1Ch 29:1-9 | KingComments | STEP | David then addresses “the entire assembly” of Israel ( ). He points out to them the youthfulness and inexperience of his son Solomon on the one hand and the greatness and importance of the work of building the temple on the other. The temple is a building “not for man, but for the LORD God”. We too must realize our weakness and incompetence well if we compare our strengths and possibilities with the greatness of the church of the living God. It is nothing less than the house of God . We know that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” ( ). Our body, like the temple in Jerusalem, is not for a man, not for ourselves, but for God. When we realize this, we also realize how weak we are to live in accordance with it. Is it our desire to take this into account in all respects? The same applies to the church in its entirety which is also the dwelling place of God in the Spirit ( ). This is also being built on. The building of the house of God as the church of the living God takes place today by “evangelists, and … pastors and teachers” ( ). Evangelists deliver “living stones” ( ), while shepherds and teachers teach these stones to take their place in the house. Teaching is up(building) as well. It is important that every builder is aware of the grandeur of the house he is helping to build. Paul puts it this way: “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as [coming] from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate [as] servants of a new covenant” ( ). That mind every worker on God's house should have. The materials that David has prepared with all his strength for the house of God ( ) represent something of God. In gold we see God’s glory; in silver the price paid for the atonement; the bronze is a picture of the righteousness of God shown in judgment; the iron represents God’s power (which is perfected in our weakness). David did his contribution out of love. David mentions what he himself contributed from his own possessions ( ). For us, we can contribute to the building of the church by working for it with the capacities and resources at our disposal. By the way, we got it exactly to use it for the building of God’s house. The question is whether we are willing to use them for this purpose. This question is put to us: “Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?” ( ). David does everything and gives everything because he loves God’s habitation ( ). He calls the house of God three times “the house of my God” ( ). He loves that house, because it is the house of his God. We can compare his love for God’s house with the love Christ has for His church ( ), which is also “the church of God” ( ). We can also take David as an example for ourselves. If we love the church, we will give everything for our brothers and sisters, because they are loved by God ( ; cf. ). David has lost nothing of his enthusiasm for God’s house. As he used to dance before the ark ( ), so he is full of God’s dwelling place here. In this, he is an example for the whole people. After giving the example of giving for God’s house, David asks who is willing to give. We can only ask others to do something for the Lord if we do so ourselves. The expression “to consecrate himself” is literally “to fill his hand”, an expression used in the ordination of Aaron and his sons ( ). The words “ordain them” used there literally are “fill their hand”. Here we see that giving for the building of God’s house is on the same level as being ordained a priest. That is how high God appreciates giving for His house.

‏ 1 Chronicles 29:1-9

Voluntary Gifts From David

David then addresses “the entire assembly” of Israel (1Chr 29:1). He points out to them the youthfulness and inexperience of his son Solomon on the one hand and the greatness and importance of the work of building the temple on the other. The temple is a building “not for man, but for the LORD God”. We too must realize our weakness and incompetence well if we compare our strengths and possibilities with the greatness of the church of the living God. It is nothing less than the house of God.

We know that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1Cor 6:19). Our body, like the temple in Jerusalem, is not for a man, not for ourselves, but for God. When we realize this, we also realize how weak we are to live in accordance with it. Is it our desire to take this into account in all respects?

The same applies to the church in its entirety which is also the dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph 2:22). This is also being built on. The building of the house of God as the church of the living God takes place today by “evangelists, and … pastors and teachers” (Eph 4:11). Evangelists deliver “living stones” (1Pet 2:5), while shepherds and teachers teach these stones to take their place in the house. Teaching is up(building) as well.

It is important that every builder is aware of the grandeur of the house he is helping to build. Paul puts it this way: “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as [coming] from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate [as] servants of a new covenant” (2Cor 3:5-6). That mind every worker on God's house should have.

The materials that David has prepared with all his strength for the house of God (1Chr 29:2) represent something of God. In gold we see God’s glory; in silver the price paid for the atonement; the bronze is a picture of the righteousness of God shown in judgment; the iron represents God’s power (which is perfected in our weakness). David did his contribution out of love.

David mentions what he himself contributed from his own possessions (1Chr 29:3-5). For us, we can contribute to the building of the church by working for it with the capacities and resources at our disposal. By the way, we got it exactly to use it for the building of God’s house. The question is whether we are willing to use them for this purpose. This question is put to us: “Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?” (1Chr 29:5b).

David does everything and gives everything because he loves God’s habitation (Psa 26:8a). He calls the house of God three times “the house of my God” (1Chr 29:2-3). He loves that house, because it is the house of his God. We can compare his love for God’s house with the love Christ has for His church (Eph 5:25), which is also “the church of God” (Acts 20:28). We can also take David as an example for ourselves. If we love the church, we will give everything for our brothers and sisters, because they are loved by God (2Thes 2:13; cf. 1Jn 3:16a).

David has lost nothing of his enthusiasm for God’s house. As he used to dance before the ark (2Sam 6:14), so he is full of God’s dwelling place here. In this, he is an example for the whole people. After giving the example of giving for God’s house, David asks who is willing to give. We can only ask others to do something for the Lord if we do so ourselves.

The expression “to consecrate himself” is literally “to fill his hand”, an expression used in the ordination of Aaron and his sons (Exo 28:41). The words “ordain them” used there literally are “fill their hand”. Here we see that giving for the building of God’s house is on the same level as being ordained a priest. That is how high God appreciates giving for His house.

Voluntary Gifts From the Rulers

David’s good example, moves the hearts and hands of the heads of the families and leaders of the people (1Chr 29:6-7). They also give voluntarily. Good example does follow well and love does give. At the building of the tabernacle we see the same willingness (Exo 35:20-29).

The precious stones are given for the treasury of the temple and thus entrusted to the care of the Gershonite Jehiel (1Chr 29:8). It says of the descendants of Jehiel that they are in charge of the treasures of the temple (1Chr 26:20-22). Precious stones all have a different color. A precious stone speaks of the believer who in his own unique way reflects something of the manifold glory of Christ. The Lord Jesus gives His gifts to the church to ensure that the believers reflect that glory. Every reflection of Christ in His own is a contribution to the treasures of God’s house.

Giving by the leaders brings joy in its turn with the people (1Chr 29:9). From David we read that he rejoices “greatly”. True leaders set a good example for the commitment to God’s house to promote its building and furnishing. This commitment is ‘highly appreciated’ by the Lord Jesus. It is a joy to His heart when He sees that we are committed to the house of God, when it has priority in our life because it has priority with God. He would like us to work hard to ensure that everything in the church answers to Who He is and that only God’s honor has a place there.

The gifts are done “for the service for the house of God” (1Chr 29:7), for “the treasury of the house of the LORD” (1Chr 29:8) and “to the LORD” (1Chr 29:9). This shows in an impressive way how in their giving both the house of the LORD and He Himself stands before the attention. It is about Him and His house.

This also applies to the church today. In all things, the Lord and His church should come first. It is to be hoped that it is also the case with us as Paul says of the church in Macedonia: “They first gave themselves to the Lord and [then] to us by the will of God” (2Cor 8:5).