Preparation

Sunday school today was about 1 Chronicles 28:5-21. It's a scripture passage concerning David and Solomon. David is passing his kingship onto his son. At the same time, he is preparing Solomon to build the temple to God.

David has been told by God that he is not to build a "house" for God -- that his son will do it. David ends up giving Solomon the plans and all of the materials to do the job.

The writer of the curriculum says that when he taught this passage to his Sunday school class, they accused David of being a control freak. The actual authors says, in oppostition to that opinion, that David is preparing his son to take over the father's responsibilities.

If you think about the future of Solomon, you will find that at first he does well. As time goes on, he pulls away from God. Eventually Solomon, to help to please his many different conculbines, invites different kinds of worship in Israel.

It made me wonder this -- what if David had spent MORE time actually preparing the son instead of providing him with plans, gold and building materials? Would Solomon has been a different kind of ruler in David had been more focused on leading the man to be rather than giving him nails?

Image: Window in chapel.