My God, mine mine mine mine

“David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.”

1 Chronicles 28:20 NIV

http://bible.com/111/1ch.28.20.niv

“Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.”
Proverbs 19:18 NIV
http://bible.com/111/pro.19.18.niv

David said that God would be with Solomon. One phrase he used was "My God." I checked a few other translations and they were all consistent with this same phrase. I hate to develop great theologies on small changes of language, but the use of my God instead of your God or our God may be significant. 

Many people are aware that Solomon was a rock star Jew in the beginning, building the temple and asking God for wisdom. He was doing it all right. But as the years went by he gradually went away from God and did a lot of bad stuff like building temples and shrines for other Gods. 

Does David's language give us some insight into why Solomon walked away from relationship with God? 

Was David more focused on demonstrating HIS God than helping God become Solomon's God?

Baking cookies. Almost everyone has made cookies with a child at some point. At various times there is the option of you demonstrating a task or letting the child do the task. You KNOW that the job will be done less effectively and more messy by the child. If you do the task, your goal is to get good cookies as efficiently as possible. If you let the child do the task your goal is to train the child. 

I believe we have the same types of choices in spiritual development of children. We can demonstrate and do things for them and they will see our God working. Or we can guide them to do and it may be messy and inefficient. If you do the task, your goal is to do great things for God (certainly not a bad goal). If you let a child, an apprentice, do the task, your goal is to train the child and transfer relationship with God to them. 

I have a hunch that David was a demonstrator, not a trainer. I think that we as adults have this same option to be demonstrators or trainers with the next generation. We must focus on the strength of the church for years to come and be willing to apprentice young people. They don't need to just see OUR God. They need to get down in the mud and slog out the messy parts of a true relationship with the God of the universe. It's not safe. It's not easy. But it's how God will become My God for them. 

Dear Jesus

Could you help me be a better trainer? It is sometimes easier in this crazy world to do things myself or have professional pastors do them when my kids need to do the work. Help me have discernment about what is what. 

Love Ya

Tom