“Concerning this house which you are building: if you will live according to my regulations, follow my rulings and observe all my mitzvot and live by them, then I will establish with you my promise that I made to David your father — I will live in it among the people of Isra’el, and I will not abandon my people Isra’el.”
The Davidic dynasty is a bit messy. There are uncomfortable truths, tragedies and sins that have damaging consequences. The Torah records them all and offers them up to anyone who takes the time to learn them. Between the lines there is another, less obvious story. David and Shlomo had a real dedication to The LORD. David longed to build the Temple, but couldn’t do it, so he set aside materials and gifts for the Temple he trusted his son to build after his death. David died seeing that longing denied. Shlomo could have taken all that wealth and used it for any means, but he finished what his father started. He carried on the legacy of dedication to his Heavenly Father, though it took years and much wealth to bring to fruition. I think Shlomo was compelled by a deep and abiding love for the Father that was passed down to him from David. I pray that all believers have love and fear of Heaven that will be a legacy in their families.
