Scripture:
1 Chronicles 28:6-10 ESV
[6] He said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. [7] I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.’ [8] Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. [9] “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. [10] Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”
[20] Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.
Observation:
David Was told by the LORD who would take his place. As he saw the end of his life getting closer he started to prepare for Solomon to take over for him. It was time to rest war would be put aside…for now because the kingdom had been established and the boundaries set for the most part. GOD had chosen Solomon to build HIS resting place. But there was a contingency. It was not time to forget about the commandments. In fact, it’s pointed out in verse 7. When the LORD says I will establish his throne forever IF he continues in staying strong in MY commandments. David takes the same opportunity to speak the same thing seek out and keep the commandments. I wonder if they knew that in times of peace, men tended to relax and forget about the things that mattered, and seek out the desires of their flesh. As David continued in his thoughts he made another warning statement to his son. Make sure you serve the same GOD I served. That’s the way to hold on to all this and leave it to your children’s children. GOD wants to establish you FOREVER. Be strong and let HIM do it. Build HIS house that is what the LORD has called you to do. One last statement from David is much like the rest. Be strong and do it the LORD is with you. HE won’t leave you…until it’s done…I wonder if this was a prophetic statement. I wonder if David knew that times of peace would produce a desire for his son to cater to his flesh. He had a big job ahead of him, and he would need peace throughout the land to do it…yet he would need to remain strong in the process. As we can see from what his dad was saying to him that was a concern.
Application:
It’s easy to forget about the things that matter when we feel like we have all that matters. When things are hard we have to be strong. We have to press on we have to move forward. We don’t really have a choice. However, when we seem to have what we want we tend to think we have arrived. We tend to relax. The enemy knows this and is waiting for the opportunity to catch you slipping there is never really a time when we don’t have to be strong, and courageous. In times of peace, we need to build, and in times of war, we need to fight. Both of these things require us to be strong and move forward. It’s easy to relax when life is good. We think to ourselves I deserve a brake. I have worked hard to get here and I’m going to enjoy it for a minute. To be honest, when things are good, the work really begins. Can I ask you something…do you think the enemy takes breaks? He is lurking waiting searching paying attention to every chink or crack in your armor. Please don’t get me wrong I’m not saying don’t rest. What I am saying is don’t let your guard down the you do. When you rest…rest in the LORD so HE can renew your strength. Hard times produce strong men, but easy times can catch us off guard. Don’t let the enemy catch you sleeping. Be awake and vigilant…because we know he is.
Prayer:
Father, I am taken back to your word when I see the scripture you stopped at this morning. I see how you have shown us through it the art of war. I pray this morning that when things are going good you help us prepare, build, and make ready. But more than that Father I pray that in those good times, we don’t forget how we got there. This life we live is all about you. It’s about the ones you are bringing up after us. You want us to teach them your ways so that you will carry on. Help us to do so. We don’t want our children to be left not knowing the one who made them. In bad times we seek you…and in good times let us seek you as well. Place it on our hearts to seek you in all times. I want to know you more, and this I do know is you always have a next. For us you are always moving us forward. So help us to build when peace is present and help us to fight when it’s not. The glory and victory is all yours in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen