Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

David Commissions Solomon to Build the Temple

28 David assembled all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem:^(A) the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king’s service, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials, the fighting men,^(B) and all the best soldiers. ² Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the Lord’s covenant^(C) and as a footstool^(D) for our God. I had made preparations to build, ³ but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’^(E)

⁴ “Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me out of all my father’s family^(F) to be king over Israel forever.^(G) For he chose Judah as leader,^(H) and from the house of Judah, my father’s family, and from my father’s sons,^(I) he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. ⁵ And out of all my sons^(J)—for the Lord has given me many sons—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord’s kingdom over Israel.^{(K) 6} He said to me,^(L) ‘Your son Solomon is the one who is to build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. ⁷ I will establish his kingdom forever if he perseveres in keeping my commands and my ordinances as he is doing today.’^(M)

⁸ “So now in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and follow all the commands of the Lord your God so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants forever.

⁹ “As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind,^(N) for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought.^(O) If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.^{(P) 10} Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”^(Q)

¹⁰ According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder,^[a] and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation^(A) other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver,^(B) costly stones,^(C) wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire;^(D) the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.^{(E) 14} If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[b] loss, but he himself will be saved^(F)—but only as through fire.^(G)

¹⁶ Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple^(H) and that the Spirit of God lives in you?^{(I) 17} If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him;^(J) for God’s temple is holy,^(K) and that is what you are.