February 19, 2009

Dread not! Be not dismayed!

Blessings folk!!

More trying and troubling times are ahead.

We know this to be true. The Lord has told us. He actually told us that there will arise a time…well, here it is…

Matt 24:20-21

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

KJV

We have seen in previous times together that the Lord instructs us to be strong and courageous...even in the worse of times.

But, the Lord also calls us to be strong and courageous in good times.

Hear the words of David (again!) to his son Solomon. This is an interesting passage.

David recounts what the Lord said to him about a son.
David learns why he will not be allowed to do the thing he so wanted...build a temple unto the Lord.
David does what he can...procures supplies, workers.

Pay attention to the situation in which Solomon would enter…

1 Chron 22:1-16
1 Then David said, "This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel." David's Preparations for the Temple
2 So David gave orders to gather the foreigners that were in the land of Israel, and he appointed stonemasons to cut finished stones for building God's house.
3 David supplied a great deal of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, together with an immeasurable quantity of bronze,
4 and innumerable cedar logs, because the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large quantity of cedar logs to David.
5 David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly great and famous and glorious in all the lands. Therefore, I must make provision for it." So David made lavish preparations for it before his death.
6 Then he summoned his son Solomon and instructed him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel.
7 "My son," David said to Solomon, "It was in my heart to build a house for the name of the Lord my God,
8 but the word of the Lord came to me: 'You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You are not to build a house for My name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before Me.
9 But a son will be born to you; he will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies, for his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.
10 He is the one who will build a house for My name. He will be My son, and I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
11 "Now, my son, may the Lord be with you, and may you succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as He said about you.
12 Above all, may the Lord give you insight and understanding when He puts you in charge of Israel so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.
13 Then you will succeed if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or discouraged.
14 "Notice I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the Lord—3,775 tons of gold, 37,750 tons of silver, and bronze and iron that can't be weighed because there is so much of it. I have also provided timber and stone, but you will need to add more to them.
15 You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and people skilled in every kind of work
16 in gold, silver, bronze, and iron—beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the Lord be with you."
(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

In contemporary vernacular, Solomon “had it made.”

David had provided abundantly for the construction to be done.
He prepared for years...until his death. I find it interesting that he knew of this prior to the time that Solomon was born...v. 9...David was told what to name him!

The vision was there.
The plan was there.
The supplies were there.

Solomon knew that he would have:

• rest...no conflict, no war, he would be a man of rest
• peace
• quiet
• the blessing of his father
• the blessing of Father God

In light of all this, why did David tell Solomon to “be strong and courageous…don’t be afraid or discouraged.”

There would be tremendous temptation in Solomon’s life to place his eyes upon the things of the world...to be distracted from God. This actually occurred later...cost him much.

Solomon would rest, but in what would he rest...the provision of his father, his wisdom, the stuff, the power, the process, the building, the accomplishment?

We have the answer.

“Then you will succeed if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.”

Strength and courage are found in the Lord!
His Word will not fail us.

If we rest...if we trust...in anything else, we will fail.

The world may think you have attained success, but the fire of the last days will purify, revealing that which is of eternal significance.

Therefore, let us rest and trust in the Lord.

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Blessings!!