20250109

He is free to bless

1 Chronicles 29:1-21

1 Chronicles 29:1 Then King David said to all the assembly, “My son Solomon — God has chosen him alone — is young and inexperienced. The task is great because the building will not be built for a human but for Yahveh God.
1 Chronicles 29:2 So to the best of my ability I’ve made provision for the house of my God: gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx, stones for mounting, antimony, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and a great quantity of marble.
1 Chronicles 29:3 Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the house of my God over and above all that I’ve provided for the holy house:
1 Chronicles 29:4 100 tons of gold (gold of Ophir) and 250 tons of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings,
1 Chronicles 29:5 the gold for the gold work and the silver for the silver, for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who will volunteer to consecrate himself to Yahveh today?”
1 Chronicles 29:6 Then the leaders of the households, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.
1 Chronicles 29:7 For the service of God’s house they gave 185 tons of gold and 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 4,000 tons of iron.
1 Chronicles 29:8 Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of Yahveh’s house under the care of Jehiel the Gershonite.
1 Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced because of their leaders’ willingness to give, for they had given to Yahveh wholeheartedly. King David also rejoiced greatly.
1 Chronicles 29:10 Then David blessed Yahveh in the sight of all the assembly. David said, may you be blessed, Yahveh God of our father Israel, from the last age to the next age.
1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on the land belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.
1 Chronicles 29:12 Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.
1 Chronicles 29:13 Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.
1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand.
1 Chronicles 29:15 For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on the land are like a shadow, without hope.
1 Chronicles 29:16 Lord our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand; everything belongs to you.
1 Chronicles 29:17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to you.
1 Chronicles 29:18 Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of your people, and confirm their hearts toward you.
1 Chronicles 29:19 Give my son Solomon an undivided heart to keep and to carry out all your commands, your decrees, and your statutes, and to build the building for which I have made provision.
1 Chronicles 29:20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Blessed be Yahveh your God.” So, the whole assembly praised Yahveh God of their ancestors. They knelt low and paid homage to Yahveh and the king.
1 Chronicles 29:21 The following day they offered sacrifices to Yahveh and burnt offerings to the Lord: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, along with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.

He is free to bless

Freewill giving toward the temple construction was a privilege. Seeing how much had been given, both the king and the people burst forth in praise. It was a testimony of the power and presence of the LORD among all the tribes. Bear in mind that it had not been too many years since the nation of Israel was a ragtag group of oppressed and vulnerable peoples. God had not only restored their unity through the monarchy, he had also given them untold wealth. This is not a guarantee that every follower of God will become wealthy. It is a reminder that the one who decides our fate is free to bless us extravagantly. There are no restrictions to his generosity. Because that was true of the LORD, it could be true of the Israelites.

LORD, help us to get our eyes off of our present lack and remember your eternal abundance.