UBF Daily Bread

WHO IS WILLING TO CONSECRATE THEMSELVES TO THE LORD?

Passage: 1_Chronicles 29:1~9

Key verse: 9

Gifts for Building the Temple

29 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced.^(A) The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God. ²With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold^(B) 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,^[a]^(C) stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.^(D) ³Besides, 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^(E) for this holy temple: ⁴three thousand talents^[b] of gold (gold of Ophir)^(F) and seven thousand talents^[c] of refined silver,^(G) for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, ⁵for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?”

⁶Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials^(H) in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.^(I) ⁷They^(J) gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents^[d] and ten thousand darics^[e] of gold, ten thousand talents^[f] of silver, eighteen thousand talents^[g] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents^[h] of iron. ⁸Anyone who had precious stones^(K) gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.^(L) ⁹The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly^(M) to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

1 Chronicles 29:2 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
1 Chronicles 29:4 That is, about 110 tons or about 100 metric tons
1 Chronicles 29:4 That is, about 260 tons or about 235 metric tons
1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 190 tons or about 170 metric tons
1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 185 pounds or about 84 kilograms
1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 380 tons or about 340 metric tons
1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 675 tons or about 610 metric tons
1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 3,800 tons or about 3,400 metric tons

1. David gives over and above (1-4)

King David understood that the temple was not for man but for the LORD God himself. David had already provided large amounts of precious metals and stones for the construction of the temple. But David believed God was worthy of much more. In his devotion to the temple, David joyfully gave his personal treasures for the work on the temple. His personal offering was substantial. David challenged the leaders to also give to this work. Consecration to the LORD was practically expressed through giving.

2. The leaders also give willingly (5-9)

The leaders who had gathered were inspired by the king's giving. They, too, willingly gave toward the work of the temple of God. Their combined giving surpassed the king's and was collected in the temple treasury. The people rejoiced at the free and wholehearted attitude of the leaders to contribute generously from their personal wealth to the temple. Will you also consecrate yourself by freely and willingly giving to the LORD?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me everything through Jesus. Help me to freely give back to you.

One Word: Give freely and willingly to the LORD