I read in 1 Chronicles 28 this morning. It talked about King David and his son, Solomon who would become King after him. Here are some key verses from that passage that tell of God’s relationship between David and Solomon and God:

Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it. 3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.
David loved God. He wanted to build a temple where the Spirit of God could dwell. God said no because David had killed so many people as the children of Israel took posession of the Promised Land.
5 And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6 Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father.
God chose his son Solomon to build His temple. God said He would be a father to Solomon.
9 “As for you, my son Solomon,
know the God of your father,
and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind;
for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts.
If you seek Him, He will be found by you;
but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary;
be strong, and do it.”
King David loved his son and stressed to him to be most loyal to God all the days of his life. He told Solomon to stay strong as he builds God temple.
20 And David said to his son Solomon,
“Be strong and of good courage, and do it;
do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you.
He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
King David encouraged Solomon like Joshua was encouraged when he began to go in and take possession of the Promised Land (Joshua 1:9).
I Chronicles 28 reminds me of my three youngest siblings. Growing up they had a harder life than the rest of us. Mom had severe breathing problems. Dad died when my brother was five and my sisters were teenagers. And they had to make a move of several hours of driving to the panhandle of Oklahoma.
But as God promised Solomon he was a Father to them also. They went through many years of hardships and questioning why. But they learned to be strong. And they learned to have courage and do what needed to be done.
Fifteen years after my dad’s death, they are doing amazing things. All three have attended a private Christian college. Two have Bachelor’s degrees. One is in Russia. One is in Vietnam. And the other is still at college. Through hardships they learn to overcome. They have had big dreams and when opportunites came around to cause those dreams to happen they put all their effort into them and their dreams came true.