He will be my son

Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ “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. 1 Chronicles 22:6-11

Before calling his young and inexperienced son to tell him what the word of the Lord was concerning Solomon, David had made extensive plans and preparations for building the House of the Lord. David had plans for the Temple to be of great magnificence, and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Image young Solomon getting this news from his father, you have planned for me to build God’s House? A magnificent temple worthy of the Name of the Lord. What a task to give anyone, much less a young man. The work on the temple will be a lot for Solomon to oversee, but that is surely outweighed many times over by God’s proclamation that Solomon will be his son, and God will be his father. And God will establish Solomon’s throne of his kingdom over Israel forever. Wow!!! God truly said that about me? Building the House of the Lord will be a slam dunk – the Lord is definitely with me. Later, the choice of Solomon is proven right when in a dream God grants him one request, and he asks for wisdom to govern Israel and to know right from wrong. If you are a believer in Christ, you were predestined to know Him. May your response to God be as filled with awe of God as Solomon’s was. And may your heart be after God and others, well before yourself.