1. Encountering and knowing God through Service

2. Introduction Different ways of serving 2 Cor. 9:12-14 “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.”

3. A call from God to God’s service (1 Chron. 29:1) “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” (v. 1) The word bîrāh (palace) is translated ‘citadel, acropolis, the palace.’ In the book of Esther this word is used for the residence of the Persian king (1:2, 1:5; 2:3). Here it referred to the temple as the palace of the King of Kings, the God of Israel. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17)

4. The sacrificial service of a visionary leader (1 Chron. 29:2-5) Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. Now there is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood, as well as great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels, and all kinds of fine stone and marble (1 Chr. 29:2, NLT).

5. The sacrificial service of a visionary leader (1 Chron. 29:2-5) Now, to show my commitment to the temple of my God, I donate my personal treasure of gold and silver to the temple of my God, in addition to all that I have already supplied for this holy temple. This includes 3,000 talents of gold from Ophir and 7,000 talents of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings, for gold and silver items, and for all the work of the craftsmen (1 Chr. 29:3-5a). The Hebrew word rātsāh means ‘to take pleasure in, be favourable to someone, be well disposed.’ It is the same word used in Isaiah 42:1, where the Lord expressed His pleasure with His servant, the Messiah.

6. “Who else wants to contribute to the L ORD today?” (5b) “Leaders will never see open-handed giving from their people, if they are not willing to take the lead in this as well.” (Thompson, 1994:195.) ‘Want’ is the translation of the Hebrew word nādab, which is used for making freewill offerings to build the tabernacle (Exod, 25:2; 35:5,21,22,29) and the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 1:6; cf. 7:16). It is also used for volunteering for military service (Judg. 5:2, 9; 2 Chr. 17:16). In this passage it is used in the verses 5, 6, 9.

7. The sacrificial service of all leaders (1 Chr. 29:6-7) Then the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and captains of the army, and the king’s administrative officers all gave willingly. For the construction of the Temple of God, they gave about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron (1 Chr. 29:6-7, NLT).

8. The sacrificial service of all God’s people (1 Chron. 29:8-9) All who possessed precious stones donated them to the treasury of the LORD ’s temple, which was under the supervision of Jehiel the Gershonite (1 Chr. 29:8). The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly (1 Chr. 29:9).

9. Sacrificial service leads to praise and thanksgiving (1 Chron. 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. 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. 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. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

10. Sacrificial service acknowledges its dependence on God (1Chron 29:14-16) 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. 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. 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.

11. Sacrificial service is done in uprightness (1 Chron. 29:17-18) 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. 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.