As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it … The Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 28:9–10, 20 NKJV
As we peruse 1 Chronicles, we see David occupied with training his son and God-designated successor for the tremendous task God had appointed for him. God loved Solomon and had given him the added name Jedidiah, meaning “beloved of the Lord.” As Solomon grew up, David made known to him first privately (22:6–16), then publicly, that God had chosen Him for this very special work.
Do we realize how much God loves our children? He wants them for Himself, and even calls a child with only one Christian parent holy—set apart for Himself. He plainly tells Christian fathers—Christian mothers can help too—“Do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Many homeschoolers conscientiously seek to carry this out by teaching their children themselves, while others watch carefully what their children are taught in school.
What did David emphasize as he taught young Solomon? He openly shared his personal history of God’s dealings with him, careful not to blame God in any way. He emphasized the importance of wisdom based on the fear of the Lord. True wisdom is more than mere knowledge. Let us be frank and open with our children too, sharing with them an appreciation of God’s love as shown in His ways with us. As we encourage our children to have a healthy relationship with the Lord, may He help us be a good example to them.