“Only may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding that when he gives you charge over Israel, you may keep the law of the Lord, your God, then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not. Do not be dismayed.”
– 1 Chronicles 22:12–13
These words here in 1 Chronicles 22:12–13 from David to Solomon are reminiscent of exhortations we see to leaders throughout the Bible, especially when there is a transition in leadership. You think about Moses to Joshua and similar words that God speaks to Joshua in Joshua chapter one. And here David is saying to his son, words that apply to any of us really in our lives and specifically to any leader. But I want to think about this, even praying for the next generation, for those who come after us and for any of us. No matter how old or young we might be to apply this, just think about the next generation and this exhortation. And to pray this for the people that come to your mind when you think about the next generation.
God, we pray for the next generation, that you would grant them discretion and understanding.
1 Chronicles 22:12–13 Calls Us to Pray for the Church’s Next Generation
So if you’re a parent, to pray this over your children. But not just your children over the children in the church, over the next generation in the church. For all of us to think about those who are coming behind us. And to pray 1 Chronicles 22:12–13, let’s do that. God, we pray for the next generation. That you would grant them discretion and understanding.
God, I think about my kids. I think about hundreds of 18 and 19 and 20-year-olds that I was around just a couple of weeks ago, who are spending concentrated time preparing to go to the nations. They’re praying together three hours a day for your glory. You may known among the nations. God would you grant all those who are coming behind us discretion and understanding that they might keep your law, your word.
Reminder to Follow God’s Word
God, help them to follow your word. We pray, keep them close to your word. Help them to know your word and obey your word. They will prosper. God, we pray for their prosperity in all the right ways. Prosperity, not according to this world, but according to your word. As they are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that you have commanded, all those who’ve gone before us. God help them to pick up that mantle and faithfully obey you in your word.
And God, we pray that you would help them to be strong and courageous as they do. God, that you would deliver them from timidity and fear. That you would help them to be strong and courageous, fear no one and nothing but you. And not to be dismayed when they face challenges. When they face trials, when they walk through tribulation, and difficulty, and temptation. Not to shrink back, but to step forward. God, we pray for the prosperity of those who come behind us.
Encouragement for Discretion
According to your word, we pray that you would give them discretion, understanding the grace to keep your law. To be careful to observe your statutes with the strength you provide, with the courage you provide. Without fear in this world, with only fear for you. And with the encouragement that comes from your spirit in them. That leads them not to be dismayed, but to press on, making disciples of the nations for your glory. God, we pray this over the next generation who comes behind us, according to your word in 1 Chronicles 22:12–13..
And even as we pray that God, we pray that you would help us to set an example for them of all things. That you would grant us discretion and understanding. That we might keep your law and be careful to obey your statutes and your rules with the strength and courage you provide with fear of no one and nothing but you. And that we would not be dismayed when we face trials, and challenges, and tribulation, and temptation. God, we pray this for the next generation and for our example, to the next generation in Jesus’ name, amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
