Text: 1 Chronicles 28:1-10
And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:
And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the
LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
David knew God. He gave his son Solomon a very important charge: “Know the God of your father...” Solomon needed to have ' his own relationship with God. It pays to know God. ‘ God knows those who are His; He knows what is in everyone's'mind. He rewards every man according to the works of their hands. David admonished Solomon to be strong and determined to finish the job God had assigned him to do. “Those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You have not forsaken those who seek You (Psalm 9: 10).
Abraham knew God; the Lord appeared to him and woke to him He built altars to the Lord and worshipped Him. He lived conscious of his need for God and he saw God In action in his life. Blessed Is the man whose strength Is in You (Psalm. 84:5).
When you really know a person you will know how he speaks. Give God's word plenty of room in your life and you will be a blessing to those around you. Great blessings await those who delight in God's word. Great peace has those who love Your law and nothing causes them to tumble (Psalm.119:165). Knowing God will quench the fear of man, the fear of the future and the fear of the devil. It will enable you to keep calm in the face of opposition.
Hebrews 11: 1-6
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Anyone who wants to please God must have faith and live by it; “for the just shall live by faith” (Romans. 1:17). One must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Whatever is good, desirable, beneficial and perfect comes down to us from God. Be confident in Him; trust in His power, wisdom. He gives strength to the weary and to him who lacks might He increases power. He can help in temptation, because He himself suffered and was tempted. God is all-sufficient; He is a very present help in trouble.
It was faith that made Noah hear and heed God's warnings about a coming flood, something in the future that he could see. By his act of confidence, he and his family were saved but the world was condemned. Noah was made right with God through faith. Abraham the father of faith pleased God. Abraham believed God and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. He was even called the friend of God (Jas.2:23). He believed God even when it looked ridiculous. He departed from the known to seek the unknown that God had spoken to him about. Thomas did not believe that Jesus arose until he saw and touched Him. Jesus said: “You believe because you see me. Those who believe without seeing me will be truly blessed” (John. 20:29). Better blessings are in store for you when you have faith in God. To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see (Hebrew. 11:1). Know God and Have faith.