Getting ready to build temple for the Name of the Lord

2 Chronicles 2:1-18
Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself. He conscripted 70,000 men as carriers and 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills and 3,600 as foremen over them.
Solomon sent this message to Hiram king of Tyre: Send me cedar logs as you did for my father David when you sent him cedar to build a palace to live in. Now I am about to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God and to dedicate it to him for burning fragrant incense before him, for setting out the consecrated bread regularly, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening and on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals of the Lord our God. This is a lasting ordinance for Israel.
I am sending you Huram-Abi, a man of great skill. 
Now let my lord send his servants the wheat and barley and the olive oil and wine he promised, and we will cut all the logs from Lebanon that you need and will float them as rafts by sea down to Joppa. You can then take them up to Jerusalem.
Why?
Building Temple of the Lord needs people and skilled craft men. So Solomon gave orders to many people and material to build Temple.
Solomon asked help from Hiram king of Tyre for the cedar logs and skill craft man Huran-Abi to work with craft men of Israel in Jerusalem.
There was grain and timber exchange between Israel and Tyre.
建殿工人主要是寄居在以色列的外邦人，所以建殿不是以色列單一民族所建的，是萬國來建造的。
給推羅的信中，顯示兩國關係良好，信中指出兩點，一、他沒有什麼，神是超過一切的。在外邦人中宣揚耶和華的名。推羅王也稱頌讚美神！在外交場合中，神的名被高舉。耶和華與萬國萬民有關係。鼓勵回歸的以色列人，聖殿關乎萬國。二、推羅王也知道所羅門王建殿是神的心意。
How?
There are efforts to build Temple of the Lord, manpower and skilled man and time. So as to buildur spiritual life in our heart.

Solomon rules with the wisdom of God

2 Chronicles 1:1-17
Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?
Therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given to you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.
Solomon rules with the wisdom of God
The time is the 10th century BC, Solomon is now in firm charge of his father David's kingdom. God gives him the wisdom he asks for, plus power, wealth and fame.
Why?
Solomon follows the way of his father gave honor to the Lord, so the Lord established himself firmly over his kingdom.
Solomon did not ask to the Lord for possession or wealth or honor but asked the wisdom and knowledge. So the Lord is glad to give him all of these and possession and wealth, honor and wisdom.
Wisdom comes from the Lord, so when we have wisdom and knowledge, we have the ability to be an excellent man in the world.
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所羅門王登基有好的開始，首先去神的壇獻祭。
神主動來說話，這是非常少有的事。我們不缺乏公眾的禱告。與主單獨相處時，有有神向人說話的時候。
所羅門所求的不是滿足自己的私慾，或是消滅仇敵。所羅門所不求的是一般世人所求的。因為所羅門想到的是神的心意、神的託附。如果神問我們同樣問題，我們會怎麼回答?我們應該更多想到神的心意、神的國。
我們心裏所想的、所重視的是否神所在意、關心的。不是口頭上不求，心想神會給的心態。神賜給我們永生，是極豐盛尊榮，只要遵守神的話語，神必使我們持續豐盛。所羅門晚節不保，我們當引以為戒，持守神的話語。讓我們的心所想的就是神所關心的。
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How?
Same as I like to ask wisdom from the Lord in my life.

Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand

1 Chronicles 29:1-30
Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: three thousand talents[b] of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents[c] of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silverwork, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today? 
 They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents[d] and ten thousand darics[e] of gold, ten thousand talents[f] of silver, eighteen thousand talents[g] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents[h] of iron. 
David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly. 
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head overall. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.  We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.  Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
In addition to all he has put by over the years, David makes a last lavish personal gift for the Temple building fund forth a willing, joyful response from the people, and the gifts pour in. Deeply moved, David thanks God from his heart that such giving is possible from people who apart from God's goodness have nothing. His prayer is one of the greatest in the whole of the Old Testament. It shows as perhaps no other passage does, just why this man could be described as ' a man after God's own heart'.
Why?
God is great above all in all. Everything comes from the Lord, and we have given you only what comes from your hands. We are nothing without the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord and praise his holy name.
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大衛的奉獻和所有官長首領的奉獻，及大衛的感恩禱告。
一、大衛的奉獻： 已經準備了聖殿的材料，這是以國家的名義做的。其他金銀是大衛個人的奉獻。大衛的存錢是為了建造聖殿。一生活著是為了百姓而活著，我們一生也是為了領人信主，為了敬拜神。
二、也鼓勵眾人也奉獻：百姓看到官長如此奉獻，百姓也樂意。我們的榜樣是耶穌基督，牧者、長老傳道是弟兄姊妹的榜樣，弟兄姊妹是未信者的榜樣。
三、奉獻者是歡喜快樂的：因為全部是神使人尊大，有財物。且神給人願意奉獻的心，更是大的福氣。歡喜快樂的奉獻讓人的心大得滿足的喜樂。
享受豐富、尊榮而死。如何得到尊榮?甘心樂意的奉獻，自然得到尊榮，在主面前謙卑。這是得榮耀、尊榮的途徑。
國王的兄弟們最不容易尊崇繼任者，代表神所立的令眾人信服。同樣今天教會是基督做王，我們完全信服
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How?
Praise the Holy Name of the Lord, our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Be humble and courage before the Lord!

Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God

1 Chronicles 28:1-21
David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons. together with the palace officials, the warriors, and all the brave fighting men.
So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10 Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”
“All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.”
David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.
The story interrupted by the lists at 23:2 is now picked up again. A formal public assembly marks Solomon's official coronation, after the hasty affair of 1 King. David presents his son to the people and gives him a solemn charge before committing the plans for the Temple to his care. The design is God-given, closely following the pattern given to Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle. At the same time, David hands over the lists of Temple duties.
Why?
David officially showed his son Solomon will be king of Israel next to him. and he announced the plan of Temple, which follows the way of the Lord.
David let all the officials of Israel knew this plan to build Temple, it asked all people of Israel help Somolon to build the Temple of the Lord.
By the way, David reminds Solomon and his people to follow all the commands of the Lord your God. It is the security to them to possess this good land and passes it as an inheritance to their descendants forever.
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正式向他的人民及他兒子來建造聖殿的指示，一起來建造。
分三部分
1.大衛對建聖殿的指示：稱他們為他的弟兄，雖然貴為君王，在主面前他仍然和百姓一樣的。同心來建造聖殿。
2.三層的揀選：揀選我做以色列的王，神以色列中選猶大，猶大中選耶西家，耶西家中揀選我
神接著他的心意，他的旨意，沒有任何條件。是神的憐憫、喜悅。這是神的恩典。在大衛的兒子中揀選所羅門。這與所羅門的能力也無關。所羅門只要順服照著大衛所說、所預備的。神揀選我們與我們的能力沒有關係，與這人是否回應耶和華，順服神。
3.聖殿如何建造：聖殿主體及周圍的房舍都是神啟示給大衛的。有神的指示、有材料、有同工。所羅門就是坐享其成，我們不也是坐享其成，享受神所預備的恩典。我們只是在事工中經歷神的作為與大能，成就神的旨意。
我們不能做什麼，只是神的器皿。
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How?
Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord my God. Honor name of the Lord with all my heart and all my strength.

The army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year

1 Chronicles 27:1-34
This is the list of the Israelites—heads of families, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and their officers, who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year. Each division consisted of 24,000 men.
Officers of the Tribes.
The king's overseers.
Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s confidant. Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was the commander of the royal army.
All 12 army commanders seem to have come from David's special guard of 'mighty men'
The officers in charge of the tribes, those in charge of the king's property - storehouses, produce and livestock - and his personal advisers.
Why?
All of the management is organized by King David. 
To be a king of Israel have to organize his property and everything is normal and efficient. so using the right men to do the right thing is necessary to a good leader.
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23-26記載利未人在聖殿的事工安排。
這裏記載各支派有份於聖殿的建造。服事王，即王吩咐的工作，更有可能與聖殿有關的工作。管理府庫的人等等，都已經預備好了來建造的工作。教會的同工也是與教會的事工有關。正如教會弟兄姊妹，平日工作是教會工作的延伸。尤其在創啟地區，有基督徒在工作，讓當地人可以接觸到基督徒，認識這個信仰。
23節沒有數20歲以下的人。神為此生氣，所以沒有記載人數。因為神曾應許亞伯拉罕的後裔如天上的星、海邊的沙，是無法數的。大衛的舉動是把神限制住了，他沒有信心，妨礙的神的主權。後來還有許多人參與建造的工作。我們這人也是透過許多的的工作，來建造我們自己人的身上建造。
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How?
Serve the Lord is the same have to be in order and doing the right thing for God is my king. All of us are the servant of the Lord.

Temple guards

1 Chronicles 26:1-32
These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering in the temple of the Lord, just as their relatives had. Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
Guard was alongside of guard: There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. As for the court to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court itself.
Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things.
Treasures, clerks and magistrates are appointed to look after the Temple's finances and legal affairs and to keep the records. The Temple treasuries - gifts and taxes from the people, and the spoils of war- were vast.
The total of guards in one duty is 22 persons.
Why?
David has made rules to the gatekeeper duties and affair of the treasuries of the house of God. Only Levites can do these jobs. There are 22 persons to guard the gates of Temple once time.
To serve the Lord need the right identity which is the Lord allowed.
There are many people and different positions to serve the Lord, so as different roles in the church. The church needs many Christians to serve the Lord and different talents and different jobs. But with the same heart and same mind to serve the Lord.
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守門與掌管府庫的利未人。
聖殿也怕人去偷東西嗎？不是如此，主要在保護人，誤闖造成傷害。因為聖殿是聖潔的。怕人任意進入冒犯神。教會也是如此，為神的家看門，以免信徒的思想、教會受到世俗的污染。人也是神的殿，保守自己的人勝過一切，否則容易被世界影響，受蒙蔽，以致聽不到主的聲音，離開神。
善於辦事的壯士，精明的謀士。守門需要壯士，守門要有精明的頭腦，不致被騙。今天教會也要有守門人，異端邪說不致進入教會。
聖殿的府庫，總務或是庶務。神託付不同職位，我們有使用權、管理權，就是沒有所有權。
這些物品都要用在神的事工上面，而不是用於自己。同樣我們的才能、財產是要我們成為忠心的管家。
官長與士師，我們除了教會裏面的人與事外，也有在外面與人接觸的事。另外一批人在做官長，處理社會上的事情，佈道與文化使命的工作。每個利未人都是長子，我們基督徒也是長子，.也是利未人。
願我們每個人都找到服事的崗位。讓我們成為忠心的好管家！
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How?
Serve the Lord with what I can do and on duty do our best.

The ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals

1 Chronicles 25:1-31
David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service.
Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king. 7 Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord—they numbered 288. Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties. There was 24 team's order, each team has 12 members. 
Music, both instrument and vocal, was important in Jewish worship, as it was in social life generally. The Temple musicians were 'leaders in inspired prophecy', proclaiming God's message. 
Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun were amongst the famous: they are named in the Psalms. But status does not come into the Temple service. Teacher and pupil alike share an equal place. David, himself a skilled musician, must have taken special delight in this part of the arrangements, which he supervised personally.
Why?
The musician is important in worship in the Temple and to our daily life. David is a musician so he is skilled in music. 
All of the service in the Temple is arranged by taking the lot, so it is decided by the Lord. People have to serve it first, it is the most important job for them. 
Serving in the church, we should keep the same mind and attitude, do the best for the Lord.
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由祭司來帶領敬拜，設立詩班、樂隊。
以感謝和讚美為祭。詩班的服事類似祭司。神的話語有勸勉、安慰、應許、警告，同樣詩歌中有同樣的內容，影響力有時候超過祭司。
只有詩班是由大衛來指派，大衛特別重視詩歌的敬拜。音樂本身幫助我們進入敬拜當中，思想神的作為、屬性等。
如何訓練都是歸他們的父親來帶領。在家庭中的訓練，因此除了音樂以外，還有生活的榜樣、生命要對的，服事才會正確。生命的榜樣是最大的影響力。否則我們周遭的人會排斥我們。
在神面前沒有老師，學生、只有神的僕人或是信的和不信的。凡遵行神的話，就是耶穌的兄弟。
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How?
Worship the Lord with all my soul, all my heart and all my strength.