Articles
David's Prayer Concerning The Temple
David's Prayer concerning the materials of the temple
1 Chron. 29
Having gathered all the materials needed to build the temple of God; David gathers the people together and led them in prayer. David's prayer sets a great example of how God's people should speak to God. David begins not with self and personal needs but with praise unto God. They BLESSED the Lord.. giving praise for the very character and being of God. "… David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all" (1 Chronicles 29:10-11). The one area of prayer that we as a people have need to improve is in giving praise unto God. By reading, analyzing, and using such prayers as this one we can learn to praise God.
They prayed HAVING collected the needed materials to construct the temple of God. We read that the people offered freely (17), willingly (14), and joyously (17). Such offering comes from people who have 'first given themselves unto the LORD' (2 Cor. 8:5). With the giving of ourselves comes the joy of offering all we have unto the Lord for His cause. God loves a cheerful giver (2Cor. 9:7).
WHAT they offered they acknowledged came FROM God.. "all that is in the heaven and in the earth is yours" (11). "All things come from you, and of your own have we given you" (14). Both riches and honor come from you…" (12). And so it is with us. All that we have and are is the gift of God. As Paul could ask: "what do you have that you did not receive" (1Cor. 4:7). All that we have is God's and we are stewards of HIS blessings.
Moses had taught the people about the danger of not recognizing God's hand in their lives. He said: "Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day" (Deut. 8:17-18). Specifically note that he taught them that even strength to get riches comes from God. Hence they confessed that "in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all" (vs. 12).
"Then David said to all the assembly, 'Bless the LORD your God.' And all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the LORDand to the king" (vs. 20).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlyplaces in Christ…" (Ephesians 1:3)
