1 Chronicles 28:20
“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.’”
I’m still reading and thinking about
King David, Solomon, and the building of the temple. Just two posts ago I reflected on the heart
attitude that was necessary for doing something to the glory of God. Today I’m considering the charge David gave
his son before he died.
Solomon had a monumental task in
before him. David repeatedly says to the
elders of Israel that his son is “young and inexperienced.” Although we can’t be certain of Solomon’s age
when he ascended the throne, he was most likely in his twenties. David has made all the preparations for
Solomon to build the temple. The work he
did was astonishing. He counted up all
the Levites and divided them into groups for various responsibilities in the
temple service. He instructed all of
them on their responsibilities. He
accumulated mountains of gold and silver for the temple’s décor and
furnishings, having determined the weights and measures of all the
furniture. He drew up the plans of the
temple as the Holy Spirit gave them to him.
The work he did in preparation was simply monumental! And now he counsels his young son and I think
his words of counsel are invaluable to us.
David’s counsel contains three main
points. 1) Be strong and courageous not
afraid or discouraged. 2) God is with
you and he will not fail nor forsake you.
3) DO THE WORK!
The first two pieces of advice go
together. Solomon could be strong and
courageous because God had promised
to be with him. Although building the
temple would take time and effort he would succeed because God was watching over him and giving him the strength and
wisdom for the task. No job is too great
when God assigns it because God will see it through.
But here’s what really struck me;
David tells Solomon to do the work! The temple wasn’t going to build itself. Solomon was not to simply give assignments to
all the workers David collected and then go play golf. He was to do
the work! If he committed himself to
the Lord and was faithful in the work then the task would be accomplished to
the glory of God!
The application of these truths in
my life jump out at me. I have sons and
daughters whom I love and whom I counsel about decisions in their lives and
about the tasks God has given them to do.
(Jobs, school, relationships, marriage, ministry, etc.) I also have young church members who are
taking on tasks and ministries they have never done before. The advice David gave Solomon is the wisest advice
that can be given. Be strong and courageous
because God is with you and he will not fail you! But you have to do the work! When God gives
us things to do he promises to be there for us and give us guidance and wisdom
but he also expects us to do the work!
We have to roll up our sleeves and commit ourselves wholeheartedly to
the task he sets before us. The advice
applies to me too! Sermons don’t write
themselves. God doesn’t promise to bless
the preaching of his word if I don’t do the work. New believers don’t disciple themselves. We have to do the work! Pastors and elders are charged with the
responsibility of equipping the believers to do the work of the ministry. They don’t just equip themselves.
My responsibility is to do the work
given me. And my other responsibility is
to encourage my kids and church members with the promise of God and to remind
them to do the work!
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