“Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all” (I Chronicles 29:11).

The behavior of the leader of any group sets the standard for the group and serves to encourage the people to rise to any occasion. David was about to pass the kingdom on to his son Solomon whom God had chosen. “And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel” (I Chronicles 28:5). David wanted to build a house for the Lord, “But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood” (I Chronicles 28:3). Therefore, the task was left to Solomon, but not until David, the great leader, the man after God’s own heart, had prepared the way.

David gave of his own personal possessions first, with gifts totaling over one billion dollars at today’s values! This inspired the people out of grateful hearts to give sacrificially and “with perfect heart they offered willingly” (29:6–9). This brought great joy to the king.

Out of this great giving came praise to God. David once again led the people in blessing “the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever” (v.10). “And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king” (v.20). This example of magnifying the Lord brought great gladness to the king and people (v.22), and the Lord then returned the blessing by magnifying Solomon (v.25). KBC