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Yesterday, we saw that Solomon loved the Lord—but not perfectly. He was in process, learning to follow God while still living with areas of compromise. Today’s reading continues that story in 1st Chronicles 1, but from a slightly different angle.

At first glance, Solomon appears to begin well, just as we might expect after the foundation his father laid. However, to the keen eye, there is that same concern Moses had warned Israel about in Deuteronomy—the people of Israel were to depend on the Lord their God for protection, not on horses and chariots, especially those from Egypt (Deuteronomy 17:16–17). And yet, despite this warning, Solomon began to place his confidence in the very things God had cautioned against.

In 1st Chronicles 1:14–16, the tension is made clear. Would Solomon trust what he could build, or the God who had already established him?

“Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem… Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue.”

At the same time, verses 8 and 11 make it clear that Solomon knew he held the position he did solely because of the work of the Lord God,

“Solomon said to God, ‘You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness’… God said to Solomon, ‘…I have made you king…’”

Even in Solomon’s process toward maturity—where sin was present—he understood that both his position and his ability to walk in it were gifts from God.

Psalm 72 was a powerful pairing with 1st Chronicles 1 because it reveals the foundation given to Solomon. It records David’s prayer over his son as he ascended to the throne. While Solomon did not always get it right—and do any of us ever get it completely right all the time?—he was given a firm foundation that had been faithfully passed down to him.

Yesterday reminded us to be patient with the process. Today reminds us that in that process, our strength must come from God—not from ourselves. That’s my prayer today: that I would take time to recognize the hand of God in my own journey, and that I would be able to pass down a faithful legacy to my children and to those who come after me.