“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.
“’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.'” 1 Chronicles 29:10-16
Much of David’s life was a blessing to the Lord, and that before his people. What he spoke, he believed. What he praised about God, he owned in his soul. How he knew God determined how he lived. He, a man after God’s heart whom the Lord had chosen to be king over Israel forever and to bear the seed of Jesus, acknowledged that the Lord, not he, was owner of all greatness and power and glory and victory and majesty. (1 Chronicles 28:4-5; Acts 13:22)
When we truly worship, and recount all that belongs to God Almighty, we see clearly who we are before Him. If His is the greatness, I am nothing on my own. His is the power: I am weak, and in that weakness His strength is perfected. His is the glory that lifts me up, that I hide behind, and necessarily exalt, for I am nothing without Him, and apart from Him I can do nothing. Since His is the victory, I dare not go forth alone into the fray. He is the One who vanquishes the foes of sin and death. His is the majesty: I am not my own king, nor that over any people or circumstances. All things material and invisible belong to Him and are His to confer and employ, for His glorious and lasting purposes. (Psalm 3:3; John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 15:55-58; 2 Corinthians 2:14; 12:9-10)
In light of all that is His, I am merely a stranger, sojourner, a steward, a servant in my time and place on earth. Do I behave as though this is true? Does the way I go about work, raising children, and handling responsibilities and resources reflect a temper of humility, submission, gratitude, and surrender to God’s authority and ownership? What needs to change so He is acknowledged and His plans honored? (Psalm 39:12)
Lord, remind me daily that You are king and I am not. May I so inhabit Your kingdom and You inhabit mine that all I do, give, and say is to Your praise and glory.
As the rain and snow 