Of Thine Own

Picture a great pile of materials in front of a crowd: gold, silver, brass, iron and precious stones. The leaders of Israel have just given much of it in a single gathering, on top of what David had prepared for years. Beside it stands an old king who will not live to see the building it is for.

God had told David plainly that he would not build the temple, and David gathered the materials anyway. He gave from his own treasure first, and then he asked the people, "who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?" They answered generously: "Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD."

When David prays, he takes a long time to get to the pile. "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty." He takes a long look at God before he says a single word about the gift.

And when David's amazement comes, it is about something you would not expect: "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?" He is amazed that they were the kind of people who wanted to give.

Then comes the sentence that clears away every claim: "for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." Long before, Moses had warned a nation about to grow rich that it would be tempted to say in its heart, "My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth." David's prayer is the answer to that temptation.

Then David turns from the prayer to the people: "Now bless the LORD your God." So may whatever you give this month leave your hands easily. May you be surprised, as David was, that you wanted to give it. And may you carry his sentence into the week, "of thine own have we given thee," until you can see that everything you hold was God's before it was yours.

Daily Manna runs on a two-year cycle. The year one reading for day 117 is Guided into Truth (John 16:13).

All 365 readings in Daily Manna, Year Two