THE name of God, His worship, kingdom and honour were pre-eminent and unspeakably precious to David, who was brought to the fear of the Lord from his youth and was a man after God’s own heart. After a long, varied and extraordinary life as to spiritual experiences and a unique history in the providence of God, King David entertained a desire of his old age, namely, “to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God” (I. Chronicles xxviii. 2). But God intimated to him that he would not build this house—the Temple at Jerusalem—but that “Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts” (I. Chronicles xxviii. 6). And so David resigned himself to this under the light and guidance of God’s revealed will in the matter. He then proceeds to counsel Solomon to know and serve the Lord, ending with these words, “Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong and do it” (I. Chronicles xxviii. 10). Further, David gives to Solomon “The pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord” etc. (v. 12), for Solomon’s guidance in such an all-important work related to the honour and worship of God on the earth and in the midst of His people Israel.
But now the practical requirements involved in the building of the Temple are taken into serious consideration by David, as appears from what he said to the congregation of Israel in I. Chronicles xxix. 1 viz., “Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great.” The work was great certainly in a factual and spiritual sense and required commensurate consideration and support. But it was primarily a great work by virtue of the fact that this “… palace is not for man, but for the Lord God” (v. 1). And every work which has divine authority, and is related to the worship of God, the spiritual good of sinners, the comfort of saints, and the activities of God’s Kingdom and Cause on the earth, is indeed great on these accounts. And practical, as well as prayerful support is called for by the worthiness of such work and also by the example of godly David as recorded in this part of Holy Scripture, inasmuch as “these things are written for our learning.”
Now, David prepared with all his might for the House of God.
He apparently organised the gathering of supplies
of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and precious stones, in abundance, from other than actual personal resources (v. 2); and he did this with application and zeal.
He gave of his own personal property
And further, he gave of his own personal property for the House of God, over and above all that he had otherwise been able to obtain. As he says: “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” (v. 3). Here is David’s personal giving from his own private resources in providence, of which we have a detailed description in verses 3-5. He makes this known to the congregation of Israel, not by way of self-commendation, as may be seen later; but more with a view to make others to give also. Although we are enjoined in the New Testament that we do not let our right hand know what our left hand doeth, yet there may be circumstances and requirements of the Cause of God and the Gospel of Christ, which may be outstanding and peculiar, wherein David’s action here may be emulated with the gracious motive to encourage support for God’s Cause of truth in the world, in a practical way and generous measure. Of course, there lies behind all this the Scriptural teaching that those in authority, such as kings, should support the Church of God and seek her welfare. In prosperous days, spiritually, kings shall be nursing fathers, like David here.
The people are exhorted now to give
The people are exhorted now to give; and David can well speak to them as to their duty in this regard, after his own example. And so he addresses them thus: “And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord” (v. 5). They are made aware of their obligation and privilege to devote a measure of their gold, silver and brass and other possessions, to the Lord, because when they would donate of their property to help build the Temple, it was as to the Lord they were to give. And so is the matter of giving still to any part of the activities of Christ’s Cause, it is “unto the Lord”; which must surely influence and regulate and encourage Christian liberality in those who have a hope that they are of the spiritual Israel of God.
The example and counsel of the king bear fruit
The example and counsel of the king bear fruit, in a response from the fathers and princes of Israel and others, who now offered willingly (v. 6). They gave generously and punctually, gold, silver, brass, iron, and precious stones, for the service of the house of God (v. 7). Their gold and silver were never devoted to a better purpose or cause than the building of the Temple. And every penny and pound given to the support of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and anything linked thereto, such money cannot be given to a better cause. The gold of David and the widow’s mite were indeed of the very character of that “reasonable service” enjoined upon those who have been enriched with the saving grace of God, unto salvation.
All things belong to the Lord
Then David, in prayer to the Lord, acknowledges that all things belong to the Lord; as he says, “Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all” (v. 12). What a fundamental truth this is, when considering the matter of giving for the service of the House of God. David, the princes, the fathers and people in Israel, must recognise that God was the source of all the goodness and prosperity which they enjoyed in providence. Their own hand had not gotten them the gold and silver they had in possession. Riches, possessions and the wherewithal to give to the Cause of God cometh from God himself. We are then but stewards of what we possess; then let us be faithful stewards, in the Christian and practical business of giving to help build and sustain the Gospel Church in all its parts and activities.
A sense of unworthiness in being able to give
A sense of unworthiness in being able to give is an attractive and an unusual feature of grace, revealed in David’s prayer (see v. 14): “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?” Truly David feels for himself and the people, that they were quite unworthy of being divinely favoured and indeed privileged in being able to contribute to the God-honouring task of the building of the Temple at Jerusalem. Such a frame of mind is that which should be desired, by the help of grace, on the part of those giving in the Gospel Church.
Our being “sojourners, as were our fathers”
Another striking fact in respect of giving for the House of God, is our being “sojourners, as were our fathers” (v. 15). David refers to this further and says, “… our days on the earth are as a shadow” (v. 15), whatever he had personally in mind in the application of the brevity of our days to giving unto the Lord. It may well be that he viewed his own possessions and that of others, as that which must very soon be left behind when death would come, and that therefore their gold, silver and brass, etc., should be as far as possible, employed in a God-honouring way. And, of course, believers even have need to be reminded that they have but a short time in the world to devote themselves and what is theirs, to the Lord’s service. Indifferent, slothful Christians who appear to have no active interest in the Cause of Christ, should question whether they are Christians at all. Others will suspect their profession of Christianity. We refer not to poor believers, who may be afflicted, weak, timid, and who lack the gifts and abilities of others, and who possess little of this world. These in their hearts may well be more deeply attached to the Cause of God, than many others. The point is, that there is no time to trifle with. “Occupy, till I come.”
All that was contributed by himself and others unto the Lord, was the Lord’s own
The next observation we would make is, that David records that all that was contributed by himself and others unto the Lord, was the Lord’s own. It was all the Lord’s before they received it in providence, and when they gave the gold and silver, etc., for the Temple, they were giving back to the Lord what was His own. “Of thine own have we given thee” (v. 14), and as David further says, “O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine own hand, and is all thine own” (v. 16). And so what we have in providence of temporalities was the Lord’s before we had it; is the Lord’s while we seemingly possess it; and what of it is given to the Lord’s Cause, comes to Him as that which belongs to Him.
How David and the people were affected in giving to the House of God
A word as to how David and the people were affected in giving to the House of God. David records, “… because I have set my affection to the house of my God . . . I have given . . .” (v. 3). David was actuated by love to God’s name and worship and all those who feared the Lord, with him.
Willingly
And also they offered what they did, willingly. There are at least five references in the chapter to their offering willingly. “They offered willingly to the Lord” (v. 9). They felt no difficulty in parting with a quantity of their gold and silver to the Lord. They got this mind.
Rejoiced
Then they rejoiced in the act of giving, and in the fact of having given and offered willingly. “David the king also rejoiced with great joy” (v. 9). What a satisfaction an exercised Christian experiences in being enabled to do willingly, that which is honouring to the Lord! There is a spiritual joy in this. And there is an added joy in seeing others willingly serving the Lord Jesus, out of affection for Him and His Gospel and Cause of truth in the world. “The Lord loveth a cheerful giver” (II. Corinthians ix. 7).
And now a final note. We have not with design, chosen this matter to write upon at this time. But in seeking a subject, with some difficulty, our minds ultimately settled upon the above. We are well aware, for many years now, of the liberality of our people, in the Free Presbyterian Church, to the varied and constant demands made upon them, to support the Cause of Christ and truth among us in an evil and backsliding day. We intend here commendation and not undesirable flattery. Nevertheless we would all do well to survey and meditate upon this subject that we may be refreshed and encouraged to constancy in our giving, and maybe to increased giving as the Lord may prosper us, in this avenue of devotion to the Lord Jesus, who is “all and in all,” in relation to His redeemed people.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.—Philippians iv. 19.