David also said to Solomon, “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.”

NIV

King David had come to the end of his days and was commissioning his son, Solomon, to use the plans to build the temple that he had made.

1 Chronicles 28:2-3

King David said, “I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, “You are not to build a house for My Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.”

NIV

Solomon was the appointed next king of Israel after the death of King David and was obligated to fulfill God’s will for the nation. King David had instructed that the temple was not for man but for the Lord and was to be a visible witness for God to all other nations.

Following in the footsteps of David would have been no small feat for Solomon. He already was opposed by his brothers for his place on the throne as he was not the first born son to the king. He was, however, appointed by God to rule.

Solomon’s heritage is that he was the second born son to Bathsheba and King David- his infant brother died as a consequence to the sin of David’s affair with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband as a means for cover-up.

1 Chronicles 28:5-7

Of all my sons- and the Lord has given me many- He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. He said to me, “Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son and I will be his Father. I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.”

NIV

Talk about pressure.

Have you ever felt the pressure to either begin a task that was really important or to finish a task that another person -who you believed to be more capable -had started?

Have you ever felt the weight of the world on your shoulders as you were trying to make a decision about something?

Using that context, I can’t help but to think about high school seniors. They have been following all the rules set before them for years; they have been going where they were told to go and to stand where they were told to stand. They wear what is “allowed” to be worn according to school dress codes, they eat when they are told to eat, and they even study what they are told they need to study in order to graduate.

AND NOW THEY ARE ON THE CUSP OF HAVING TO MAKE ALL THOSE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES UPON GRADUATION.

It sounds exciting to them, doesn’t it? To be able to go where I want, study what I want, not study if I want, eat what I want and when I want, and to wear whatever feels comfortable or strikes my fancy.

Suddenly, every decision for their future is now in their own hands.

Do I want to go to college? Which one? For what?? How do I pay for it???

Do I follow in the career path of my parents? Do I have to take over the family business?? When do I take it over since the folks are still working at it???

Do I get a job? What kind of job??

Do I go into the military? Which branch?? And to do what???

In an instant there are a multitude of choices waiting to be chosen…

It can be overwhelming.

Especially if you do not have a specific plan and feel like you need one.

Solomon was taking over the kingdom from a well-loved, widely respected, completely capable, warrior king that was rumored to have been described by GOD to be a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).

David was leaving Solomon with strict, well-thought out instructions on how to rule and if Solomon followed those instructions then the prosperity of Israel and the continuation of David’s descendants on the throne would be ensured.

All Solomon had to do was what he was told.

There it is again… Can you feel that pressure?

Imagine there is something that is being asked of you to do…

Do you feel you are capable of accomplishing it?

Do you feel you are equipped to get it done?

Do you feel confident in your life-skills as a person?

I think it would be easy to initially answer with a “yes…sure…I could do it” once we knew what it was that was being asked of us and that thing was within our “toolshed” of experience.

But what if it is something you have never done before? What if it is something that takes you out of your comfort zone? What if it is something that requires a lot of your time and money or resources? What if it goes against the grain or the plan that was set out before you for many years?

You would KNOW it needs to be done and you have a feeling that you ARE the one to do it…yet, the hesitation to say “yes” is quite strong.

The desire to settle for the answer of “I don’t think I can” is soon taking shape on your lips.

Solomon does not have that luxury to say no or to hesitate. If he says “no thanks- I’ll pass” or does not do things the way he is told to do them, then the consequences are very grave for him, his people, and his legacy.

That pressure starts pushing heavier…

You can’t say no…You have to do it…You have to do it well…You have to do it right.

I would be very afraid to make a move with that kind of pressure looming over me when I realize that there is a lot at stake here.

Is there something that you KNOW you should be doing but you are not?

Is God calling to you do something, go somewhere, say something and you are wondering if He has asked the wrong person because there is something not matching up with His request and you?

What holds you back from being obedient?

That’s what it is, you know…being obedient to the Lord…

Does doing what the Lord has called you to do make you feel afraid?

• will you have to give up something to do it?
• will you lose something to do it?
• will it cost you something to do it?
• will you be embarrassed if you do it?
• what if you don’t do it perfectly and stumble in your efforts?
• what if it changes you if you do it?
• what will people think if you do it?

David had clear words of wisdom for his son:

1. Be strong (tough, fit, hardy, mighty)
2. Be courageous (fearless, adventurous, spirited, audacious, daring)
3. AND DO THE WORK.

As a good father, David says to JUST DO THE WORK.

DO the job.

DO the task set before you.

DO what God has called you to do.

Then, David gives this encouragement for Solomon:

DO NOT BE AFRAID OR DISCOURAGED.

How could David say that when the task set before his son is almost unattainable??

Because…

The Lord -MY God (remember David is a man after God’s own heart) will be with you.

He will not fail you.

He will not forsake you with the work not completed.

David would know best that God is faithful to complete what He has started…God was not going to go against His promises now.

“David advised Solomon not to be frightened about the size of his task as king and builder of the temple. Fear can immobilize us. The size of the job, its risks, or the pressure of the situation can cause us to freeze and do nothing. One remedy for fear is found here-do not focus on the fear; instead, get to work. Getting started is often the most difficult and frightening part of a job”.

NIV Life Application Study Bible Note

Don’t be immobilized by your fear of the risk, the job, or the pressure of the situation. JUST DO THE WORK. Get started. Trust that God has equipped those He has called and never leaves us until His job is completed.

BE UNAFRAID and do the work.