Be Strong and Courageous

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. 1 Chronicles 28:20

If you only read the subject line, you might have thought today’s scripture was about Moses and Joshua. But the same phrase that Moses, an really it was the Lord through Moses, spoke to Joshua as Moses was nearing his time of death and the leadership of the nation and entering the Promised Land was turned over to Joshua. Here, David is nearing the end of his life. God has chosen Solomon to be king after David. Solomon is charged with building the Temple, the House of the Lord. David gives Solomon the same words of encouragement, Be strong and courageous. For both David and Moses, they would not complete the desire of their hearts, but would pass it on to the man God chose to complete the job. Both David and Moses knew Solomon and Joshua could be strong and courageous because it was not all on their shoulders, bur rather they could pass on the message that God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work is finished. In your life, you could insert your name in place of Solomon or Joshua, not that you would build the Temple or lead Israel into the Promised Land, but that Jesus died, and because he died (and rose again), God is with us. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will be with you to complete the calling he has for you and he calls you home. Therefore, be strong and courageous!