David was a man after God's own heart, and because he always put God first in his life, he succeeded in everything he did. When God told David that he couldn't build the temple, because he was a man of war, David accepted the news with humility and praise. Listen to the words David spoke to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:9-10:
"And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately.
Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the
Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him,
you will find him. But if you forsake him he will reject you forever. So take
this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary.
Be strong, and do the work."
I remember when we first visited my husband's home in New Mexico. It was always important for him to ask his father to bless us before we left for home. After his father's death the blessing fell to his mother as the matriarch of the family. My children were grown when we divorced, but I pray that in his new life, as he picks up the pieces of his broken life, that God will remind him of the days when He was first in his life, and he will begin to pass along the generational transfer of pronouncing God's blessings on sons and daughters who in turn will become fathers and mothers, and so the tradition continues.
As I am continuing my study with Frances Frangipane, I listened to a tape by Lou Engle who discussed the importance of this practice. He calls us all to the task of finding sons and daughters whom we can bless, and in doing so, pray that the double portion of blessing will be given to them, just as Elisha received the double portion from Elijah. I know that the seeds that I planted from childhood are now beginning to blossom. I thank God for the privilege of being able to witness this wonderful transformation.
After the people of Israel had brought offerings wholeheartedly to the Lord, David, filled with joy, praised the Lord in the presence of the entire assembly by saying:
"O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.
O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.
O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you! I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.
O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes. Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations."
1 Chronicles 29:10 - 19
Imagine what would happen if we each prayed in such humility, offering thanksgiving to our God each day! Praise would rock the house! Revival would come, and God's will would be done on earth, as it is in Heaven!
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