1 Chronicles 28 - 4.7.25
Scripture
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. 21 The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”
Observation
King David summoned all of Israel and explained that he had planned to build a Temple for the Lord. However, God told him that he had done enough work already, is getting up there in age and had shed so much blood for the cause of the Lord. Instead, the Temple would be built under the leadership of his son, King Solomon.
King David knew his son would be too young and inexperienced for the task, so he made sure everything was planned out and prepared before he handed off the task to him. (‘“David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.”’ -1 Chronicles 22:5).
I encourage you all to read 1 Chronicles 22 again, which is 6 chapters back, as King David already started prepping his son in that chapter. This is what God said about Solomon:
“He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’”
1 Chronicles 22:10 NIV (which is also parallel to 1 Chronicles 28:6-7)
King David did 4 things for his son before he handed off the job:
King David informed the officials, officers, commanders and warriors of Israel, what God had told him regarding the building of the temple and that his son, Solomon would be overseeing the project, not him. The purpose of this was so that the people would give his son the same respect and submission that they had given King David. (Verses 1-4)
King David encouraged the people to continue to follow God’s commands so that He would bless them and their descendants. (Verse 8)
He passed on the plans he had been working on, to his son. (Verses 11-19)
He gave encouragement to his son. He told him to do the work, be strong, be courageous, not to be afraid or discouraged, that God will not fail him or forsake him until the work is finished, and encouraged him that all his help is in place. They are ready to obey his every command. (Verses 20-21)
Application
Pray and ask the Lord who He would want you to take under your wing to train and disciple so that the work of God would continue successfully.
I also want to encourage everyone who is not part of a small group at DSC to be part of one! That’s a great place to disciple and be discipled by others! Go to this link to see all the small groups we offer:desertstreams.com/smallgroups
I read a really good leadership book called “Becoming a person of influence” by Pastor John C Maxwell and Jim Dornan. They said that the mark of a great leader is how they are able to empower others. “When you empower people, you’re not influencing just them; you’re influencing all the people they influence.”
This chapter in God’s Word shows this in action in King David’s life. He was not only influential as King over Israel and empowering them to put God first, but also influential in empowering His Son to take over God’s plans for the Temple.
Prayer
Dear Lord, You have called us all to be leaders (or influencers), whether we are leaders in our home, church or workplaces. You have also called us all to be ministers of Your Gospel message. I know that if we are saved, we are already a couple steps ahead of someone who do not know You. I pray that we would embrace our calling as influencers for Your Kingdom and live it out in our daily lives. Also, just like David encouraged his son, may we be strong and courageous, and do the work. May we not be afraid or discouraged knowing that You are with us and that You won’t fail or forsake us until the work is finished. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi