Serve God, Sing God's praise and Submit to him

Text 1 Chronicles 29 Time 17 11 21 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

In 1 Chronicles 28 and 29 we come to the end of David's reign. The way the writer presents things is quite different to what we find at the end of 2 Samuel where we see David old and weak and the succession to his kingdom in jeopardy. One commentator suggests that what is going on here is that the writer is presenting his material at a time when David is long gone and it would be easy for him to present the glories of David's age in such a way that he would simply add to their dejection in not living in such a time themselves.

We face a similar problem when we talk about Jesus and the time when he was here on earth. It would be very easy to present the stories in such a way that we simply say how sad to be living on earth today and not in the time when Jesus was doing all those great miracles and preaching those great sermons.

It is important that we see that Jesus fully intended to see his kingdom continue after his death and resurrection and ascension. In a similar way, here the emphasis is on the continuities. Yes, David is gone. He is no longer living but certain things do continue.

We looked last week at Chapter 28 and we thought about the fighting and the victories that David had been involved in and the preparations he had made for the future and we reminded ourselves of Christ's earthly work - his victory over Satan and his shed blood on the cross and his preparation for the future in sending the Spirit. Then we spoke about the work of the Spirit - probing, rewarding, seeking obedience, and our committed service and active strength. Then thirdly we spoke of the fact that Christ has plans for the church and provides all that we need for it to rightly function.

Three final things this week

1. The task is great but Christ has provided for us so be devoted to seeing his church built

1. The task of building the church is a great one

David's speech to the gathered leaders of Israel and to Solomon begun in Chapter 28 continues in Chapter 29. Speaking to the whole assembly he says My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God. David recognises how young and inexperienced his son Solomon is but he is the one God has chosen to build the Temple. He says fairly of the task of building the Temple that The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God. It was not simply a matter of raising such a large and magnificent edifice, the task was to build a palatial structure for God not for man.

And that is what makes the task of building the church so great. We are not merely seeking to form and promote a human organisation but something that is for the LORD God and for his honour. That is the daunting thing.

2. But Christ has provided all that is needed to build his church

David goes on, however, to speak of the extensive preparations he has made. He says (2-5a) With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God - gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colours, and all kinds of fine stone and marble - all of these in large quantities. Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: 3000 talents of gold (gold of Ophir the best gold) and 7000 talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen.

Solomon is not going to struggle for materials for building the Temple. All that he will need has already been provided by David, even to the point of raiding his own personal treasuries to provide for his people.

Here is a further reminder that Christ has done it all that there may be a church of God. He has done all that is necessary to save us and to provide for us so that the church may be built.

3. Therefore devote yourself to seeing it built

Then comes the question Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the LORD today? It is originally asked of the people by David in ancient times but it comes again tonight to us - who is willing to consecrate themselves to the LORD today? Are you willing to devote your life to this? Those leaders who heard David certainly were.

We read (6-8) Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king's work gave willingly.

They gave toward the work on the temple of God 5000 talents and 10000 darics of gold, 10000 talents of silver, 18000 talents of bronze and 100000 talents of iron. Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.

They did not say, well, David has done it all so we need do nothing. No, rather, they followed his example and so we read (9) The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

That's the sort of giving that ought to characterise us - free and wholehearted giving. Does it?

There are many examples of men and women who have devoted themselves to serving the Lord entirely. We tend to think of David Livingstone, who walked over 28 thousand miles serving God in Africa, as more of an explorer than a missionary but his exploration was very much part of his desire to bring the gospel to people. His wife died early in their ministry and he faced stiff opposition from people who didn't understand what he was doing. In his diary he wrote this prayer: "Send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever me from any tie but the tie that binds me to Your service and to Your heart." We need such consecration today.

2. Give God praise and thanks for he is great and glorious; do it with humility, integrity, joy

That opening section of Chapter 29 in verses 1-9 leads on to a great deal of praise and giving thanks and later sacrifices first from David and then from the people. And so we say

1. Give God praise and thanks

First we read that David (10) praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. In verse 13 he says Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. Later on, in verse 20, he says to the whole assembly, Praise the LORD your God. So we read they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the LORD and the king.

We read too (21) that The next day they made sacrifices to the LORD and presented burnt offerings to him: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.

As they worshipped God with David taking the lead so we should praise God in Jesus Christ also today.

2. For he is great and glorious. 11, 12 David says he praises God because Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. So not just greatness and glory but power and majesty and splendour and strength and sheer sovereignty belong to God. That is why he is worthy of all praise.

3. Notice how this was all done with humility, integrity and joy

1 Humility. In verses 14-16 David says with humility But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? He reminds himself that Everything comes from God and it is only possible to give him what he has already given us. Then he says We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. We are powerless nobodies he says. LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. We have every reason to humble ourselves before God.

You may know the name of Samuel Morse, as in Morse code. He was involved in inventing the first electric telegraph. He was a Calvinist and a man of faith. He was once asked if he ever encountered situations where he didn't know what to do. He responded, "More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and understanding." He received many honours for his inventions but said "I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me." That is the attitude we need to cultivate.

2 Integrity. David goes on (17-19) I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided. There are several things there but don't miss David's integrity. He remembers that God sees the heart and there is no point in pretending to be less than honest.

3 Joy. And do not miss the note of joy in verse 22a They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD that day.

In one of those Christmas Peanuts cartoons Linus says to Charlie Brown “Charlie Brown, you’re the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem.” Some people do seem to have a knack for that sort of thing. That should not be true of us.

There is a story told of a Russian countess who became a Christian and witnessed unashamedly to everyone. The Tsar was displeased and had her thrown into prison. After 24 hours with the lowest level of Russian society, in the most miserable conditions imaginable, he ordered her brought into his presence. He smiled sardonically and said, “Well, are you ready now to renounce your silly faith and come back to the pleasures of the court?” To his surprise, the countess simply smiled serenely and said, “I have known more real joy and more real happiness in one day in prison with Jesus than I have known in a lifetime in the courts of the Tsar.” That is how it should be.

3. Acknowledge that God is still on the throne and submit to him and recognise his splendour

The final verses are to do with Solomon and David.

1. Solomon. 22b-25 Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the LORD to be ruler and Zadok to be priest. So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David's sons, pledged their submission to King Solomon. The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendour such as no king over Israel ever had before.

So a new king was appointed to the throne. Just as now God rules his kingdom through the Spirit of Christ. How important that we submit to the Lord and obey him. Pray that God will be highly exalted ... in the sight of his people and that unmatched royal splendour will be his.

2. David. The chapter finishes with David. In verses 26-30 we read a round up. We are told that David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. He ruled over Israel forty years - seven in Hebron and 33 in Jerusalem. He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honour. His son Solomon succeeded him as king. As for the events of King David's reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer, together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands. David was gone but not gone. His kingdom would continue to flourish and even in the time of the chronicler it was still going. In a similar way so it is with Christ's kingdom.

Do you know that hymn by Charles Wesley Rejoice the Lord is king? It begins

Rejoice, the Lord is King, Your Lord and King adore;

Mortals, give thanks and sing And triumph evermore

Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice.

It goes on

His kingdom cannot fail; He rules o’er earth and heav’n;

The keys of death and hell Are to our Jesus giv’n

How can it be? Well, first

Jesus, the Saviour reigns, The God of truth and love:

When He had purged our stains He took His seat above

And then

He sits at God’s right hand Till all His foes submit

And bow to His command, And fall beneath His feet.

This is true. Don't forget it.