1 Chronicles 29:10-20, David’s Legacy (2)

1 Chronicles 10-29 also contains a record of David’s reign.  1 and 2 Chron. were taken from various records (1 Sam. 29:29: records by Samuel, Nathan and Gad are mentioned).  The compiler seemed to have a priestly interest.  Many consider Ezra to be a prime candidate for this job.  Here is an outline of 1 Chron.:

·         Ch. 1-9: Ancestry (beginning with Adam)

·       Ch. 10-29:

o   David becomes king, 10-12

o   David’s relationship with God, 13-17

o   David’s conquests, 18-20

o   David’s later reign, 21-29 (temple prep, organization)

1 Chronicles doesn’t tell about the Bathsheba incident or Absalom’s rebellion, although it does tell of David’s sin in taking the census (ch. 21).  Two chapters (15-16) record the bringing of the Ark to Jerusalem.  Ch. 16 contains a “Song of Thanksgiving” David wrote.  It is interesting in that parts of this psalm appear in three psalms in the Psalter.

•      16:8-22 is Psalm 105:1-15.
• · 16:23-33 is Psalm 96:1-13.
• ·       16:34 appears in many psalms including 106:1.
• ·       16:35-36 is Psalm 106:47-48.

1 Chron. 17 records the establishment of the Davidic Covenant.  It appears to have been copied from 2 Sam. 7.  The later chapters contain detailed records of the Levites, priests, musicians, gatekeepers, and other officials critical to the temple worship.  David organized all this, and the compiler (Ezra?) recorded it during and/or after the Babylonian captivity.  These records would be needed in the Second Temple.

David did a lot of preparation work for building the temple.  In Ch. 28 David gave Solomon the plans that God had given to him (28:19).  Ch. 28:9,20 are powerful charges to Solomon, worthy of meditation for us today.  In Ch. 29 David gives the people an opportunity to contribute financially to the building of the temple.  Today’s passage records David’s response to how God moved mightily among the people so that they gave very generously.  Here are a few notes on this blessing of David.

·       29:10-11: Jesus drew on v11 for the Lord’s Prayer because David related it to God the Father! David knew God that way.

·       29:14: All things come from You… of Your hand we have given You.

·       29:15: This is amazing, and correct and righteous … David, who worked to establish an earthly kingdom, recognized he was an alien and pilgrim! His (and my) days on earth are as a shadow.

·       29:15: AND WITHOUT HOPE! Surely he means earth does not offer hope. Bec David knows, Ps. 23:6, He will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

·       29:16: Isn’t this great! All I have, Father, is from You! It’s Yours! I am just the steward.

·       29:17: David knew God tests the heart. Our giving never fools God. Only others. And ourselves.

o   God has pleasure in uprightness.

o   David rejoiced in the giving of the people.

·       29:18: God’s long-term faithfulness (to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, AND Israel) should lead us to be faithful, to have hearts fixed on God.