Daily Manna, Year Two · Day 117 · April 27
Of Thine Own
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.”
A heap of metal on the ground in front of a crowd: gold, silver, brass, iron, cut stone, all given in one day, and an old king beside it who will not live to see the building it is for.
David has been told plainly that he will not build the temple. He raises the materials anyway, gives from his own treasure first, then asks the assembly to match him. They do. Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD.
What he says next takes a long time to reach the pile. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty. A long look at God before one word about the offering.
The astonishment, when it comes, is at the wrong thing. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? He is amazed at being the kind of people who wanted to give it.
Then the sentence that empties the room of every claim: for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. Moses had warned a nation about to get rich that it would say in its heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
David turns from the prayer to the congregation: Now bless the LORD your God. So let whatever you hand over this month leave your hands easily. Be surprised at wanting to. And carry his sentence into the week, of thine own have we given thee, until you can hear whose it was 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).