KEY VERSE
“Then David said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.’”
1 CHRONICLES 28:20
Read 1 Chronicles 28:9-12, 20
The passing of the baton
I recall summer 2016. The staff in the secondary school I was working in were preparing for the competitive annual 4x100m relay race. Various subjects made up a house, and these houses were to face each other in a relay race before a lively crowd of students. As the race started, I remember waiting to receive the baton from one of the older teammates, which felt like forever. My team came second out of six teams that day and everyone knew the person I was waiting to receive the baton from was the stumbling block in our team.
In a relay race, what comes before is crucial to what lies ahead.
It may be common sense but have you ever wondered why athletes run quicker in a 4x100m relay than in a 100m solo sprint? The former Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt, is considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time yet it is said that Bolt ran 0.93 seconds faster than his world record in a relay race. The reason for these faster record times is because only one of the runners starts from a stationary position; the other three runners in the team are allowed to build up speed before they take over the baton.
In 1 Chronicles 28, Solomon is about to receive the baton from his father, David, in order to build the temple and lead the children of Israel. He was in a better position than his father to run faster and see the promises of God fulfilled. Solomon was able to stand on David’s shoulders which would give him a head start into the plans and purposes of God. We can learn three lessons from David’s final words to Solomon in order to pass the baton on to a next generation, giving them a head start into the plans and purposes of God:
1. 1 Chronicles 29:19 informs us that David had a plan written down. It is imperative that we have a plan for the next generation and that our current work has a legacy, which lives on beyond us.
2. 1 Chronicles 28:21-29:9 shows us that David provided Solomon with all his resources, personal treasures and workers. We need to set the next generation up to win.
3. 1 Chronicles 28:20 is the most important lesson of the three: It would be easy for Solomon to place his confidence in the plan and resources. However, David instructs him that the work will be completed because God is with him. Solomon needs to have his trust in God, much more than the plan and resources by seeking and serving God. We need to cultivate spirituality in the next generation.
Author: Ashley Gabriel - Pastor, ARC, London