AFFECTION TO THE HOUSE OF GOD

Though this does not appear in the Book of Psalms, we like to think of 1 Chronicles 29. 10-19 as David’s greatest psalm of praise, spoken at the end of his life.

Verses 1-5 of the chapter show David’s preparation for the house of God. In chapter 28, David the elder had given to Solomon the younger the pattern of the house; now he declares the origin of all the material. Because of his affection to the house of God, he not only supplied material generally, but also of his “own proper good” he supplied gold and silver. Then in verses 6-9, the people reply; by consecrating their service to the Lord, they “offered willingly to the Lord”.

David’s greatest psalm of praise then follows: he speaks of God’s person, vv. 10, 11; God’s provision, vv. 12-16; God’s protection of the heart, vv. 17-19. Note the repetition of the word “all” eleven times in the psalm.

David’s recognition of God’s person, vv. 10, 11, rises to the same most glorious sublime heights attained in the Book of Revelation, where a similar confession is made to the One seated on the throne and to the Lamb, Rev. 5. 12, 13. In all our praise and prayer, the recognition of His person as “head above all” must come first.

David had no selfish feelings about his own possessions, vv. 12-16, however materialistic they might have appeared to be. He counted himself very small before the One who possessed all things, saying “all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee”. All the material was “all thine own”. In our own lives and service, we should say the same, realizing that all our material and spiritual blessings are held in trust for the Lord. We should provide “as God hath prospered” us, 1 Cor. 16. 2. Again, “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”, Rom. 12. 3. We thus return these gifts to Him as we use them faithfully in His service.

Yet the hearts of men are poor, so David prayed that Solomon should have “a perfect heart … to build”, v. 19. Only when we have such a heart can we build with “gold, silver, precious stones”, else we build with the material of carnality, “wood, hay, stubble”, 1 Cor. 3. 1-3, 11, 12.

“Such as I have give I thee”, Acts 3. 6.