The gospel is still here. Jesus still answers prayers. If we come in faith believing, he will save. Once saved, Jesus takes care of us; he helps us grow. Here God encouraged David as he was about to die. In turn, David encouraged his son. Be strong, of good courage, and finish it is a direct encouragement from God to David and David to Solomon.
The mighty task of building the temple of God lay on his shoulders. It must be built to God’s liking. There are not several types of Christians. A person is either a Christian or not; we’re either saved or lost. The temple was to be built to God’s instructions. He’s a designer that could be trusted for the temple, and he can be trusted in our lives too. He’s the master architect of the universe. When finished no building in the world would compare with the temple. True, good, spiritual things seem hard to come by in this day and time, but we still have the house of God. There is still the Son of God to call on. He rules and is the soon-coming King.
Solomon needed to hear these words from David. We need them too.
I Chronicles 28: 19 All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. 20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 21 And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing killful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.
David was old and dying. What a rule he had experienced as king! It bothered him that he lived in palaces while God’s house was still a tent. He felt God should have a place grander than he did. David was ashamed at the grandeur he lived in while God’s house had no glory. He would go into the tent and kneel low in the quietness before God. Here God told him he didn’t need a grand palace but for the sake of man he would allow it. The Lord’s ways are plain and straight and simple. The first Christmas was not bright and colorful with lights, but if we do them in the right way we can glorify God. Jesus was given to us in a lowly way. It was God’s choice for it to be this way in order for us to see ourselves without all our trappings. If we go to the ER, no matter how well dressed we are, if we’re hospitalized we’ll be stripped of our clothes and given half a gown to put on. God sees through the trappings of our lives.
Undertaking the building of the temple was a monumental task. Solomon needed God’s help. He needed the encouragement of God. The task before us of serving the Lord and being a Christian is a monumental one. We can quickly see how we come short. It is a labor to serve the Lord, a great calling and responsibility. When we see the enormity of the task as Solomon saw it, it can boggle the mind. He saw himself as he really was. God told David and he passed it along to Solomon. Be strong. Be of good courage. Go ahead and do it!
Sometimes we feel like we can’t do it. We can’t hang in there. We can’t pray. We can’t study the Bible. We can’t bear the burdens. We can’t fight the devil. Many lost people use that excuse for not getting saved saying “I can’t do it.” Well, you can. God said you could; that means you can. Did you ever think you’d make it this far? It’s not by our own means but by God’s courage and his strength that we’ll make it. It won’t happen by our own efforts and smarts. We must trust in the efforts of Jesus Christ. What you and I can’t do, what the law couldn’t do, Jesus Christ did.
The building of the house of God was demanding. It was a lot of work. It was within his ability because of God. The Bible says he that began a good work in you is able to perform it. Until the task is complete and our life’s work is done, moment by moment Jesus will give us the courage and uplift we need to finish the work we are to do. That’s why David said don’t get down. Don’t let the weight of now get to you. Jesus is the one who keeps us going. He’s the one who will finish.
If your car needs an overhaul, will you do it yourself? No. You’ll take it to someone who knows how to do it. That’s how we do it. We trust in the one who knows. We trust the one who is not afraid of anything. We need to trust our heavenly Father and Jesus our Savior. The task is nothing to him. I like the wording of verse 19. The Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. We can answer the skeptic with this. The hand of God is upon us. The scripture is the Word of God and is for everyone. Anyone can see the pattern of God in creation, in nature, in salvation. The pattern means the organization of things to make something wonderful. Jesus took the chaos out and put it back together.
We may not have it all together. We might not be able to do what we used to do physically. God is still able. Everyone who trusts in Jesus can make it. There is a pattern. God saw the finished work of the temple. It went together God’s way and stood until his people let the enemy in. Our ideas and renovations aren’t needed for God’s plan. His plan is fine as is. Don’t worry how it will come together. God will bring it together. Solomon would have all he needed to build. All he had to do was follow the instructions. He didn’t need to worry. All he had to do was go ahead and work.
Verse 20 says be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. The closer we get to the finish line, the harder it gets. Sometimes we may think we can’t finish. Did you start it? No. God did. Have you kept it going? No. God has. We’re just about there. God won’t forsake us now. He intends to finish. Do you intend to finish with him?
Solomon saw the temple finished. He went before the altar and prayed. The glory of God came down. We’re close to finishing. God never fails. All he asks is what he has always asked. Be strong in his courage. With his help and his faithfulness, we can be a finisher. He is the author and finisher. Through him we can be a finisher too!
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 