12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13 NOW, OUR GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS,
AND PRAISE YOUR GLORIOUS NAME. 1 Chronicles 29
This was the FIRST SCRIPTURE God gave me after I’d asked Him to come into my life as Saviour and Lord. To be honest I was probably more impressed with verse 12 at the time, the promise that God could powerfully bless His children excited and encouraged me. Many years later, God has been faithful and yet I believe that He has more for all of us and I’m still expectant to see His blessings in my lifetime.
These verses are part of David’s Prayer as Israel made provision for the building of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem. The reigns of King David and King Solomon are regarded by Jewish people as the high point of their nation’s history. David conquered their enemies and greatly weakened them. Solomon enjoyed wealth and wisdom like few other rulers on earth.
8 Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 THE PEOPLE REJOICED AT THE WILLING RESPONSE OF THEIR LEADERS, FOR THEY HAD GIVEN FREELY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO THE LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. 1 Chronicles 16
Part of the reason why the people rejoiced was that their leaders had led the way in the giving and they had given onto the Lord. Many prophetic words today are announcing the Justice of Yahweh (J.O.Y.) coming to corrupt leaders, in Government and the Church. In the days of David the people knew that the leadership of the nation stood with them and rejoiced in the praise of God.
14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? EVERYTHING COMES FROM YOU AND WE HAVE GIVEN ONLY WHAT COMES FROM YOUR HAND. 15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow …”
David knew that everything that had been given for the building of the Temple came from God Himself. Men seem to have forgotten this today, we are only granted things for a short time here on earth. If we can see it with our eyes, then it’s temporary. 2 Corinthians 4:18
16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I KNOW, MY GOD, THAT YOU TEST THE HEART AND ARE PLEASED WITH INTEGRITY. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 1 Chronicles 16
God was about to open a door for His People to worship Him in Jerusalem, in a way that had never happened before on earth. We may be standing on the threshold of something even more momentous now. The manifest presence of God across the whole earth with mighty demonstrations of power. However, when God is present in power there will need to be corresponding integrity of heart.
In this year I want to focus more on 1 Chronicles 29:13, that God spoke to me so many years ago.
13 NOW, OUR GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS,
AND PRAISE YOUR GLORIOUS NAME. 1 Chronicles 29
God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.