Throughout David’s life, the word of the Lord reminded him to take heart and not be afraid. Now as David is getting his affairs in order before he dies, he gives the same encouragement to his son Solomon who will succeed him as king. Since God forbade David to build a temple, David gives Solomon detailed instructions on doing so. He tells him the importance of ruling well, how it will be necessary for him to have “discretion and understanding” (v. 12), and that he must observe God’s commands.


Solomon is allowed to build the temple that David was not to build, because Solomon was a man of peace. As David shows, ruling wisely in peace time requires just as much wisdom and courage as leading in war time. Many circumstances would come when doing the right thing would not be popular and would produce fear. But the promise-making and promise-keeping God of David would see Solomon through.


God has not changed throughout these thousands of years. The Lord of David and Solomon gives courage and help to us who follow Him, too.