“Then David said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it [build the house of the Lord]. Fear not, be not dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.’” (1 Chronicles 28:20) King David had served the Lord in battle his entire adult life. He was nearing his end and so was preparing his son Solomon’s rise to the throne and the task of erecting and establishing the Lord’s temple. The plans and materials needed were already supplied, but to say the task itself was daunting is a mastery of understatement. It would take thousands upon thousands of men and millions of man hours over the course of six and a half years to complete it. Wow. But David spoke to Solomon the words in today’s passage in order for him to understand that, no matter what, the Lord’s will must be done.