1 Chronicles 22:11

1Ch 22:11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.

Ver. 11. The Lord be with thee; and prosper thou.] This is both votura et vaticinium, a prayer and a promise.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ch_22:11-13

Now, my son, the Lord be with thee.

A fathers prayer for his son

I. For the possession of moral qualities.

1. Wisdom and understanding.

2. Strength end moral courage.

II. For the presence of God.

III. For successful undertaking. (J. Wolfendale.)

Condition of successful effort

I. Personal fitness.

1. Wisdom to direct.

2. Strength to work.

II. Gods presence to help in its prosecution.

III. Loyal obedience to god: keep the law of the Lord. (J. Wolfendale.)

The qualifications needed

I. The source from whence they come.

II. The design for which they are given. (J. Wolfendale.)

Keeping Gods law

I. Gods will is a law.

II. This law should be kept.

III. Obedience to this law is wisdom. (J. Wolfendale.)

Right training

We have read that Solomon was young and tender, young and timid; it would seem as if David, recognising the timidity of his son, specially charged him to cultivate courage, bravery, fearlessness. This was training up a child in the way he should go. We are too fond of training our strongest faculties, and thus we are tempted to neglect the weaker side of our nature. Find out the weak side of a childs character, and address yourself assiduously to its cultivation. We should seek to fall the empty sack, not to overcrowd the full one. Bring into play the muscles that are most difficult to get at, and do not overtrain those which afford the fairest prospect of immediate results. When we complain of a weak memory, or a hesitant will, or a defective imagination, we should address ourselves to the cultivation of that which is in special need of culture. (J. Parker, D. D.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He showeth that there can be no prosperity, but when the Lord is with us.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(11) The Lord be with thee.—See 1Ch_9:20. (1Sa_3:19; 2Ki_18:7 : “The Lord was with him.”) The phrase is the origin of the familiar liturgical formula, “The Lord be with you.”

And prosper thou, and build the house.—Not a command, but a wish, i.e., mayest thou prosper and build. The verb “prosper” (literally, carry through, make succeed) is used transitively in 2Ch_7:11 and Gen_24:40.

As he hath said of (upon) thee.—This phrase (dibbèr ‘al) is specially used of Divine threats and promises. (See Gen_18:19; Isa_37:22; and comp. 1Ch_22:8, above: “And the word of the Lord became upon me.”)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Now, my son, the Lord be with thee, &c. Or "shall be with thee" (r), as some; and if it be as a prayer, it was no doubt a prayer of faith; the Targum is,"may the Word of the Lord be thine help:"

and prosper thee; may success attend thee:

and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee; foretold he should, and therefore would assist him to do it, which was an encouragement to go about it.

(r) "erit", Pagninus, Montanus; "futurus est", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Prosper thou; go on prosperously in carrying on this work; or, the Lord give thee that rest and prosperity which is necessary for it.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Vers. 11-13.

The aged king"s charge to his son and successor.

The language of David to his son here, and shortly afterwards to the princes of the kingdom, indicate well his recognition and lively memory of the fact that stone and wood, gold and iron, will need willing hands, earnest minds, devoted hearts, and that even the best material of doctrine and truth will lie dead without the energy of the will and the living Spirit. The present utterances of David"s lips, though somewhat various, go together to make what may still be correctly called one charge. And this charge is formulated in words of

I DIRECT ADDRESS AND INCITEMENT. David uses the direct human means, he looks upon his son. He speaks as a father to his son. With these natural aids of human look and voice he appeals to him, and remembers that the memory of them may possess an influence of incalculable helpfulness at some critical moments in time to come. It is not sufficient that we think and pray over God"s work and over others. We must use that word as a weapon, and wield it with all such force, both of kind and of degree, as may be open to us. So to preaching and teaching the best, the purest, and the most prepared of Divine truth, we must add the instrument of appeal. That appeal must be in God"s name, and must consist of his truth, but it must still be our appeal, warm with the love and sympathy of the heart of a fellow-creature, and quivering with the anxious tones of a fellow-creature"s voice. And in carrying out these methods, however undesignedly, David:

1. Announces the opportunity that lies before his son. He will not suffer any risk in the matter, but constrains his son to look at the opportunity, secures his surveying it in something of its proper dimensions. Solomon was very young still; but youth often under-estimates the dimensions of the things that are greatest of all. Just as the vast scenery that the eye looks on for the first time seems to have been over-described and exaggerated, till the truth grows on the eye day after day, and month after month, and that eye becomes educated to estimate magnitude more correctly. David, therefore, fixes attention, at all events, upon the grandeur of the opportunity which has now fallen to the lot of a very young man the house of the Lord thy God.

2. Emphasizes the value of the suggestions arising from a fathers experience. David has not concealed from his young son what it had been in himself which had stood in the way of his accomplishing his own desire. It is not always to be expected, nor always wise or right, that a father "make a clean breast of it" to a young son. But David has done this now, and adds advice, and the tones of an earnest deep feeling which failed not to betray itself.

3. Urges the far more potent inducement of the Divine designation. "Build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee. " If somewhat veiled, this is in effect the strong argument enwrapt in St. Paul"s exhortation, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure". (Php_2:12, 13) What a tremendous force has developed itself from the midst of all the weakness of human powers, when these have heard and surrendered themselves to the Divine call! Nothing so disarms as the consciousness that God and his truth are against you; and nothing fills the heart with such true fire and such abiding, growing determination as the happy contrary.

4. Appeals to the principle of sanctified courage. "Be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed." The strength, the courage, the fearlessness, not such as should have to be shown against any outer foe, but against the foe who must be feared from within: To fear responsibility rather than to dare it, is one thing; to run away from duty, from high endeavour, from difficult enterprise because of responsibility, is another thing, and an ignoble thing. Against temptation of this kind even a man"s natural courage should largely defend him, much more should godly courage.

II INDIRECT ADDRESS, AS OVERHEARD, FOR INSTANCE, IN THE SUGGESTIONS OF FERVENT PRAYER. Of all malevolent influences, one of the most disastrous is when the impression is produced upon one that he is "prayed against. " 0f all tendering, melting influences, one of the most effective has been observed to be when genuine prayer has been overheard; the person praying unconscious thereof, and the person prayed for convinced of the same. But in this case David wishes his young son to hear and knew his prayer and deepest desires for him. And Solomon hears therein:

1. The prayer that speaks gentle, thoughtful affection. "The Lord be with thee the unchanging, almighty, unerring Friend. This petition, too familiar to our ear, too little familiar to our thought, knows no limit of time, sets no bound to help, begs constant mercy, constant love.

2. The prayer that suggests the memory of need the need of "wisdom and understanding." Amid high position, great power, immense wealth and glory, David will not have his son forget the need of that "wisdom and understanding" which were more precious than rubies, and above all price. Nor will he have him forget that from God alone are these to be derived. And the exceeding importance that David attaches to the possession of these is further indicated by the word "only." If only these are given by the Giver of all good, if only these are treasured by his son, all else may be trusted to go well.

3. The prayer that honours obedience. Solomon must "keep the Law of the Lord his God;" he must "take heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel." His principle, his idea, his habit none of these must look the way of doing his own will, ruling for his own ends or glory. He is but a vicegerent over God"s people, and follows in this respect the greatest exemplars and models of his people from most ancient, most honoured times. God had so "charged" Moses concerning Israel, that Moses had for the most part been obedient and "faithful as a servant;" and David prays that a similarly gracious, condescending, and commanding charge" may be vouchsafed to Solomon, and heard and "kept" by Solomon.

4. The prayer that authoritatively pronounces the embryo blessing. "Then shalt thou prosper." So this charge, both for its matter and for its manner, for its following the precedents of wise human means, and for its imploring the Divine blessing and unhesitatingly avowing the perpetual need of Divine interposition, was well adapted to produce lasting impression on Solomon. What could the loving father and the dying king do more for his people, for his son, for his God?

Vers. 11-13.

Fatherly wishes and prayers.

David was not satisfied to make material preparations for the erection of the temple at Jerusalem. He had something more valuable than metals and stone and timber to give his son, in view of the great work which it should devolve upon him to execute. He gave to Solomon his counsels and his prayers. In these verses David

I LAYS DOWN THE CONDITIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS OF SUCCESSFUL WORK FOR THE LORD. These are:

1. Intellectual gifts," wisdom and understanding." If bodily strength is a gift from the Lord, much more is vigour and versatility of mind. A curse when employed in the service of self and sin, these endowments become a precious and unspeakable blessing when consecrated to the cause of God.

2. A position of influence and authority. Solomon had "charge concerning Israel." All who by birth, station, position, or office have special influence over others have also special responsibilities. This is true, not only of political, but also of social and educational influence.

3. Reverent regard to Gods will. Solomon"s strength was in "keeping the Law of the Lord," in "taking heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel.

4. A fearless and courageous spirit. This seems natural to some men; but in those naturally self-distrustful courage may be cultivated by a habitual reliance upon the grace and promises of God.

5. Above all, the presence of the Lord. If he be with his servants, his work shall prosper in their hands. Here David also

II EXPRESSES HIS HEART"S DESIRE AND PRAYER ON HIS SON"S BEHALF. We read David"s heart in these utterances. Whilst his judgment as to the conditions of prosperity are Laid down, how devoutly does he desire that success may crown Solomon"s efforts, that the work of the Lord may be accomplished! It was natural to the King of Israel to shape his wishes into prayers; the wishes of so pious a man could be nothing less than prayers. His heart"s desire for his son was this The Lord be with thee! give thee all qualifications and all help in his service!

PRACTICAL LESSONS.

1. Regard and seek all means of usefulness. Especially should the young prize every means of serving their generation according to the will of God. Nothing is to be despised or rejected which can tend to bring about an end so desirable.

2. In the acquisition and employment of all means of usefulness, neglect not those habits of prayer which will tend to make those means abundantly efficacious. T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Now, my son, the Lord be with thee, &c. Or "shall be with thee" (r), as some; and if it be as a prayer, it was no doubt a prayer of faith; the Targum is,"may the Word of the Lord be thine help:"

and prosper thee; may success attend thee:

and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee; foretold he should, and therefore would assist him to do it, which was an encouragement to go about it.

(r) "erit", Pagninus, Montanus; "futurus est", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

Connecting Statement:

David continues speaking to Solomon.

Now

David uses this word to introduce something important he is about to say.

May you build

Solomon would not personally do the building, but he would direct others to do it. AT: "May you direct people to build" (See: Metonymy)

when he places you in charge over Israel

"when he makes you king of Israel"

Be strong and courageous ... Do not fear or be discouraged

These two sentences mean the same thing, stated in different ways in order to emphasize that Solomon should not be afraid. (See: Parallelism)

translationWords

house of God

understand

obey

law

statute

decree

Moses

fear

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.