Orig: 11/20/02
"Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would. May the LORD give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. 1Chronicles 22:11-13
Growing up as a young boy in San Luis Obispo, California was a time of fond memories of my childhood. We had the classic neighborhood with the local “candy” market, shady park, creek with the legend of the giant snake, mysterious sunbathing woman, man-eating wiener dogs (I still hate those little dogs), and the constant competition about who is the king of the neighborhood. There were many times one would find us arguing about which of our school yard heroes were the coolest: Audie Murphy, John Wayne, Dick Butkis, or Jack Lambert.
When we played football in the park we did not care what position we played but we would fight over who we got to be.
Come to think of it, besides being men, each one of our heroes had one thing in common-greatness. No boy grows up wanting to be anonymous, infamous or notorious (well, maybe some). I believe this to be fact because God has designed men for the greatness required to run our race for Him under the mighty roar of the “cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1)” in Witness Stadium.
Greatness, however, is no easy task because doing great things for God requires great courage. Courage manifests itself in many forms but great courage for the man of God comes from trusting a great God.
We cannot do great things in our hunt for God without trusting the God who epitomizes all things great. In this passage God is calling out the greatness in Solomon but Solomon had several strikes against him. His father David said it best, "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. (1 Chronicles 22:5)”
He was “young and inexperienced” and lacked proven courage. He was also a man of “peace and rest” not war and aggression like his father David. An initial opinion about Solomon could be that of a wimp or weakling, but the weakest man who trusts God is the strongest, the most courageous man in the universe (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Ultimately, this is how Solomon’s life played out.
Our courage depends not only on our strength, but the depth of our trust combined with the strength of the One we trust. Traditionally Israel was a nation of turmoil and war. Can you imagine how this young man of “peace and rest” must have wrestled with leading a nation of constant war?
It’s simple.
God would give Solomon great “discretion and understanding” (i.e. wisdom) to lead the people of God to experience such blessing of prosperity during his reign as never been seen before or after. God was about to do a great work through Solomon, but first He had to do a great work in Solomon.
Stop, did you read that?
Before God can do a great work through a man he must do a great work in a man (1 Thessalonians 2:13). It is only then that He can “carry it onto completion (Philippians 1:6).” Are you allowing God to do a great work in you so He might do a great work through you?
