Commentary - 1 Chronicles 28:20-21

Bird's-eye view

In this passage, we are witnessing a monumental transition of leadership. David, the man after God's own heart, is at the end of his life, and he is formally commissioning his son Solomon to undertake the greatest building project in Israel's history: the construction of the Temple. This is more than a father's parting advice; it is a royal and prophetic charge. The core of the exhortation is that Solomon's success is not contingent upon his own strength or wisdom, but is entirely grounded in the covenantal presence and faithfulness of Yahweh. David commands Solomon to be courageous and to act, not because the task is easy, but because God is with him and will not fail him. Furthermore, David shows Solomon that God's promise is accompanied by His practical providence; all the necessary personnel, from priests to skilled craftsmen to civil authorities, are already in place and at his disposal. This is a powerful illustration of the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

The central theme is that God's commands are always accompanied by God's enablement. The basis for courage in the face of an overwhelming task is not self-confidence, but God-confidence. The promise, "He will not fail you nor forsake you," is the engine that drives the command to "be strong and courageous, and act." This passage serves as a type for all the work God calls His people to, culminating in the Great Commission. God provides the blueprint, the promise, and the people necessary to complete His work.

Outline

Context In 1 Chronicles

This passage comes at the climax of David's reign as presented by the Chronicler. The entire book has been building toward the establishment of the temple and its worship. David, though he desired to build the temple, was forbidden because he was a man of war (1 Chron 28:3). His role was to prepare for it, which he has done meticulously. He has gathered enormous amounts of material (1 Chron 22:2-5, 14-16), secured the plans "by the Spirit" (1 Chron 28:12, 19), and organized the entire worship apparatus of Israel, including the priests and Levites (1 Chron 23-26). Chapter 28 is David's final public address to the leaders of Israel. He has just presented Solomon as God's chosen successor and has given him the detailed blueprints for the temple. Our text is the personal, final charge from the outgoing king to the incoming king, the last word of encouragement before the work begins. It is the formal hand-off of the most sacred task ever given to an Israelite king.

Key Issues

The Great Hand-Off

Every great work of God has its transitions. Moses passes the mantle to Joshua. Elijah passes it to Elisha. And here, David passes the grand project of the temple to his son Solomon. But this is more than just a change of management. This is a lesson in how God's work gets done in every generation. The task is always too big for us. Whether it is building a literal temple of stone and gold, or building the spiritual temple of the Church through the Great Commission, the task is daunting. It is meant to be. A task that we could accomplish in our own strength would not require faith, and would not bring glory to God. The charge to Solomon is therefore the charge to every believer who stands before an impossible assignment from God: the foundation is not your ability, but God's fidelity.

Verse by Verse Commentary

20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for Yahweh 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 Yahweh is completed.

David's charge to Solomon echoes God's earlier charge to Joshua as he was about to lead Israel into the Promised Land (Josh 1:6-9). This is the language of covenant succession. The command is threefold: Be strong, be courageous, and act. The first two deal with internal character, the third with external obedience. This is not a call to muster up strength from within. This is not positive thinking. The strength and courage required are the fruit of a settled conviction, the reason for which is given immediately. You are to act this way for, or because, Yahweh God is with you. Notice the personal nature of it: "my God, is with you." David is transferring his personal, covenantal relationship with God to his son. This is the bedrock of all Christian endeavor. We do not act in order to get God to come to us; we act because He is already with us.

The promise that follows is one of the great refrains of Scripture: "He will not fail you nor forsake you." This is the guarantee. God's presence is not passive; it is an active, sustaining presence that ensures the completion of the task. God will not get halfway through the temple project and then lose interest or run out of resources. He is committed to the work until it is completed. This is a glorious promise. The perseverance of the saints is grounded in the perseverance of God. He who began a good work in you, and in His church, will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6).

21 Now behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God, and every willing man with wisdom will be with you in all the work for all the service. The officials also and all the people will be entirely at your command.”

Here David moves from the divine promise to the visible, tangible evidence of God's provision. It is as if he says, "Solomon, look around you. God's promise is not a naked abstraction; it has flesh and bones." God has not just promised to help; He has already assembled the team. First, the spiritual infrastructure is in place: the divisions of the priests and the Levites. The worship, the central purpose of the temple, is already organized and ready to go. Second, the skilled labor force is present: every willing man with wisdom. This is a beautiful phrase. God provides not just bodies, but willing hearts and skillful hands. God's work is not accomplished by conscripts, but by a people made willing in the day of His power (Ps 110:3). Wisdom here means practical skill and craftsmanship, the gifts necessary for the task. Third, the civil and popular support is secured. The officials and all the people are at Solomon's command. God, in His providence, has aligned the entire nation behind this project. Solomon is not starting from scratch. He is stepping into a situation that God has been preparing for decades through David. This is how God works. He lays the groundwork, provides the means, and then calls His servant to step out in faith and act.

Application

This passage is a direct charge to the Church of Jesus Christ. We have been given a building project that dwarfs Solomon's. We are to be living stones, building ourselves up into a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:5), and we are to build that house throughout the world by making disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19). This task is utterly impossible in our own strength. Therefore, the charge to us is the same: "Be strong and courageous, and act."

Why should we not be afraid? Because the greater Solomon, Jesus Christ, has given us the same promise: "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matt 28:20). His presence is the only basis for our courage. He will not fail us or forsake us until the work is done. And just as He did for Solomon, He has provided all the necessary resources. He has given the church her "priests and Levites", pastors and teachers for the work of ministry (Eph 4:11-12). He has filled the church with "willing men with wisdom", saints gifted by the Spirit for every kind of service. And He who is King of kings has all authority in heaven and on earth, arranging all of history for the completion of His purposes.

Therefore, we are not to be paralyzed by the size of the task or the strength of our opposition. We are to look at the promise of His presence and the evidence of His provision all around us in the church. And then, we are to get to work. Be strong. Be courageous. Act.