applied and develop much more here in Preparations for Building the Temple.
So I found in a great quote, I decided to share it with you because it's going to kick us off really nicely here from the Catholic introduction, you'll test them from the Persian and the Petri. Just a great overview of what these chapters 21 through 29 are all about here. So to top the page one for this lesson, and this is what it says quote, after a moderate description of David's power and prestige in chapters 18 through 20, which we again, we talked about in the last lesson, the rest of the account of his reign is taken up with events connected to the Temple. Alright, those would be the following.
The choice of its site, that's number one, number two, the accumulation of building materials for it. Number three, David's extensive instructions for the Levites serving in it. Number four, David's instructions to Solomon about it. Number five, more accumulation of building materials.
And then finally, number six, David's passing of the responsibility for the Temple to Solomon. Now, in your quote here from the source, you can see how it divides at the various chapters, which we're going to talk about here in this lesson. Then finally, it says, significantly, it is the chronicler alone, which is pretty cool. It's the chronicler alone who tells us that the instructions for the Temple given by David to Solomon were given to him directly by God, much like Moses instructions for the tabernacle.
So that's really interesting. If you go back and you reread the historical books, you don't really have any idea that David received so many clear instructions from the Lord. Like God told him, here's the plan and really that plan. I mean, you know, and we're going to talk a lot about the actual construction of the Temple in the next couple of lessons here.
But the plan of the Temple itself is very, very much a mosaic tabernacle 2.0. And so remember in previous lessons, all the connections that we made between David and Moses, all those parallels David is in New Moses. He's the co-founder of his religious liturgy. There's this great organic development of the liturgy.
So we talk about all that in previous lessons. But again, I just want to point out here that reading chronicles is very, very important for understanding the full revelation of God's plan for the Kingdom of David, the covenant that he makes with him, and really how the Temple, I should say, the Temple is a fulfillment of the tabernacle. And it's a fulfillment of all these previous covenants that we've seen really even going all the way back to the genealogies, right? We spent that whole hour.
I think it was lesson two, right? It was lesson two where we talked about all the nine chapters of genealogies. But the chronicleer, Dr. Han, says there's a lot of biblical theology in unpacking all of that.
So in any case, this quote I wanted to share with you just to start off our lesson today because it really lays out really nicely where we're talking about here. It's all focused on preparations for the Temple, for Solomon to take the helm, the throne, the path of baton to him, and he's going to complete what David started. Another big takeaway point, again, that's worth repeating, if I don't remember if I said this before, I probably did, is that David was almost exclusively responsible for building the Temple. So really, it was Solomon who did much of the heavy lifting, right?
Solomon oversaw the construction. But David had so much involvement in preparing his son to do this work. If you read just the historical books, you kind of get the idea that Solomon became king, he was a wise man, a young man, and he just kind of starts from scratch and starts getting the wealth and getting the materials and making alliances with the king surrounding his territory like Quran or Huram of Tyre, and all this stuff, which we'll talk about here in this couple lessons. But the historical books gives you that idea that it was all his project and it all came from his brain and his heart.
And chronicles tells us, no, that's actually not the case. David was the one who set up his son for success. And that's basically the point of today's lesson. All right, so let's open up to chapter 21.
We left off in chapter 20, the last lesson with some of David really has his power, his prestige being set up. I would just point out one quick thing. I don't even remember if I said this in the last lesson or not. But in chapter 20 verse 1, it mentions very briefly in the spring of the year, the time when kings go forth the battle, Joab went out and ravaged all the canonites.
Now, the chronicleer, as you probably remember, it doesn't really focus on David's major sins. We're going to talk about one big sin here in chapter 21, the census. But really David's major sins of adultery and murder, if he just completely breathes over it, it doesn't even really mention it, right? And we're also going to see that's the case with Solomon.
Solomon's major sins are not really expounded upon or developed in chronicles, as it was in the books of kings. However, you have these little hints, like as the commentary is pointed out all the time, that David and Solomon are painted with perfect strokes, right? There are no flaws or blemishes. And I think that's totally true, but there are definitely these hints, these red flags with David and Solomon together.
And so if we the reader, we're aware of the books of Samuel and kings, then we know the backstory, right? Because of course the chronicleer is emphasizing the liturgical focus of the David Kingdom and the Covenant. But that line in verse 21 that I just read to you is exactly how the passages in Second Samuel developed the sins of David. And what happened with Bathsheba because David was back at home, he was just chilling, relaxing, sleeping in, playing video games, whatever he was doing.
And then he's walking up on the rooftop and he's about sheba bathing and then the whole story unfolds, that whole drama, that tragedy. So I personally believe this is just a really brief glimpse. And I know I'm not the only one to notice that, but this is a really brief glimpse into the backstory that the reader would be aware of because chronicles is relying upon these other historical books. I just wanted to point that out there.
Chronicles doesn't talk about Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite her husband, but we the reader know what went on. And I don't think he was trying to completely ignore it. He's just reminding us a little bit of what happened. And but we're really focusing on something better, which is his love for God, his contrition for sure, right?
And his intense focus on literature. So I just wanted to point that out. But here we are in chapter 21 now. Let's get to the content for today's lesson.
And chapter 21 is definitely one of the sins, the major sins that David commits, which we read about going back to Second Samuel, what is it? Chapter 28, I forgot to write that down there, but I believe it's chapter 28. And that is his sinful senses. And the reason why the chronicleer is really spending a lot of time on the census is because it has everything to do with the site, the location for the temple.
Because again, it's God's revelation, it's God's will and his choice of where the temple is going to be built and where his name, which is really his presence, will be amongst his people. So let me just read just verse one for you. We'll spend a lot of time talking about this because it's really interesting. So chapter 21 verse one, it says all of a sudden Satan stood up against Israel and inside David to number Israel.
So that's kind of really interesting how it says Satan stood up against Israel and it tights David because David and Israel are kind of one and the same thing as I'll impact, right? David as the royal bridegroom of his people. He is the figurehead of his people. Really David is the representative and the embodiment of Israel.
I'm more to say on that pretty soon here, but I just wanted to point that out now here where Satan stood up against Israel and therefore enticed David because he is the king of Israel. Right? Now this is really interesting. So Satan entices David slash Israel to sin and you really only find the story of Satan tempting someone to sin in a couple of other places.
Most famously, obviously, this is Job. Right? You go back and you read Job 1 and 2. And I think I spent the whole hour or two on that in the Bible study on Job.
We can go back and check that out if you'd like to. So obviously, Satan tempts Job. All right. You've got this kind of heavenly court appearance story right happens twice and Satan just unleashes havoc hell on poor Job and all the rest of the story develops that.
And we also have another reference of Satan tempting Josh with a high priest in the period of the return from exile and Zachariah chapter 3 verse 1. So go check that out too. This is interesting because if you compare this verse chapter 20 verse 1 about Satan enticing David with second Samuel 24 excuse me, it wasn't 28 chapter 24. What's fascinating about that is there's a difference.
There seems to be a contradiction. So let me share this quote here with you from your Catholic study Bible. It says this quote the parallel passage in second Samuel chapter 24 verse 1. Says that the Lord enticed David to take the census.
The apparent contradiction between these verses points to a theological mystery and this is crucial. So a lot of people would argue. Let me just pause for a second. A lot of people would say, well, which is it the Lord or is it Satan because they really can't be one of the same thing.
Can they right? How can you say on the one hand Satan test is Israel slash David and then the other account says that the Lord did it. So I mean Satan and the Lord of two different characters obviously. So there seems to be a contradiction.
Well, it's not. So let me go on here. So this is what the logical mystery says. God can be said to incite a sinful action in situations where he permits temptations to occur to occur within the limits set by his providence as in Job chapters 1 through 2.
In this case, God allows Satan to test the faithfulness of David as a royal representative of Israel. The new testament makes clear that Satan is the real tempter and it quotes here Matthew 4, which is the temptation narrative of Jesus in the desert where Jesus conquers the Satan right? Well, James chapter 1 verse 13 says very clearly that God tempts no one to sin. And that's the end of the quote.
So this is the theological mystery that we have to be aware of. Nothing happens in this universe and is created Rome without God allowing it. Remember Jesus says, you know, one of your hairs doesn't grow white or one of the sparrows don't fall from the sky without the Lord knowing it and really being in control of it. And that includes the actions of all humans as well as the demons.
And this is really interesting. Spend some time on YouTube listening to our reading books of exorcists and they will tell you that the demons are as powerful as they are and they are frighteningly powerful. They're absolutely weak and pathetic when it comes to the majesty and the omnipotence of God. They can't do anything without God permitting it.
So on the one hand, yes, Satan is the one who tempts David in this particular story. And on the other hand, because the Lord allows it, the Lord is involved. But the Lord in James chapter 1 verse 13 says, the Lord doesn't tempt anyone. It's contrary to his nature.
If God is holy, holy and holy, right? If he is holiness itself, right? This attribute is really his identity as you understand more in Trinitarian theology. You can't separate his whole and his own being, his existence.
He can't tempt anyone to sin whatsoever. It's impossible. But he can't allow Satan to tempt. And that then becomes a test or a trial that the Lord permits for our betterment.
And really the whole book of Job is about that point, right? Well, there's many points to the book of Job. But that's one of them, right? This is for Job's benefit, not for God's and certainly not for Satan's.
Okay. So that's why it's not a contradiction. It's actually really interesting that both 1 Chronicles chapter 21 and 2nd Samuel 24 has this difference here because it really begins to teach us that Satan is the real temper. He is the one who wants to devour us like a roaring lion seeking for someone like to devour, which is what Peter says.
And is it this one? What is it? One, Peter five, verse eight. But the Lord allows everything.
So if something happens to us, if we're tempted, and Paul will talk about this too, we can go on and on about this. He'll never allow us to endure the temptation so strongly we can't resist it. So that's important to keep in mind there. Now, another element about this, we've been talking for a few lessons now about how the Davidic Covenant and we're going to see a lot more coming up here soon.
The temple is really the fulfillment, the completion, the telos, the purpose, the end of all previous covenants. And you really get an idea of this when you study salvation history, understanding the various covenants that preceded David. So there's Adam, then there's Noah, then there's Abraham, then there's Moses, and then David is the last great covenant before Jesus. Christ fulfills them all.
So you're naturally going to see that David is a new Adam, he is a new Abraham, he is a new Moses, and the temple subsumes and perfects all these previous covenants, right? So here's another point about that, or another example, case and point, which is that, so think back to Adam and Israel. Both Adam and Israel were created to be the adopted sons of God. In fact, Luke chapter three in his genealogy, flat out says that Luke, sorry, beg your pardon, Luke says that Adam is the son of God in his genealogy.
And that's, I think, evident from a lot of other contextual points there. So Adam is the created adopted son of God as Israel was called the firstborn son of God in Exodus 4 22. And then both of them are tempted by Satan and they both failed, right? Obviously Adam failed, he's the son of God who's tempted by the devil and fails.
He took the fruit from the hand of his own wife, and then Israel is tempted by the devil in the wilderness many, many times and Israel fails. And so now David is the adopted son of God through his covenant. If you remember, we talked about that a ton, that where God says, you know, I'm going to, the David King is going to be the adopted son of God. And so David also, like Adam before him and Israel before him is going to undergo a test.
And unfortunately, he's going to fail. He fails here in chapter 21. You could even kind of by extension include the temptation of lust and murder, right? That he, that chronicles alludes to, which we talked about at the upside of this.
He is the adopted son of God who fails, like Adam before him, like Israel before him. But I would just quickly point out here, and you'll find this in my New Testament section on Salvation History, that Jesus is of course the new Adam. He is the new Israel. He is the new David or son of David Solomon.
And he also is tempted by the devil, not just in the wilderness narrative, but also, you know, the whole Paschal Mystery narrative. Jesus is the true son of God, not by adoption, but by his nature. And he succeeds and overcomes the devil when everyone prior to him failed. Alright, so that's some pretty cool continuity with previous covenants and also points forward ahead typologically to our Lord.
Alright, so he falls, right? Naturally that's the obvious assumption that I've kind of been talking about the past five minutes or whatever. David fails and he falls to the temptation. And so he tells his right-hand man, Joab, the commander of the army, to go and number Israel.
And it was so interesting about this. I always kind of scratch my head. This is interesting because Joab says to David, don't do it. It's funny how Joab gets it, but David does not get it, right?
And Joab is not a good character. I talked a lot about him in the historical books. Joab is a murderer. He's a man that believes Mike makes right.
He has no problems killing people in cold blood to get his way to advance his cause and his agenda. So I find that really kind of ironic that David is the one falling to sin. Joab advises him, Joab the murderer says, don't do it. He says beautiful things like in verse three.
May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are. Are they not my Lord the king, all of them, my Lord's servants? Why should then my Lord require this? Why should he bring guilt upon Israel?
So again, Joab gets it. David says, shut up. Do what I tell you. Alright, fine.
He goes out and does his master's bidding and numbers all of Israel here. So this is a big problem. It's a sin. I will talk about why it's a sin just a little bit, but the story unfolds here in verse seven and following where the Lord was displeased with this and sent Gad to David to say, choose your punishment.
I was find that kind of funny too. It's like a parent. I don't know if you're a parent listening to this or you experienced this growing up from your own parents. It's kind of funny how sometimes a parent will say to a child who's been in trouble who did something wrong.
Or I want you to choose your punishment. Do you want to either be grounded for a month? Do you want to lose your desserts for a week or do you want just to get spanked right here right now? It's kind of like this.
You're going to choose your punishment, right? That's exactly how God treats David, which I find so fascinating and kind of humorous there. So Gad tells David in verses 10 and following. Alright, let me just read it for you.
That says, the Lord, three things I offer you choose one of them that I may do it to you. So, Gad came to David and said to him, that says, the Lord take what you will, three years of famine or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you or three days of the sword of the Lord, pestulents upon the land. And so he says, I'd rather fall into the hands of God than men. I think this is another kind of test honestly, but this is his answer.
I'd rather fall into the hands of God rather than men because his mercy is very great. So in verse 14, the pestulents came, which would be for three days. I also think whenever you see three days imagery, you should be always thinking resurrection, right? Punishment, tribulation, and freedom at the end of three days.
There's always those sort of resurrection subplots going in there in the neurology. But in case, 70,000 men of Israel die, which is a ton of people, right? 70,000. That is also a very covenantal number, right?
Seven is always covenant. And when you have multiples of a thousand, like that's really like multiples of 10, which is a number of perfection, completion, totality. So it's basically like it's covenant disobedience. And so 70,000 people die because of the covenant infidelity of David, who is the representative of Israel.
All right. So could it have been 7,001, right? Or 697,000 or whatever? Maybe, but I'm getting my numbers wrong there.
You know what I mean? 70,000 men of Israel are the ones who die. Verse 15, one more verse. God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it.
But when he was about to destroy the Lord saw it and he reverted to the evil and said to the destroying angel, that's interesting that it's called the destroying angel. It is enough now stay your hand. And the angel, the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan, the Jebusite. Okay.
So let's now talk about this. So he chose his punishment. 70,000 people die, which I think is very symbolic, like I shared, the destroying angel. Why did I say that significantly?
Just tell you right now, because that echoes both the plagues of the Exodus as well as the various desert stories in the wand, wilderness wanderings, right? The destroying angel is sent to kill all the firstborn sons of Egypt and the Israelites if they didn't celebrate the Passover, which of of course they did. But also periodically when Israel sends in the wilderness, the destroying angel comes and how plague, you know, occurs or something happens in Israel's punished by the destroying angel. It was kind of interesting here how David's sin echoes the sins of Israel and the wilderness.
That's kind of another connection for you. Now, what was so sinful about the census? That's the question here. Like we have censuses all the time.
Nations do this all the time, right? Because for a lot of reasons, typically by the way, why do you want to take a census? It's usually to see how big your army is. All right.
So you can conscript people whether they like it or not into fighting your battles or taxes. You know what I mean? Those censuses are usually never a good idea. It's always for political power, economic power, military power, something like that, right?
And so that might be kind of the background of why the census was sinful. Now, another quote from a couple different places actually points this out. Like, what did he do wrong? Let me just share this with you.
Hey, this is Dr. Neck. Thank you so much for listening to this course sample. If you enjoyed it and want to listen to the entire lesson, please become a student over at scripture and tradition.com where you can listen to this entire course, but also all the other courses that we have available in the S&T audio library where you can listen to them on demand, however, and whenever you want.
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