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. – 1 Chronicles 29:11
King David probably had a sense of the awesomeness of God long before his victories in war and later displays of power and majesty when he was king of Israel. Imagine him as a shepherd boy with his sheep on the hillside in the deep darkness of a star-studded night viewing the majesty of God.
His “kingdom prayer” given shortly before his death and before Solomon built the temple acknowledges the Lord as God of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. David prayed with great humility, adoration, thanksgiving, and praise for all the Lord had done for him and His people. He gives no cause to think that any of the victories were because of human merit, for he says, “Who am I?” but a sojourner on this earth. The abundance he and the people of Israel had to offer for the building of the temple had all come from God (1 Chronicles 29:14-16).
Just as significantly, David prays that his heart and the hearts of the people would always be drawn to God, being upright in their thoughts toward Him, abiding by His commandments, and being joyful and generous in their gratefulness to God.
Pray today for those believers in leadership positions in government to be upright in their thoughts so they yield to the Lord’s guidance. Spend some time thinking of God’s blessings to you, and of His greatness, and the power of the Holy Spirit in you. The Lord does not ask you to build a temple, because your body is His temple that you are able to offer Him so that He may work through you for His purposes.
Today’s Verse: 1 Chronicles 19:11
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.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 Chronicles 29:10-18
10 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.
14 “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. 16 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. 18 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.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
