1 Chronicles 29:10-20 Why David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be you, LORD God of Israel our father… I. THE OCCASION. David, in a general assembly of his people, moves them to contribute towards the building of the temple, and encourages them by his own example. They contribute willingly and liberally. Reckoning a talent of silver at £375, and a talent of gold at £4,500, what they offered amounted to above twenty-six millions of pounds sterling (besides the ten thousand drams of gold, the other metals, and precious stones), which, with what David gave himself out of his private treasury, being above sixteen millions more, makes a vast sum. For this he and the people rejoice. He blesses and praises God, not because they had so much, but because they had hearts to lay out so much for God and His worship. To have much may be a curse and a snare, but to have a heart to employ it for God is a far more blessed thing than to keep it, or gain it, or any way to receive it (Acts 20:25). II. THE MODE OR FORM OF HIS PRAISING GOD. It is an ascribing all excellences to Him. True praising or blessing of God consists in acknowledging that to be God's which is His. When Christ taught His disciples how to pray and how to praise God, this is the mode of praising Him (Matthew 7:18): "Thine is," etc. After the same manner does David here praise Him. (D. Clarkson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. |
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