This morning, as I read some familiar sounding words, I’m struck by how different the context seems to be for these words. And my initial conclusion is that it’s not just about what you’re doing, it’s about who’s asking you to do it and why.

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.

(1Chronicles 28:20 ESV)

Be strong and courageous . . . the LORD God is with you . . . He will not leave you or forsake you . . .

Those words sound familiar? They should. Them’s fightin’ words! Words spoken by Moses to the people of Israel at the end of their wilderness wanderings as they’re on the doorstep of the promised land ready to engage in Operation “Conquer the Land” (Deut. 31:6, 7, 23). Words spoken again to Joshua, the freshly appointed successor to Moses and commander of Israel’s army, who would soon lead them into battle (Joshua 1:6, 9, 18).

And I get those words. Joshua & Co. are a rag tag band of desert drifters, immigrants of slaves from Egypt, about to take on kings and kingdoms that have been established, organized, and militarized for centuries. So, they better be strong and courageous. So, they better believe that the God who had led them this far would not leave them or forsake them through what was to come. Those words kind of resonate in that situation.

But those words in Solomon’s situation? Words spoken not to a warrior at the precipice of war, but to a builder with everything already provided to do the building. Words spoken not to a relatively novice and very much nervous army but spoken to a king who could, at the scribble of a pen, conscript tens-of-thousands of workers to cut stones, move trees, cut lumber, fashion gold and silver, and raise a house (though a pretty impressive and ornate house).

Not minimizing the task at hand for Solomon — it’s gonna take years to complete. But “Be strong and courageous?” “Do not be afraid, nor dismayed?” “God is with you, never to leave your or forsake you?” Really? The blueprints have been drafted. The materials have been largely secured. The workforce is at hand. And, oh yeah, peace in the region has been secured. So, really? How come these words?

As I chew on it a bit, and as I read again some of what I’ve just read, I end up thinking it’s not just about the what but more importantly about the Who. Not just about the what but more weightily about the why.

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”

(1Chronicles 28:9-10 ESV)

Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you . . . be strong and do it . . . Noodle on that!

The what? Build a house for the sanctuary. Doesn’t sound as dangerous as going to war and conquering territory. But wait . . . there’s more.

Think about the who. The LORD God, the one who searches hearts and understands every plan and thought. And then, think about the why. For the LORD has chosen you.

Whether it’s about a Joshua who is to take a land, or a Solomon who is to build a house, what they have in common is that the LORD God had chosen them for a work He had determined. So, be careful now. Cause, while being delivered by God is one thing and being blessed by God is another, being chosen by God to do something for God is a “next level.” And now that sounds kind of familiar, too.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

(Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV)

Created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them . . .

You and I may have a different what than Joshua or Solomon — though some of our what is lot like Solomon’s (see the post from a couple of days ago) — but our who and the why is pretty much the same. Chosen of God, created for good works which God prepared for us.

So, be careful now.

So, be strong and courageous.

So, do not be afraid or dismayed. For He will not leave you or forsake you.

So, be strong and do it.

By His grace. For His glory.