Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a wise counselor to the king, a man of great insight, and a scribe. Ahithophel was the royal adviser. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend. Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army.
1 Chronicles 27:32–28:3, 6–7, 11, 19–20; 29:1–9 NLT
David summoned all the officials of Israel to Jerusalem—the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions, the other generals and captains, the overseers of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the other brave warriors in the kingdom. David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it, but God said to me, ‘You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’ He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father. And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’”
Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary—which was the place of atonement… “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the LORD.” Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly.”
Then King David turned to the entire assembly and said, “My son Solomon, whom God has chosen as the next king, is young and inexperienced. The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is not for mortals—it is for the Lord God himself! Using every resource at my command, I have gathered all I could for building the Temple of God. Now there is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood, as well as great quantities of onyx, precious stones, jewels, and other fine stone and marble. Now, because of my devotion to God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for His holy Temple. I am donating 112 tons of gold and 262 tons of silver to be used for overlaying the walls of the buildings and for the other gold and silver work to be done by the craftsmen. Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the Lord today?”
Then the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals, captains of the army, and the king’s administrative officers all gave willingly. For the construction of the Temple of God, they gave about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron. They also contributed numerous precious stones, which were deposited in the treasury of the house of the Lord. The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy.
David worked tirelessly with his leaders for this final scene to take place. Here was what Hushai confided in him before this event:
King David, my anointed friend from the Lord,
In the quiet reflection of these twilight years of ours, I find it imperative to address the spiritual and cultural legacy that the Lord has entrusted to us, and the vital steps we must take to ensure its enduring impact upon our people and our nation.
Your vision, O King, for the temple, is a vision that transcends stone and mortar. It is a vision that must become the heartbeat of our culture, a tangible symbol of our devotion, and a beacon of God’s presence among us. It is essential, therefore, that we make our worship a cornerstone of our communal identity, embedding it in the very fabric of our society.
To ensure this vision takes root and flourishes, it is crucial that we instill in the leaders and people of Israel a shared sense of purpose and commitment. They must see the temple not as David’s project, but as a collective endeavor of all Israel, a unifying mission that transcends generations. The support of our tribes, priests, Levites, and all officials is not just desirable; it is indispensable.
This shared vision must be transformed into tangible commitments – commitments of resources, of time, and, most importantly, of spirit. Their contributions must be more than token; they must invest themselves fully in this divine undertaking. From these leaders, then each citizen, must not only understand but also embrace this vision as their own. It is through this shared commitment that our spiritual beliefs will become living, breathing aspects of our daily lives. Then our society will be transformed for the age to come!
Thus, I urge you, O King, to summon the leaders of Israel, from every tribe and every corner of our nation to Jerusalem. Let them come together in one grand assembly, where your vision can be imparted, where their support can be pledged, and where a collective commitment to this sacred cause can be forged. This gathering will serve as a powerful symbol of unity and dedication, a final and formal push that will propel this vision into reality. Your voice, O King, has the power to inspire, to galvanize, to call forth the latent devotion that resides in the hearts of our people.
Let this assembly be a moment of covenant, not just between us and God, but amongst ourselves as a people devoted to His will. The actions we take now will echo through generations, shaping the spiritual and cultural identity of Israel. Here, let us lay the foundations not just of a building, but of a legacy that will endure through the ages, a legacy of faith, worship, and divine presence.
In service to the Lord and to you, my king,
Hushai, your faithful friend
Three more devos to go! If you are remaining competitive, answer both questions. Share with your friends: “1) What do you think is the shared vision of RP community? 2) In what tangible ways can I contribute to a shared vision in my RP community?”
I believed the shared vision of RP community is to gather believers and non believers to strengthen the relationship we have with the Lord. It to also praised the Lord together to show how much we believe and appreciate in him. How I would contribute to the shared vision in the RP community would be like my last answer. It would be to share the love and idea of God. Guide people to the community to join as a family and to know more about the community and what we are all about.
(from Roger)
The shared vision of the rp community is to bask in the glory of god and spread his word. To instill in each of its members a connection to god and love our community overall as god would. It is to uplift those that are downtrodden, to help those who are inquisitive to find a way to connect to god, to branch out and foster a community of love and grace and acceptance of where we are individually in our walk with god and help one another grow in belief and reliance upon god, our savior. I can contribute to this community by number one being present and opening my mouth abt what god has done for me. He has shown me a new way to live life, a far different life than I once so recently knew. I can participate fully in devotional groups such as this one and put in more of an effort to step up my outreach so that I can get the opportunity to share in others successes and struggles. Where possible, I can share my experience with church to others that I come across, in hopes of getting them to possibly attend our church and share in the gospel. As I become more involved or more tied in with the church I’m sure new opportunities may present themselves. This is what I view as the vision of rp and what my role can be within the community. Thanks guys.
From Rose
The shared vision of RP is as Becky and Teri shared …be captivated by God’s love
…grow together in His Spirit
…serve and share the Gospel of Jesus
Along with that I think building community is also a shared vision.
I’ve served with RP for about 11 years with This last year being off and so now that I am no longer a leader, I still build community with some of the women of RP. I’ve learned to grow deep rooted relationships with some of the women and to live life with them. Most of the time it’s off of social media and not shared because it’s just an intimate and meaningful time spent sharing life, our struggles, uplifting one another through prayer and serving my sisters through various ways. whether that being an ear to them or hanging out when they need a friend.
I believe RP shares the vision of a divine community, akin to a big family. We study the Bible together, hang out together, and eat together. Additionally, we support each other selflessly, without expecting anything in return. Tangibly, I contribute to the RP community by faithfully walking with everyone on their spiritual journey and by continuing to share the gospel, whether it’s in church or at my school, to bring those who don’t believe into the RP community.
Your contribution to RP is truly valuable. Every Sunday, you undertake the task of taking out the trash, a duty that often goes unnoticed and is seldom sought after. I want you to know that I’ve noticed and deeply appreciate you.
When I think about the community at RP, I am reminded of this church existing to be captivated by God’s love, grow together in His Spirit, & serve and share the gospel of Jesus. It is through my RP community that I have witnessed and experienced God’s love through the love of my brothers & sisters in Christ and discovering more of God’s character through scripture. I am so grateful for the ways this community has encouraged me, pointed me towards Christ, and served me. With a heart of gratitude, I want to continue to be faithful to serving the Lord and being a good steward of what He has entrusted me with. This past year has been difficult for me to steward that well in tangible ways. Contributing requires sacrifice and commitment. It requires giving my time to plan for the various ministries that I serve in. It requires giving of my resources to attend various conferences and coordinating hangouts with others. It requires the presence of my Spirit – to be with the Lord, lean on Him, and be intentional with others. I pray that I will be faithful to contributing to this shared vision by meeting with the younger girls on a regular basis to get to know them, pray for them, and encourage them. It is genuinely something that I enjoy so deeply and the Lord has blessed me greatly.
Dear RP,
As I reflect on David’s wholehearted devotion, giving his private treasures of gold and silver to God, I find myself feeling a sense of shame. I realize that I often hold back in my own giving to God, even though I may consider it substantial. David’s commitment, despite the challenges he faced, such as not being allowed to build the temple, speaks volumes about his relationship with God. It’s a relationship I deeply desire, yet I struggle with fully surrendering myself to let God have complete control.
We recently celebrated RP’s 13th anniversary, and it’s incredible how time has flown by. Over the past 13 years, I’ve witnessed significant changes. Some individuals have departed from RP, and it no longer serves as their sanctuary. However, we’ve also welcomed new members. While some may no longer share the exact vision of RP and may scrutinize the leaders’ actions, many of us remain committed to the core vision: reaching out to the lost, living out the Gospel transparently, and nurturing a safe place for those seeking a sense of belonging.
For me, my passion lies in nurturing the next generation. I’m eager to contribute my time, finances, love, and whatever resources I can to raise up godly young men and women who love God and people. RP has seen countless sacrifices from its members, often working behind the scenes without seeking recognition. I am profoundly humbled by these sacrifices.
Being a part of RP has been an incredible blessing, allowing me to witness life transformations, the growth of numerous members, and the love they generously extend to one another. I am deeply grateful to be a part of RP, to see life-changing moments, and to witness the growth and love shared among our members.
I fervently pray for God’s continued guidance and blessings upon RP and the next generation of RP, just as He blessed David and his son Solomon. May our community continue to thrive and impact lives for His glory.
With gratitude,
Jho
The shared vision of RP community is our love for Christ & to grow deeper in love with Him & others around us. I think we deeply care for one another & do our best to spread the word and evangelize with those who don’t know Him yet. I think how I contribute to a shared vision in my community is connecting with others through common interests and my heart to serve the younger generation. I can take it a step further and invite my non-Christian friends to see the community I love so much & have them be apart of