I Chronicles 28:20
‘Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.”‘
This is a great father to son charge. It’s an interesting one. My first thought is, “You either are or you aren’t. But courage is often misunderstood. I used to think it was without fear. I no longer think that. Because real courage acts in spite of fear. To have fear is human. We must learn to act in spite of it.
Fear is natural and sometimes good. God put it in us for survival and to have the wisdom to avoid some things. It’s when it’s out of proportion is when it’s unhealthy. There are situations in which we dread, but must face. That’s responsibility and courage.
The second charge is to be strong. This isn’t referring to being in good shape, but to do what one must with all they have. It’s a full effort. Not half hearted.
Part of being strong is finishing the task. It’s been said that exhaustion (or something like it) makes cowards of us all. We may start a task well, but weariness wears us down. Being strong of will and character will finishes.
These are traits the Lord cares about. He helps us in life. We have daily challenges that teach us, so when the bigger issues arise we’re ready. David learned this way. The huge battle of his life was against Goliath. The Lord gave him victory agains the bear and the lion first.
David’s charge also says, “do not be dismayed”. We can get discouraged. We can get so weary and down that we quit. The “wanting to quit” will arise, but we have to work through it. Those daily lessons teach us that. God lifts up our chins.
God often works through people. He can encourage that way. He can use us as encouragers. “And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds”, (Hebrews 10:24).
David then says, “My God is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you”. How comforting that is. The sentiment is great, but what makes it real is the experience. Those in Christ know it. Romans 8:14-16 says, ‘For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God’. These verses have been such a blessing these past few years.
Here are some observations about the that passage. The first is that we “haven’t received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again”. In my early years in the faith, I had a residue of guilt. As I would hear messages on grace I saw that my guilt wasn’t of God. My grip loosened and finally let go. The next is the spirit I did receive, that of ‘adoption which cries out, “Abba! Father!”‘ I can feel it do so. It wants God. The last is “the Spirit testifying with our spirit that we are children of God”. I can feel this also. The Holy Spirit communing with my spirit. We are in union with God. How sweet it is. This is an aspect of the good news that I don’t hear much. It’s worth telling.
Today’s verse is a great father/son charge. It involves advice on fear, courage and the faithfulness and love of God. Thank You