#9 Holy Wit – Bible Study Be Strong and Courageous (I Am With You: Courage Rooted in God’s Nearness – 1 Chronicles 28:20) ________________________________________ Scripture Reading (NKJV): 1 Chronicles 28:20 “Then 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.’” 1 Chronicles 28 (selected context, NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+28&version=NKJV ________________________________________ 1. A Command Spoken at the Threshold of Transition 1 Chronicles 28 records one of the most solemn moments in Israel’s history. David, the warrior-king, stands at the end of his reign. He will not build the temple; that work belongs to his son. The weight of succession, unfinished vision, and holy responsibility rests squarely on Solomon’s shoulders. David’s charge is not sentimental encouragement. It is a command rooted in covenant reality: “Be strong and of good courage.” Courage here is not emotional confidence but obedient resolve at the moment of handoff. Relevant Scriptures (NKJV): Deuteronomy 31:7–8 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+31%3A7-8&version=NKJV Joshua 1:6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A6&version=NKJV ________________________________________ 2. Courage Defined by Obedience, Not Temperament David does not tell Solomon to feel strong or to summon bravery from within. He tells him to do it. Biblical courage is action taken in obedience despite fear, not the absence of fear itself. Solomon is called to build according to God’s revealed pattern, not his own imagination. Strength, in this passage, is measured by faithfulness to God’s instructions, not by visible success or public approval. Relevant Scriptures (NKJV): 1 Kings 2:2–3 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+2%3A2-3&version=NKJV James 1:22 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A22&version=NKJV ________________________________________ 3. “The LORD God—My God”: Personal Faith Passed Down David’s words grow more intimate as he speaks: “for the LORD God—my God—will be with you.” This is not abstract theology. David is handing Solomon a tested confession. The God who sustained David through wilderness, war, failure, repentance, and restoration is the same God who now accompanies Solomon. Courage is grounded not in inherited position, but in a personally known God whose faithfulness has been proven across generations. Relevant Scriptures (NKJV): Psalm 18:1–2 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+18%3A1-2&version=NKJV 2 Timothy 1:5 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1%3A5&version=NKJV ________________________________________ 4. God’s Nearness as the Antidote to Fear David directly addresses fear: “do not fear nor be dismayed.” The reason follows immediately—“for the LORD God… will be with you.” Scripture consistently treats fear not merely as an emotion but as a theological problem: forgetting who is present. God’s nearness does not remove the size of the task; it redefines the meaning of the task. Solomon is not building alone, and therefore he is not responsible for ultimate success. Relevant Scriptures (NKJV): Isaiah 41:10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+41%3A10&version=NKJV Psalm 27:1 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+27%3A1&version=NKJV ________________________________________ 5. “He Will Not Leave You Nor Forsake You” This promise echoes loudly through Scripture. David anchors Solomon’s courage in God’s unbroken presence, not merely at the beginning of the work, but “until you have finished all the work.” God’s nearness is not momentary inspiration; it is sustaining faithfulness from start to completion. The work of God always unfolds under the presence of God, even when the worker feels inadequate. Relevant Scriptures (NKJV): Deuteronomy 31:6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+31%3A6&version=NKJV Hebrews 13:5 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A5&version=NKJV ________________________________________ 6. From Temple Builder to True Temple While Solomon would build a physical house for the LORD, Scripture ultimately points beyond stone and gold to Christ Himself. Jesus embodies the fullness of God’s dwelling with His people. The promise “I am with you” reaches its fullest expression in Emmanuel—God with us. Courage for God’s people today is grounded in the same truth David gave Solomon: the work entrusted by God is never separated from the presence of God. Relevant Scriptures (NKJV): Matthew 1:23 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A23&version=NKJV Matthew 28:20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A20&version=NKJV ________________________________________ Reflection Questions 1. How does understanding the historical moment between David and Solomon deepen the force of the command to “be strong and courageous”? 2. In what ways do you confuse courage with confidence rather than obedience? 3. How does God’s promise of nearness reshape your response to fear or uncertainty in your calling? 4. What unfinished work has God placed before you that requires trust in His sustaining presence? ________________________________________ Prayer Points 1. Thank God that His presence does not depend on your strength or competence. 2. Ask for courage that expresses itself in obedience rather than self-reliance. 3. Confess areas where fear has replaced trust in God’s nearness. 4. Pray for perseverance to finish the work God has entrusted to you. ________________________________________ For further study (NKJV): Joshua 1:9 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A9&version=NKJV Isaiah 43:1–2 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43%3A1-2&version=NKJV 2 Corinthians 12:9 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A9&version=NKJV ________________________________________ #HolyWitBibleStudy #GordonMcGinnis #IAmWithYou #1Chronicles2820