Success Planned for the Successor

Reflections on 1 Chronicles 22:2-19

One responsibility of leadership is to prepare the way for a successor. Although it appears David was slow to designate Solomon as his successor, he had prepared the way for him.

PLAN AND CHARGE. David had wanted to build a house for the Lord, but God had forbidden him because he was a man of blood and war. Still, God promised that his son Solomon would be a man of peace and that he would build a house for God. When Solomon had been appointed king, David called him in and charged him to build a house for the Lord. David prepared the way for his successor by giving him a clear objective.

INEXPERIENCE. David may have been slow to designate Solomon as co-regent because Solomon was young and inexperienced. Solomon could not have been born much earlier than halfway through David's 40-year reign (he was born after the conquest of Ammon), but he did have a son before he became king (cf. 1 Kings 11:42 and 1 Kings 14:21), so he was probably about 20 years old. At that age, he would not have had the same experience in managing any of the royal property as brothers who were 10 to 15 years older (Absalom had had charge of sheep and sheep shearing; 2 Samuel 13:23). This may account for David's apparent reluctance to name a successor.

PREPARATION. Because David was passionate about his dream and because Solomon was young, David had already enlisted many of the laborers (stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, and iron) and donated materials (cedar logs, bronze, iron, silver, and gold) needed for building the temple.

BLESSING. After David instructed Solomon to build the temple and told him the preparations he had already made, he blessed his son wishing the Lord to be with him and to give him discretion, understanding, and success. Finally, he charged him to obey the Lord, to be strong and courageous, and never to be afraid or discouraged.