Great Example of Prayer

By Nick Bibile

In 1 Chronicles 29 where king David provided the costly materials for the temple of God but he will hand over the reign for Solomon his son to complete in building the temple for the Lord.

Here we see a transition of reign, David is old, but Solomon is young and inexperienced, yet the building of the temple and ruling God’s people is a mighty big task for inexperienced Solomon. This is where prayer comes in, below is the prayer of David which we all can learn a good lesson for our personal life.

Acknowledging who is God and exalting him

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

The first thing in prayer, David is acknowledging  who God is, and giving praise and honor to him.  Here we see the awesome greatness, power and majesty of God, who is above everyone, then exalting his glorious name.

Humility before God

1 Chronicles 29:14-15 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 15 For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.

David is the king of Israel, he has power and glory, yet he realizes he is nothing before the heavenly King of glory!

Then verse 14 he said, all things come from you. Everything what we who we are and what we have, all come from the living God. God has given us a house, family, food, job and a brain to think and act, all things are from our heavenly Father.

We receive all things from God and we give back to God joyfully

Then David continues in verse 14 to say something remarkable, God gives and we give back. We give back to him what is due to his name, praises, honor our service, even our offering of money.

Because we cannot take anything out when we die, we are not citizens here on earth but pilgrims just passing by our citizenship is in heaven.

Cheerful giver

1 Chronicles 29:16-17 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

David received silver, gold and expensive materials for the temple as people offered with a cheerful heart and gave joyously.  How about today’s politicians when they receive in their corrupt heart they will become rich and people still stay poor.

Intercessory Prayer for his son Solomon

1 Chronicles 29:18-19  O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. 19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.”

Intercessory prayer is praying for others, considering others important, praying for our unsaved family and friends, praying for the church leaders, people in authority, praying for the needs of others.

Closing the prayer in reverence to God and offering our sacrifices

1 Chronicles 29:20-21 Then David said to all the assembly, “Bless the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the Lord and to the king.

And they offered sacrifices to the Lord, and on the next day offered burnt offerings to the Lord, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.

Eating and Drinking Before the Lord

1 Chronicles 29:22 And they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great gladness.

Anything done before the Lord is doing it in the presence of his holiness. They ate and drank before his holiness. They did not eat and drink in the flesh, not in worldliness but before the Lord.

Hope we can learn something spiritual for our lives today.