We have seen the book of 1 Chronicles highlight David’s desire to build a temple for the Lord. But the temple was to be constructed during a time of peace, representing the establishment of God’s kingdom. David was a man of war with enemies that constantly surrounded him (1 Kings 5:3). So God prevented him from building this temple. But David’s son would be a man of peace and rest would be given to him on every side. As we noted in the last lesson, this was foreshadowing how the future of Son of David would be a man of peace. He would not only build God’s temple but would be the temple of the Lord himself. Jesus would be the temple and establish God’s kingdom, offering peace and rest to all who belong to him. So David has made great preparations for his son to build the temple to the Lord. But now we are coming to the end of David’s reign as king over Israel. It is time for his son to take the throne. David has some final words for the people as he assembles them this final time. What David is going to teach the assembly of Israel is that their lives have been tested by God. But you might be surprised to see the way God tested his people and how he tests us. Please open your copies of God’s word to 1 Chronicles 29.
The Desire (1 Chronicles 29:1-9)
David begins this speech to Israel by telling them that he is made everything ready for his son to build the temple to the Lord. But I want us to see that David did not merely gather everything from in the nation and from other nations so that the building supplies were ready. Look at verse 3. David himself also provided gold and silver from his own wealth to give it to the temple construction project. David so desires for God’s house to be built that he also gave extraordinary wealth for this building of the temple. Now he has a question for the people in verse 5. Who wants to join with him in freely giving to the work of building the temple? Who will set themselves apart for this work by willingly contributing to this work? I would like to point out the heart of David and the heart he calls for the people to have. The false teachers of the world ask everyone to give to him and to the ministry but do not give themselves. They accumulate mansions and private jets and extraordinary wealth and give nothing to God. But David gave first. David worked for this project and gave for this project. Now he asks who wants to work with him for the building of the temple project? Who wants to give willingly to the plan?
The people respond in verses 6-9 by joining with David in giving to the Lord for the work. The people gave money and precious stones to the treasury of the Lord’s temple. Now listen to verse 9 because this is important to the flow of what David is going to teach in a moment. In verse 9 we read that the people rejoiced because the leaders’ willingness to freely give with a whole heart to the Lord. What was on display was the desire through the offering the people and the leaders gave. Everyone, from top to bottom, is giving freely and wholeheartedly to the temple project.
The Devotion (1 Chronicles 29:10-16)
With the overflowing response of the people and leaders to contribute freely to the temple project, David proclaims a blessing to God beginning in verse 10. Greatness, power, glory, victory, splendor, and majesty all belong to the Lord. All that is in all creation belongs to the Lord. The kingdom belongs to the Lord. The Lord is exalted above all things. Riches and honor come from the Lord. Power and might are in the hand of the Lord. It is in the hand of the Lord make people great and to give strength to all. So we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. But I want us now to carefully look at verse 14.
“But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this?” (1 Chronicles 20:14 NASB)
Now we saw in an earlier lesson David proclaiming his nothingness before the Lord when the Lord told him that his kingdom would be established forever through his offspring (cf. 1 Chronicles 17). David said who am I that you have helped me in the past and who am I that you have made these great future promises (1 Chronicles 17:16-17). But notice how what David says about his relationship with God. Who am I and who are the people that we should be able to give so generously to the Lord?
David’s perspective is that it is a great opportunity to be able to give generously to the Lord. We sometimes do not look at giving in this light. We do not see giving from a cheerful and willing heart as an opportunity but an obligation. But David helps us see why this is an opportunity. Look at what David says in the rest of verse 14. David notes that all things belong to God and all things come from God. You have given us so much and we are now presented with the opportunity to use what you have given us for you. In verse 16 David says that all their abundance has come from God’s hand and belongs to God.
Let me try to illustrate this with our family relationships. Have you noticed as your parents get older that it can be hard to buy something for them because they have everything? They really don’t need anything. They will even tell you that you do not need to get them anything because they do not need anything. But sometimes you can come up with something that you can do for them just to show your appreciation for everything they have given to you. This is the idea that David is proclaiming. God owns it all. Everything we have is from God. All that we are giving to God is what he has given to us. But how exciting to have an opportunity to show God that we appreciate him and recognize what he has done for us! Our giving is not only so that we can carry on God’s work in this area. Our giving is also our way of telling God thank you. Our giving in our way to telling God that we understand that every dollar and every possession came from him, not us. Who are we that God has blessed us so richly that we can richly give back to him?
The Test (1 Chronicles 29:17)
Now look at what David says in verse 17. David proclaims that God tests the hearts of people and is pleased when they do what is right. David is observing that God is testing our hearts when we are blessed. Giving is a test of the heart. We might wonder how this could be. But the testing is because we are to know what David just proclaimed. Everything you have is from God. Now will you be generous with what you have because you know it was gifted to you by God? Or will you refuse to freely give because you have forgotten that everything belongs to God and he has given us these things to use? The apostle Paul made to the same point to the Corinthian Christians.
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 ESV)
Do we believe that God is the supplier so that we have the harvest in our lives that we experience today? God has given much to us so that we would be joyful to have opportunities to do his work with what he has given to us. This is exactly what Paul was praising in 2 Corinthians 8-9. In spite of the severe trial and suffering the Macedonian Christians were going through, their overflowing joy while in extreme poverty welled up into a wealth of generosity for the other Christians in need, giving beyond their own means (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:1-3).
God is testing our hearts and sometimes we fail to see the different ways God does this. One way that God tests our hearts is having circumstances in place which will show whether we believe God will provide for us or not. Do we believe that everything we have is from God? If so, then it is my joy to give back to him. If so, then it is my joy to rely on God when I am in need. God has always tried to teach his people that you can depend on him to take care of you. Jesus said this in the Sermon on the Mount. Do you remember what Jesus said as to why we do not need to be anxious? Jesus said that your heavenly Father knows what you need (Matthew 6:32). Trust God by seeking his kingdom first and the rest will be provided to you (Matthew 6:33). David is saying that this is what the people have done. They are seeking God’s work first and have given freely and generously to this temple project. We should see our giving as a blessing and an opportunity to show God our thankfulness.
The Preservation (1 Chronicles 29:18-19)
Notice how David concludes his prayer in verses 18-19. David prays that his people will always have this kind of heart. Keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever. May God’s people always maintain these motives, keeping themselves devoted to the Lord. Further, David prays the same for his son. May be keep the Lord’s commands with a whole heart so that he can build God’s house. David’s desire for them all is that they would always have these pure motives and an enduring commitment toward the Lord. David desires for his people to always pass the test of a true heart and strong devotion to the Lord. Now here is what I want us to consider. Have you thought about praying this as David is praying this for ourselves and for others? What an important prayer for us to make for ourselves and to make on behalf of others! Lord, please keep my heart pure and motives right. Lord, please keep my commitment strong to faithfully follow you and do your work. Lord, not only do I pray this for myself, but for my family, and for my brothers and sisters in Christ. If we want this for our lives, then pray for it.
The Son of David Reigns (1 Chronicles 28:20-25)
In verse 23 Solomon, the son of David, takes his rightful place on the throne. The Lord made him prosper and all Israel obeyed him. If you belong to Israel, then you will obey the king. Further, the Lord made Solomon very great in the sight of all Israel. He was bestowed such royal splendor and majesty unlike any other king. I hope you are hearing the foreshadowing pictures of Christ, the son of David. All who are the true Israel will obey him as he rules over all creation from his throne. Philippians 2 reminds us that the Lord highly exalted Jesus and gave him a name that is greater than all others (cf. Philippians 2:9). The generosity and pure motives of Jesus are seen throughout his whole life. When the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the generosity of the Macedonian churches, consider the example of Jesus he used.
I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:8-9 ESV)
Christ showed us the greatest means of passing the test. Though he was rich, for our sake he became poor so that we could be rich toward God. Jesus generously offered himself for us and trusted God for his deliverance. Included with us trusting God with our lives is trusting him to take care of us and freely giving back to the Lord because he has given everything to us and for us.
So how are we doing with being tested? God tests our hearts and wants to see pure motives in our hearts. I hope now when we read that God loves a cheerful giver (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:7) that we are not an option to be a cheerful giver. Rather, God is testing our hearts and cheerful giving is to flow from our hearts and from our hands if we fully appreciate what God has done. As David said, who are we to be given this opportunity to voluntarily give back to God what he has given to us?