1 Chronicles 29:1-19, Where Your Treasure Is
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BaptistWay Press® Premium Commentary By Dr. Gene Wilkes President, B. H. Carroll Theological Institute Plano, Texas Studies in Solomon: No Ordinary Kind of Wisdom (1 & 2 Chronicles) Lesson Three Where Your Treasure Is Focal Text 1 Chronicles 29:1-19 Background 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Main Idea Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Question to Explore Is my main focus in life to seek first His Kingdom? Quick Read If your treasure and heart are in God’s Kingdom, you will be grateful for everything you receive from God and you will be generous with everything you have. Introduction Mary Kay Ash, the founder of the Dallas-based global company, Mary Kay Cosmetics, wrote in her book, On People Management, “The speed of the leader is the speed of the gang.” [Mary Kay Ash, 65] That axiom has proven true throughout my ministry and leadership career. Groups move at the speed of their leaders. Loyal followers—there are followers of all kinds—usually seek to keep up with the pace of their leaders. Those Page 1 of 8 Premium Commentary. Solomon: No Ordinary Kind of Wisdom--Lesson Three. Copyright © 2021 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866-249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations in Premium Commentary are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1 Chronicles 29:1-19, Where Your Treasure Is who take their cues from those who lead mimic hesitancy as well as boldness in their actions. In today’s focal passage, David set the pace for giving that funded the “palatial structure” (NIV) of the Temple by exhibiting for the people his personal investment in the project. His call of support was not a hollow one without personal cost. How could David be so generous? It was not because he wanted to build an extravagant structure for himself. He had already done that in building his palace. (1 Chronicles 17:1) He was able to be so generous because his gift would be for “the house of my God” (v. 1) and because “all that is in heaven and earth is [God’s].” (v. 11) The king humbly invested his wealth into the building of the Temple because it was for his God and all that he had to give was ultimately from God. David’s treasure lay in the kingdom of God, not his own. He was free to give because he trusted what he had was not his own but a gift from God to invest in God’s purposes. His main focus in life was to seek first God’s kingdom. We will observe David’s example, or, “speed,” as the leader in both giving and his ask of those who led with him. It is no surprise that giving campaigns today emulate this biblical model that asks for commitments from the leader(s) first so that the people may be inspired to join them in giving to the project or cause. The speed of the leader(s) continues to be the speed of the group. David’s psalm of praise to God as the source and provider of all things reveals the foundation of generosity. (vv. 10-13) David’s complete confidence that God was the owner of all things and that he simply had the privilege to invest them in the mission of God freed him to give abundantly. Paul, the Apostle, who was a servant leader collecting for the poor in Jerusalem, wrote his friends in Corinth and reminded them that “God is able to make all grace abound in you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8) When we trust God we have “all sufficiency in all things at all times” we can be generous. Commentary The King’s Example of Generosity (29:1-5) This chapter continues King David’s address to the assembly begun in chapter 28, verse 1. He has told the royal officials and commanders of his army the story of God’s will for his son, Solomon, to be the next king and to build a temple for the worship of God. He encouraged the leaders to remain faithful to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and to keep His commands. (28:2-7) The king turned to Solomon before the assembly and encouraged him to be strong and complete the work of building. (28:8-10) He then gave the plans God had given him for the Temple to his son. (28:11-19) He concluded his message to Solomon before the assembly by that God, David’s God, would be with him and that there were others to aid him in the huge task of building, furnishing and serving in the Temple. (28:20-21) Page 2 of 8 Premium Commentary. Solomon: No Ordinary Kind of Wisdom--Lesson Three. Copyright © 2021 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866-249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made. 1 Chronicles 29:1-19, Where Your Treasure Is David then turned back to “all the assembly” after addressing his son before the gathered leaders. (29:1) The king reminded those gathered that Solomon was the one whom God had chosen to be king and to complete the building of the Temple. The next king, however, was “young and inexperienced,” or, “tender” (KJV) This was not a negative statement to signal the father’s superiority over his son but a statement of reality that Solomon was young in age and lacking in experience in governing. Solomon would make this same confession when God came to him after he became king. (1 Kings 3:7) Solomon’s task was great because the “palatial structure” (NIV) was not for people but for Yahweh, the God of Israel. The word for “palace,” or, “temple” (NASB), is a rare word for the temple. The Hebrew word, biyrah, can mean palace, citadel or fort [Kohlenberger-Mounce, Hebrew] The word is used only here and v. 19 for the Temple but used fourteen times throughout Nehemiah, Esther, and Daniel with the meaning of a royal fortress or “palace.” [Thompson, 194, n. 102] One reason for the use of the word may be to emphasize the grandeur and extravagance of the structure in relation to Solomon’s experience. Just as King David had provided the plans and people to aid Solomon in the task handed him, he provided the financial resources for the project. (v. 2) The list of resources echoes those he said he would give earlier when telling Solomon about the project. (1 Chronicles 22:14-16) What is different in this passage is that the king gave witness to his personal investment in the project. (v. 3) He would not only give from the national treasury but from his own wealth, or, “personal treasures.” (NIV) He showed his “devotion” (NIV) and “delight” (NASB) in “my God” by giving out of his own wealth, not just that of the nation. Personal sacrifice is the best evidence of true devotion. The “gold of Ophir” is mentioned as part of Solomon’s treasury. (v. 4; 1 Kings 9:28) It is futile to try and find equivalent amounts to the numbers listed in this passage. “Great quantities” is sufficient to tell of David’s devotion to the project. After telling the assembly of his personal commitment to the project he asked, “Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?” (v. 5) The verb translated “willingly” is used for making freewill offerings for the tabernacle. (Exodus 25:2; 35:21) The people would have recognized the king’s call in this way. To consecrate means “to fill the hand” [ESV footnote] and is used for ordination to the priesthood. (Exodus 28:41) David understood that their willing gift was a sign of consecration of themselves to the building of the temple. Leadership always calls on others to join him or her on mission. David told of his sacrificial gift not to impress but to inspire others to give. His main focus was to honor God with his treasures. The Leaders Followed the Leader (29:6-9) Following the king’s example, the leaders “offered willingly” (NIV) their riches to the Temple treasury. (v. 6) The word can also be translated “freewill offering” (ESV) that Page 3 of 8 Premium Commentary. Solomon: No Ordinary Kind of Wisdom--Lesson Three. Copyright © 2021 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866-249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made. 1 Chronicles 29:1-19, Where Your Treasure Is represented “gifts that were not required but prompted by one’s heart or spirit.