1 Chronicles 29

1 Chronicles 29:1-9

Here, 1. David precloth the people to contribute towards the building and furnishing of the temple, ver. 1—9. 2. They make their prefects accordingly, ver. 6—9. 3. David offers up prayers, profiles, and sacrifices to God upon the occasion, ver. 10—21. 4. Solomon informed with great joy and magnificence, ver. 23—35. 5. David departs, ver. 26—30. And it is hard to joy which phases longhast here, the fitting or the ruling son. 1. Furthermore, David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, ‘is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 2. Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God, the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brals for things of brass, the iron for danger of iron, and wood for things of wood; ‘onyx-tiones, and flama to be set, glittering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble-thenes in abundance. 3. Moreover, ‘because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, 4. Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of ‘Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: 5. The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hand of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD? 6. 6. Then ’the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands, and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly, 7. And gave for the service of the house of God, of gold, five thousand talents, and ten thousand drams; and of silver, ten thousand talents; and of brass eighteen thousand talents; and one hundred thousand talents of iron. 8. And they with whom precious stones were found, gave them to the treasures of the LORD, by the hand of ‘Jebel the Gerthonite. 9. Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. Having finished his discourse to Solomon, he addredes himself to the people, to exhort them to a liberal comribution. The work was great: a palace for God deserved the utmost magnificence: we can never do enough for him. Solomon was young, and therefore their help was the more needful beginners must be encouraged. What he himself had done should engage their liberality. He intended not to lay the chief burden on them; he had prepared with his utmost might, and led the way; for he had an hearty affection to the service, which made him so cheerful a giver, and so warm an advocate for it; and therefore he might well also, Who is willing to consecrate his praise this day unto the Lord? not doubting but they would be as ready immediately to give, as he was to solicit. Note, (1.) That is a pleasing service to God, which is done from hearty affection to him. (2.) When our heart is right, our hand will be open: a niggard soul cannot be a child of God. (3.) God loves a cheerful giver. (4.) When we lead the way ourselves in what is good, we can with confidence say, Be ye followers of me. (5.) It is not enough to give ourselves, but we are bound to stir up others also to every work of faith, and labour of love. (6.) What we do for God, must be done without delay.—The benefit of his exhortation was great. Willingly the princes and people offered a sum immense amounting, according to Berrewood’s computation, to 22,607,500 l. besides precious stones, and of brass and iron a prodigious weight. The people were happy that they had it to give, and hearts to offer it; and David rejoiced at a liberality which testified such rest and for God’s glory, and afforded such a promising prospect for his son. Note, (1.) What we believe in God’s service, brings usually its own reward in perfect comfort. (2.) Every Christian is happy to see a mutual emulation in good works. (3.) It is a joy to God’s departing saints, to leave the world in the comfortable prospect of the growing increase of God’s church. Vol. I. 10. ¶ Wherefore David blessed the LORD before the all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 11. ‘Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth, is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. 12. ‘Both riches and honour come of thee, and ’thou reigneth over all, and in thine hand is power and might, and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 14. But ‘who am I, and what is my people,’ that we should be able to offer so willingly after this for? for all things come of thee, and ‘of thine own have we given thee. 15. For ‘we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: ‘our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. 16. O LORD our God, all this there that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name, comede of thine hand, and is all thine own. 17. I know also, my God, that ’thou trieth the heart, and ‘haft pleasure in uprightness, its for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy, thy people which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. 18. O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel our fathers, ‘keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and ‘prepare their heart unto thee. 19. And ‘give unto Solomon my Son a perfect heart to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all their things, and to build the palace for the which I have made provition. 20. ¶ And David said to all the congregation, Now ‘bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD and the king. 21. And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt-offerings unto the LORD on the marrow after that day, eave a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink-offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel: 22. And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness, and they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.

1 Chronicles 29:10-22

Big with the sense of divine mercy, and filled with joy on the gracious inclinations which appeared in the people, David pour out in thankful adoration his grateful heart before God and this great congregation. Note, Praise and thanksgiving are ever our bounden duty; but they especially become departing saints of God, ready to enter on the service of everlasting praise. 1. We have here his grateful prayer. [1.] With adoration he begins, blessing the name of Israel’s God, exalting his almighty power, his transcendent greatness and glory, his lovereign dominion, and universal agency and government: of him and from him came all they possessed, and to him alone the praise of all was due. Note, When we approach God in prayer, our hearts should be impressed with a sense of his adorable perfections, that with reverence and godly fear we may bow before him. [2.] With thanksfulness he activities to God the ability and inclination he had given them to contribute so liberally for his service. Note, No works merit any thing at God’s hands; but it is a fresh obligation upon ourselves, that we are inclined or enabled to do good. [3.] With deep humility he mentions their poor imperfect services. Though so great a king, so good a man, he speaks of himself as a worm before God; and of his people, though so rich, numerous, and great, as strangers and sojourners; as creatures of a day, whose momentary existence made their greatest services appear trivial before the eternal God. And what they had offered, was but out of the abundance God had bestowed, only a part of what was lent them of the Lord. Note, (1.) They who have the deepest sense of God’s restrictions, will have the lowless apprehensions of themselves. [2.] Whatever we are enabled to do for God, from him both the holy defire and the just work doth proceed; so that boathing is for ever excluded. [3.] The more we consider how short our moment is, the greater diligence we should give to fill it with works of faith, and labours of love, which, through Jesus Christ, may redound to the praise and glory of God. [4.] He could appeal to God for the simplicity of his heart before him, as he was comfortably confident also in the people, v. 17. Note, It is a solid satisfaction to have the testimony of our conscience, that in 5 Z gedly Before Christ 1013.

godly sincerity we have our conversation in the world. [5.] He begs, that God, as their covenant God, would ever keep alive on the hearts of the people the same gracious dispositions, and incline them to his blessed service; and that Solomon might possess an upright heart, be enabled exactly to correspond with the pattern given him to build God’s palace; and, above all, to follow God’s holy law, without which the temple-service could profit him nothing. Note, (1.) Our good purposes will be of no long continuance, unless he who hath excited them, continues to preserve them; for we have no fund of grace in ourselves. (2.) This must awaken our unceasing prayers for continual strength to persevere. (3.) A heart sincerely fixed on himself, is the greatest blessing God can bestow upon us here below.

2. As the king enjoined, the people gladly gave their assent to this grateful prayer, bowing their heads in token of adoration, and withal paying their respects to the king, whom they regarded as the chief human means of their present happy state. On this occasion a great sacrifice was offered of burnt-offerings in honour of God, and peace-offerings of thanksgiving; on which the whole congregation were nobly feasted, and rejoiced before the Lord. Solomon now was a second time solemnly unveiled with the sovereign power, as he had been more hastily before, on Adonijah’s aspiring to the throne; and Abiathar, for his adherence to him, being degraded, Zadok was appointed chief priest in his stead. Note (1.) Whilst we bow the head before God, we must lift up the heart to him. (2.) Those who in God’s hands are made to us the instruments of spiritual good, we must ever love and respect. (3.) Holy joy should enliven every act of communion with God. (4.) We have now an unction from the Holy One, but we expect a second more glorious inauguration, when the Son of David shall bring his saints to fit down with him on his throne.

He. in 7. Zadok. vol. v. Heb. Gave the hand under Solomon. See Gen. xxiv. 2. & xliii. 19. Zadok. xvi. 15. 1 Kings iii. 13. & Chron. i. 12. Zadok. ii. 9. & 2 Sam. v. 4. 1 Kings R. 11.

23. Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 24. And all the princes and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David + submitted themselves unto Solomon the king. 25. And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. 26. Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27. And the time that he reigned over Israel,

that forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. 28. And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. 29. Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer. 30. With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

1 Chronicles 29:23-30

We have here,

1. Solomon on the throne. It is called the Lord’s throne, he being Israel’s immediate king, setting up whom he pleased for his vicegerness, prescribing all their laws, and directing them in all their undertakings. Great prosperity was the natural consequence therefore, as long as the king continued faithful to him who had appointed him. All the great men of the kingdom, and David’s sons, though elder than Solomon, peaceably acquiesced in the divine appointment, and swore fidelity and allegiance to him; so that he appeared with distinguished splendor, and out-shone all his predecessors. Perhaps his person was as majesty, as his throne resplendent, and commanded awe and respect from all around him. Note, Since David’s Son, the greater than Solomon, now sits on the throne, it should be our happiness and honour to submit to his government, and pledge to him our faithful hearts.

2. David in the grave. After a long reign, distinguished with glory, and crowned with riches and honour, the good old king, full of days, like a ripe sheaf in time of harvest, was gathered to the tomb; and as, during all his greatness, that chiefly engaged his desire, he went to awake up in God’s likeness, in which alone he hoped to enjoy perfect felicity. For a fuller account of his life and victories, we are referred to the books of Samuel, Nathan, and Gad; either the canonical books of Samuel, the latter of which these prophets might have written, or to some authentic records that they kept, which, not being divinely inspired, nor designed to be preserved in the church, are since perished. Note, (1.) The throne and the tomb are but a step afunder. This stamps vanity on all sublunary greatness, and should quicken us to seek a more enduring kingdom. (2.) A good man, however distinguished his station, will have enough of this world, and wait with desire his dismissal to that biết abode, where only true joys are to be found.

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