Strength And Power Series

Text: 1 Chronicles 29:10-20

Theme: Strength and Power

Greetings: The Lord is good and His Love endures forever!

Introduction:

Is the Lord’s hand shortened?

The Lord Reigns (Psalm 93:1)

Today we will meditate about the Lord’s hand which gives us strength and Power.

David has given generously and honestly! And Publicly!! a great deal of wealth including gold, silver and other personal possessions for building Temple as an exemplary giving to all. David encouraged his citizens to give their possessions, talents and craftsmanship to the work of the Temple (1 Chronicles 28:21). The Kingdom effort is a community effort. Finally, and naturally, David falls on his knees and utters a beautiful prayer, an extemporaneous expression of his worship of the Lord God. This prayer is David’s legacy to the nation of Israel.

There are thirteen "alls" in this passage of 1 Chronicles 29:10-21 but we are meditating from v.10 to v. 20 (1 Chronicles 29:10, 11 (twice), 12 (twice), 14,15,16,17,19,20 (twice), and 21).

- Presence of all the assembly

- All that is in heaven

- Exalted head above all

- Rule over all

- Give strength to all

- All things come from you

- All our ancestors

- All abundance

- All your own

- Freely offered all

- Performing all of them

- All Assembly blessed

- For all Israel

I would like to group them into three as:

• Owner of all things

• Giver of all things

• Ruler of all things

1. God is the Owner of all things (1 Chronicles 29:16).

God is ‘El Olam’. He is the Everlasting God. David starts his praise with the word Barak, that means praying and praising On knees before God as an act of adoration on bended knee, speak highly favourably of GOD.

David constantly affirmed that God is the creator, the Proprietor of the entire universe, owner of all things (1 Chronicles 29:12, Psalm 24:1). God is the true owner of everything that we own, our possessions , our body, our spirit and our soul (Psalm 24:1). God is the owner of your houses, your plots, your apartments, your cars, your jewels and all that we hold on. He is the owner, we are Trustees of his assets. God is the real title holder. Everything belongs to Him. We are not the proprietors(Barnes comments).

We look after his resources as stewards (Matthew 25:14-30). He is the Owner of the Heavens and the milky ways, celestial beings and the whole earth.

“All things come from YOU, and from YOUR hand we have given YOU (1 Chronicles 29:14). This is the basis of "stewardship".

John Gill comments: ‘The whole universe, all the terraqueous globe, both land and water, and the circumambient air, and all that is therein; the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the air, the beasts of the field, all plants and vegetables that spring out of the earth, and metals and minerals in the bowels of it; all which are the riches of the Lord” (Psalm 24:1, Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalm 50:11-12, 89:11).

In the Bhagavad-gita, it is written that “He is the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor of everything and anything within this creation, and the supreme friend of everyone.”

There are a few false claims on the universe as their possessions. Satan claimed that the World and its authorities are given to him (Luke 4). Many Kings in the history of the world claim it. But, in fact, nothing we own everything is the gift of the Lord.

Illustration: Alexander, the Great said, "I want the world to know the three lessons I have just learned." 1. "I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can cure anybody. They are helpless in front of death." 2. "I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people know that wealth is nothing but dust." 3. “I wish all to know that I came empty-handed into this world, and I will go empty-handed."

Abraham called YHWH as "Possessor of heaven and earth" (Genesis 14:22). Mathew Henry:“We ourselves are not our own; our bodies, our souls, are not.” How badly we are holding things of the World. God is the Universal Proprietor.

2. Giver of all things (1 Chronicles 29:12).

This beautiful thanksgiving prayer of David was an effusion overflowing with gratitude and delight at seeing the warm and widespread interest that was now taken in forwarding the favourite project of his life. God is the giver of all wealth and honour, strength and power, and exaltation. God’s reigning hand gives Wealth and Honour, Strength and Power, and exaltation. All things come from YOU, and from YOUR hand we have given YOU (1 Chronicles 29:14). This is the basis of "stewardship".