The Heart of Giving

David was a mighty king of Israel who loved God and His people. He was selected by God after Saul had broken faith with the LORD with his disobedience and insubordination. Of King David, the LORD said that He was a man whom He had sought “after his own heart” (1 Sam 13:14). David wanted to build a house for the the LORD and for the ark of the covenant to dwell in (2 Sam 7:1-2). He was not allowed to because he was a man of war and had shed much blood (1 Chron 22:8–9) in the subduing of nations in Canaan. So the task was given to Solomon, David’s son, to complete. He is the son whom God chose to succeed King David. Today we take note of David's attitude during this important time in Israel’s history and glean basic principles about giving.

I. David prepared for the building of the temple. (vs. 1-5)

1 Chronicles 29:1–5 ESV

1 And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God. 2 So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. 3 Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 4 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, 5 and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?”

A. David addresses the assembly about Solomon building the temple (v. 1)

B. David’s provisions for the work (v. 2-5a)

1 Chronicles 18:7 ESV

7 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 18:8 ESV

8 And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze. With it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.

1 Chronicles 18:9–11 ESV

9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. And he sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze. 11 These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.

1 Chronicles 20:2 ESV

2 And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.

1 Chronicles 22:14–16 ESV

14 With great pains I have provided for the house of the Lord 100,000 talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add. 15 You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working 16 gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The Lord be with you!”

C. David challenges the assembly to give. (v. 5)

Give willingly

Consecrate himself to the LORD

II. The leaders gave freewill offerings (v. 6–9)

1 Chronicles 29:6–9 ESV

6 Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. 7 They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. 8 And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

III. David’s prayer (v. 10–14)

A. David blessed the LORD (v. 10–13)

David blessed the LORD. (v. 10a)

David acknowledged his spiritual heritage from the LORD. (v. 10b)

David ascribed greatness, power, glory, victory, majesty, ownership of creation to the LORD. (v. 11a)

David ascribed authority and preeminence of the kingdom to the LORD. (11b)

David ascribed the giving of riches, honor, and rulership to the LORD. (v. 12a)

David ascribes power and might and promotion and strength to the LORD. (v. 12b)

David gives thanks and praise to the LORD God’s name. (v. 13)

B. David asks two questions (v. 14a)

1. Who am I?

2. What is my people?

C. David’s realization (v. 14b)

All things come from you!

God is the source!

Psalm 50:10–15 ESV

10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. 12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

What we give is from your own stuff!

God is the owner and what we give to Him is already His!

Job 41:11 ESV

11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.