1 Chronicles 22:5-16
In today’s text, a father’s death approaches, and he thinks of the legacy he will leave to his son. Has he taught his son enough? Will his son be able to carry out the duties entrusted to him? How carefully will his son follow God’s instructions?
People whose loved ones include children understand the brevity of life. An infant comes into the world, and they seem to grow up so quickly, learning to talk, walk, go to school, take care of themselves, drive, get a job, manage their money…and, hopefully, move out into the world to become independent. When we look at the children in our lives, we see their delight, their joy, their curiosity, and their potential—including their potential to fail because, perhaps, they’re not ready for certain steps or we haven’t fully prepared them or they can’t handle things not going their way.
King David was no different from us in that respect. He knew what God had planned: a glorious temple fit for the Lord Almighty, a place where people could come to worship and pray and make sacrifices, a place fit for the Creator of the Universe. David wanted to build this temple, but God told him it wasn’t his task (v. 8). Instead, the task would fall to his son Solomon (vv. 9-10). That must have been hard for David. He had to give his own dreams to his son, knowing that he himself wouldn’t live to see their fulfillment.
Even knowing this, however, David decided to do what he could to help Solomon while he still lived. “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced,” he said, “and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorified throughout all lands; I will therefore make preparation for it” (v. 5a). David collected vast amounts of materials for the temple construction before he died, and thus Solomon was ready to fulfill his charge when the time came. With God’s blessing, his father’s legacy gave him the supplies, encouragement, and strength he needed to build that glorious temple.
Discussion
• Who are the children in your life? What are the things you hope to teach them as they grow?
• What happens when children reach young adulthood without being prepared for its challenges and demands?
• What do you think went through David’s mind when God told him he wouldn’t be the one to complete the temple?
• How do you think it felt for David to hand this role down to his son Solomon?
• What are some steps you can take to prepare the children in your life for the possibilities God might have for them?
Kelley Land, a graduate of Mercer University, has been an assistant editor of Smyth & Helwys curriculum and books since 2001. In addition to this work, she is a freelance editor for other publishers and authors. She also regularly volunteers for Jay’s HOPE, a nonprofit serving families of children with cancer. Kelley enjoys spending time with her teenage daughters, Samantha and Natalie, her husband John, and the family’s two dachshund mix pups, Luke and Leia. She likes supporting community theater productions and is often found playing board games with a group of rowdy friends. She loves Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Doctor Who. And she writes middle grade and young adult fiction for the pure joy of it.
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