And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God--my God--[will be] with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

Do you believe that you are called to reach people for Christ?  Do you hurt inside for people who you know are lost and without hope?  Are you tired of watching your friends fall prey to the lies of the enemy?  Do you want to help set them free?  Are you sensing that you are being called to preach the Word of God in a foreign land?  Are being sifted and tried in the fire?

If so, then I ask you to take some time and meditate on Solomon and his challenge.  “But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who [am] I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?

King David gave one of the hardest jobs you could ever give a son; build a house where God dwells!  This was no ordinary structure or typical church building, No, this was the temple of God.  In this house were to be the holy of holies, the ark of the covenant, the cherubim and seraphim, the mercy seat, the very footstool of God!

David was a worshiper of God or Yahweh.  His love for God unparalleled.  His devotion to God unmatched.  A man of tremendous valor.  A poet of great renown.  A musician that could play any instrument.  A preacher, oh yes, the best!  This great man of God is asking one of his many sons, Solomon, to build the house that he wanted to build, but God would not let him because David had shed much blood as a warrior.

For Solomon this had to have been a daunting task.  To build the greatest structure ever built by man must have been a bit intimidating.  Sometimes you really have set yourself down in the Bible and sit awhile.  To feel something of the grandeur of these moments.

Solomon did a very wise thing early in His reign.  The bible tells us that Solomon prayed this prayer, “Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"  The Lord loved his prayer and answered it by giving Solomon a heart of understanding to discern both good and evil.  Besides building a glorious temple, Solomon wrote the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs wonderful writings that bless all creeds and cultures of people and faith.

Solomon has the blueprints of God’s house in his hands, commissioned with the unbelievable job, but Solomon wisdom and understanding from God to rely on.  Solomon had the sense that he could not build this awesome building without God.  David exhorts his son before he dies that he should be strong and do the things God has told him.  Why?  Because God had promised David that his seed would be never fail from sitting on the royal throne in Jerusalem.  God would never leave Solomon!  The only condition, Solomon could not leave God!

How about you?  Are called to proclaim God's word?  To many lost people, and in tough places?  Those who are far from God?  Are you called to seek greater heights in the kingdom of God?  To stand against a great evil and hold ground for God?   No one can do the big stuff without a deep understanding of God and his wisdom.  God will only give wisdom and discernment to those who cry out for it, who seek it like they are looking for gold and silver.

If you are in this way, you are in good company, many men and women besides Solomon have been called to do things that are impossible for God.  You may know some of them, maybe your parents or grandparents or associates or somebody you look up to?  If they are worth anything they will admit that they could never build a great house or ministry without the abiding presence of God!

So seek the Lord for wisdom and ask him for understanding on how to do the next thing and keep asking until its all done!  Then you can rest in heaven with Him J

Blessings and Peace,

Jonathan