Journal Through the Bible: Week 92 Thursday

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I Chronicles chapter 29

David gave of his own personal wealth toward the building of the Temple. It was a freewill offering and he encouraged the people to give also. It is always a good thing for a Christian to live his/her life so that the temple he builds upon the foundation of Christ is made of quality material. It is also good for him to encourage others to do likewise!

After David and the people gave their offerings David offered a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving and praise to his God.

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. (verse 14)

Does God issue any commands?
God did not speak in this chapter.

Does God make any promises?
God did not speak in this chapter.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• David said in verse 3 that he had set his affection to the house of God and had prepared gold and silver in abundance out of his own riches for the dwelling of God. Colossians 3:1-2 says that we should set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth (v. 2) because we are to seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God (v. 1). The foundation of the Temple is Jesus. He is the altar and the sacrifice. He is the embodiment of the Temple and its Holy of Holies. I Corinthians 3:9-17 that says that we are God's temple here on earth and we are built on the foundation of Christ using either precious materials of gold, silver, and precious stones or the combustible materials of wood, hay, and stubble.
• David made it clear in his prayer of praise and thanksgiving that all that he had dedicated to God already belonged to God anyway and that God was the one that had given those things to David and the people. We offer our lives as a living sacrifice to Jesus but everything that we give already belongs to Jesus as the creator. We just give ourselves back to His service.
• David had previously made Solomon his co-regent when approached by Nathan and Bathsheba but now the people confirmed Solomon as the king the second time. Jesus came as King at His first advent but He did not take possession of His physical kingdom at that time even though His victory over sin, hell, and death confirmed Him as the co-regent with God the Father. At His second advent He will be recognized the second time as King and He will rule in power and might.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• David said that we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, . . . our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding (verse 15). This is not our final destination. We are here temporarily but we will live forever in the City of which we are truly citizens, a city not made with hands where there is no temple because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it! (Revelation 21:22)
• The royal majesty of Solomon's earthly kingdom is but a foretaste of the royal majesty of Jesus' heavenly and earthly Kingdom yet to come.