1 Chronicles 28:20

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

And David {H1732} said {H559} to Solomon {H8010} his son {H1121}, Be strong {H2388} and of good courage {H553}, and do {H6213} it: fear {H3372} not, nor be dismayed {H2865}: for the LORD {H3068} God {H430}, even my God {H430}, will be with thee; he will not fail {H7503} thee, nor forsake {H5800} thee, until thou hast finished {H3615} all the work {H4399} for the service {H5656} of the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}.

Then David said to Shlomo his son, "Be strong, be bold, and do it! Don't be afraid or become discouraged! For ADONAI, God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or abandon you until all the work for the service in the house of ADONAI has been finished.

David also said to Solomon his son, β€œBe strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you before all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for Jehovah God, even my God, is with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah be finished.

Commentary

1 Chronicles 28:20 records King David's profound and encouraging words to his son Solomon, as Solomon prepared to undertake the monumental task of building the Temple in Jerusalem. This verse serves as a powerful testament to divine promise and human responsibility.

Context

This verse comes at a pivotal moment in Israel's history. King David, nearing the end of his life, has gathered the leaders of Israel and publicly passed the torch to his son Solomon, entrusting him with the sacred duty of constructing the House of the LORD. David had been forbidden by God from building the Temple himself due to his involvement in warfare (1 Chronicles 22:8), but he meticulously prepared all the materials and plans. His address to Solomon here is a final charge, an act of mentorship and faith, emphasizing the divine backing Solomon would receive for this immense undertaking.

Key Themes

  • Divine Commission and Empowerment: David's words are not just paternal advice but a reaffirmation that Solomon's task is divinely appointed. The command to "Be strong and of good courage" echoes the charge given to Joshua when leading Israel into the Promised Land, signifying a divine mandate and the necessary strength God provides for His work.
  • God's Unfailing Presence and Faithfulness: The core of David's encouragement lies in the promise, "for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." This is a foundational covenant promise, assuring Solomon of God's constant support and unwavering commitment to His people and His purposes. This echoes promises found throughout Scripture, such as in Deuteronomy 31:6.
  • Overcoming Fear and Dismay: Building the Temple was an enormous, unprecedented architectural and spiritual project. David recognized the potential for Solomon to feel overwhelmed. The exhortation, "fear not, nor be dismayed," directly addresses the human tendency towards anxiety and doubt in the face of daunting challenges, assuring Solomon that God's presence negates any reason for fear.
  • Purpose-Driven Perseverance: The promise of God's unfailing presence is tied to the completion of the specific task: "until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD." This highlights that God's faithfulness is active and sustaining, empowering Solomon to see the divine project through to its conclusion.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew phrase translated "Be strong and of good courage" is chazaq v'ametz (Χ—Φ²Χ–Φ·Χ§ Χ•ΦΆΧΦ±ΧžΦΈΧ₯). This powerful imperative is frequently used in the Old Testament to commission leaders for significant tasks, emphasizing inner fortitude and resolute determination, often against formidable odds. It implies not just physical strength but mental and spiritual resilience, rooted in trust in God.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Chronicles 28:20 offers timeless encouragement. When faced with significant callings, challenges, or even daily duties, we can draw strength from David's words to Solomon. God's promise to "not fail thee, nor forsake thee" is a bedrock truth for all who serve Him, providing assurance that His presence is constant and His support unfailing. This verse reminds us that:

  • God equips those He calls.
  • Fear is overcome by faith in God's presence.
  • Perseverance in God's work is sustained by His faithfulness.
Just as Solomon was enabled to build the physical Temple, believers are empowered by God to participate in His greater spiritual work, trusting in His steadfast presence until the work is complete, echoing the promise of Jesus to be with His disciples always.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
An Introduction to 1 Chronicles: A Priestly History of David An Introduction to 2 Chronicles: A Priestly History of Judah The Kings of Judah: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Hezekiah: The Reforming King The Building of Solomon's Temple

Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 22:13

    Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

  • Joshua 1:5

    There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

  • Joshua 1:9

    Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.

  • Isaiah 41:10

    ΒΆ Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

  • Deuteronomy 31:7

    And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

  • Deuteronomy 31:8

    And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:13

    ΒΆ Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
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