THE FIRST STEP … AND THE SECOND

 

David was coming to the end of his reign and handing off his work to his son, Solomon. He had gotten everything ready, which is the work of a good leader, i.e., to prepare for the handoff. As he was giving him instructions, the most important was a simple challenge in 1 Chronicles 22:19

"Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God."

When this was in place, anything could be done--the building of the temple, the governing of the nation, etc. But without this first step, else could be done properly.

THE TASK 

...was outlined for Solomon, and it is also ours. To "set" means that you are completely devoted to this; you are fixed in this direction. Nothing else is important. You will not be deterred. I wonder if this is where you are devoted? Have you set your heart and soul in this direction? If not, you will miss the greatest task.

THE DIRECTION

... was to "seek the Lord your God." Many men seek to be leaders or to be good at their jobs or to be known or to amass wealth or to have pleasure. But David knew that real success lay in only one primary pursuit: seek the Lord.

ARISE AND BUILD AND BRING THE ARK 

Once the initial direction was in place, David knew that Solomon and his leaders would be men who would move with God-initiation. But that was not the END of their work, but the beginning. 

“ Arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the LORD.” (vs. 19)

Here was his work ...

1.    ARISE: you must get up and get to work once you receive direction and alignment with God

2.    BUILD … THE SANCTUARY OF THE LORD GOD: You must prepare environments for God’s presence to come. We don’t build physical places merely for His presence, but Paul said the church is a “spiritual house” that is built up for Him and that our individual lives are “temples” in which the Holy Spirit is to live and move. These must be prepared for His presence.

3.    BRING … THE ARK OF THE COVENANT: The Ark represented the presence of the Lord. Everything flows from God’s presence. Therefore, they were to seek the Lord and then rise up and prepare the environment so that God’s presence could come and fill the place and fill their nation, touching everyone around. God was to be the ultimate King and they were to lead and live under His sovereign rule.

Our first calling? To set our hearts and souls to seek the Lord. And then, to help build His kingdom, filled with His presence, so the world can see and experience Him!