1 Chronicles 29:5, commentary and pictures

David near the end of his life spoke to the assembled princes and representative men of Israel when he gave Solomon the charge to build the temple and asked them to receive the treasures gathered and to support the work. Gold was set apart for things of gold and silver for things of silver, with all manner of work to be done by skilled artificers, and the closing call asked who would willingly dedicate himself and his service to the Lord that day. That consecration means wholehearted, faithful service with devotion and self-sacrifice, giving talents, abilities, effort and means from willing hearts rather than by compulsion or half-hearted offering. David led by his own large gifts, and the leaders and people answered freely and generously, returning to God what was His with praise and thanksgiving.

David's Final Temple Appeal

The appeal belongs to the close of David's life, when he summoned the princes of Israel with representative men from all parts of the kingdom to receive in trust the valuable treasures he had collected for the temple and to take up with Solomon the great work that other hands must build. Though physical weakness made his personal attendance unexpected, he addressed the people for the last time with more than his usual fervor and power. In that final address he told of his own desire to build the temple and of the Lord's command that Solomon his son should build it, and he sought their concurrence and support in accomplishing it. It was at the time he thus gave Solomon the responsibility of building the temple that he spoke to the assembled multitude.

David himself was not appointed to carry out the building, for Solomon was commanded and appointed to do it. David's part was to make preparations, gathering gold, silver, and other materials for the house of God. His experience enabled him to counsel and encourage his son, using what he had learned to advise and strengthen the one called to do the work. God assigns different people to different parts of His work, and experienced workers are to support those called and qualified to carry it forward.

The first half of the verse sets forth what the temple work required, with valuable materials set aside for their uses, gold for things of gold and silver for things of silver. Alongside those materials was all manner of work to be made by the hands of skilled artificers, so that building the temple required both costly provision and skilled craftsmanship. David had gathered and provided those materials, and the work called for devoted skilled labor to fashion them for sacred use.

The closing question, who is willing to consecrate his service this day, invites the people to dedicate themselves willingly to the Lord's service and to the sanctuary work. That consecration joins personal devotion with freely giving resources, abilities, effort, talents, and skilled work for God. It calls for offering not only possessions but also willing service, with devotion and a spirit of sacrifice as essential to work done for God. The gifts of materials and skilled work thus sought were special freewill offerings beyond regular contributions, given to support sacred worship.

Willing Giving and Service

To consecrate service in this verse is to give oneself and one's resources to God freely and wholeheartedly, with devotion and a spirit of self-sacrifice. It means serving faithfully with all one's abilities, effort and talents for Him, rather than offering half-hearted service. Such giving comes from willing hearts and wholehearted commitment, not from compulsion.

The materials and skilled work called for were special freewill offerings beyond regular contributions, given to support sacred worship. They belong to the same kind of call as that made for the wilderness sanctuary, and they benefited the people who gave.

David set the pattern by his own large, generous gifts from his treasury, and the people followed that example with willing hearts. The invitation to dedicate personal devotion together with resources, gold, silver and skilled work was answered with generous, free giving by the leaders and the people. Their willingness showed wholehearted commitment, and moved David to recognize that God was moving their hearts to return to Him what already belonged to Him, bringing praise and thanksgiving to God.

Everyone who had part in erecting the temple should always have kept that call to self-sacrifice, consecration and willing service in mind. Devotion to God and a spirit of self-sacrifice were essential for all who took part in the building. The call fits a work that David himself was not appointed to carry out, for Solomon was to do the building while David could use his experience to advise and encourage him, showing that God assigns different people to different parts of His work and that experienced workers should support those called and qualified to carry it forward.