For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Every wild animal of the forest and the tame cattle on a thousand hills already belong to God. In its setting He is telling Israel that He does not need their sacrifices for animals, since the animals are already His, and obedience matters more than sacrifice. All the world and everything in it — houses, lands, riches, gold and silver — is His, lent to people by Him, so He is never dependent on human wealth and His resources are unlimited. People hold possessions, abilities, time and strength only as stewards in trust from Him, and must use them faithfully in His service and give account of them at the second coming. He asks for gifts and offerings not from need but to honor people as coworkers with Him and to test and develop their character, and when they trust Him with living faith and prayer He supplies what is needed for His work so it does not stand still.
Wording and Original Setting
The wording declares that every wild beast of the forest and the domestic cattle upon a thousand hills already belong to God, with all animals and the riches of the earth held as His own possession. In its setting God is telling Israel that He does not need or depend on their sacrifices for animals, since those animals are already His. He likewise did not need animals taken as spoil from the Amalekites, a people and their possessions under His curse, to be offered to Him, for obedience to His commands matters more than sacrifice. The sacrifices appointed in that setting were to teach that sin brings death and that the blood of an innocent animal could atone for the transgressor only by virtue of the greater sacrifice yet to come.
Read with verses 11-12, the declaration widens to all earthly property, land, wealth, living creatures, and the world and its fullness belonging to the Lord, held by those who control wealth only in trust and to be used faithfully in His service rather than by personal preference. That ownership is a reason to rejoice and to trust in Him. Studied together with Psalms 24 and 25, the psalm displays the greatness of God that will expose the fearful loss caused by those working on Satan's side in anarchy, war and strife, who at the last great day will see how many souls were lost because they would not take their stand under the rule of Christ.
The verse reveals Christ as one with God the owner of all creation and every creature, since His provision of the tribute money through the fish displayed divine glory and showed freedom from obligation as a mere subject bound to pay. Yet at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem He depended on a stranger's kindness for an animal to ride, so that His humble dependence stands in contrast to His ownership of all creatures.
Divine Ownership and Sufficiency
The verse means that God owns the world and everything in it, including houses and lands, every wild beast and domestic animal, all riches and treasures, gold and silver, and all living creatures, and whatever people possess comes from Him and is lent by Him as entrusted goods to supply need. The world and its fullness are His, with abundance placed in human hands to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and house the homeless.
Because everything is His, God is not dependent on any person's gold or silver, wealth or human resources to support His cause or to make Him rich, and He is not without resources when financial needs arise. His resources and treasures are unlimited, at hand, and never lacking, and He knows the situation of His work. He has power to do whatever He wills without human help.
He could send means direct from heaven to supply His treasury, send angels to preach the truth without human agency, make known His will with His own voice as at Sinai, or write the truth upon the heavens. He graciously gives people the privilege of working with Him, but He can accomplish His purposes by His own power, and if one refuses to cooperate according to His order He can choose another willing and obedient person.
Money and worldly honor give a person no greater worth, power or standing before God, who favors no one for what is possessed and cares nothing for human money as a ground of acceptance. Riches sway human judgment and bring influence among people, but they do not raise anyone in favor with Him. He is no respecter of persons, and He weighs moral worth and excellence of character whether found in the poor or the rich.
Human Stewardship and Accountability
All earthly property, including animals and land, houses, riches and treasures, belongs to the Lord, and those who control wealth hold it only in trust and not as their own independent possession. Human beings therefore hold worldly possessions and abilities as stewards entrusted with means to test whether they acknowledge Him and use His gifts to advance His cause and glorify His name. As stewards they are to use what is committed to them faithfully rather than according to personal preference, and willingly to honor and serve God with time, strength, intellect and means. They are to dedicate abilities and possessions to His service and work and to help His work with the resources they hold.
Stewardship calls for careful self-examination over for whom talents are put out and whether they yield increase for their rightful owner. Men own nothing themselves but hold everything committed to them to dedicate every power of mind and body and all money to His service and the extension of His kingdom, rather than spending needlessly or locking funds up in banks and investments. At the second coming servants will be called to give account of their use of His money and will be rewarded according to their works.
All wealth and all money in the treasury are His to distribute, for the cattle, the silver and the gold and the earth's resources are His, so money given to support His work is the Lord's and not merely the giver's. Faithful workers carrying forward needy enterprises in harmony with His instruction, even when not owned by a conference organization, are entitled to a portion of that money and to ask His people for the means needed to advance their work. Those who tie their hands and forbid them will be called to account, and no one should claim authority to divert means entrusted for a particular part of His work, for He may direct the use of what is His.
That ownership means money sent in for His work is the Lord's, and His treasures lent to people in trust are to be used in emergencies. People are therefore stewards of the Master's entrusted goods who should faithfully return tithes and offerings to His treasury and use their means for His work. He bids them deny themselves in the expenditure of means and put the money thus saved into His treasury, including to free His institutions from debt, and angels will cooperate with those who do so that no reproach rests on His cause.
Provision for Mission Work
The cattle on a thousand hills with all beasts, living property and riches of earth belong to the Lord, so He is rich in resources and never without means to sustain His work. He knows the financial needs of mission work, and even when funds and human resources are scarce He can and will supply what is needed. His work will not be allowed to come to a standstill for lack of supply.
Help is sent when His people trust Him with living faith, pray and believe, rely on Him and do their very best while acting as He gives wisdom. Needs for His cause are to be brought directly to Him in living faith rather than depending too much on others. He is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God with whom there are no impossibilities.
That provision extends to a meetinghouse and other suitable buildings for His work in Australia when His people walk humbly with Him, and to a place for His people to worship. It extends to a school even when money is scarce, to a sanitarium when faith has been tested and remains unfailing, and to a house of worship in Melbourne. Men own nothing themselves but hold everything committed to them as stewards to dedicate every power of mind and body and all money to His service and the extension of His kingdom, rather than spending needlessly or locking funds in banks and investments, with careful self-examination over for whom talents are put out and whether they yield increase for their rightful owner, because at the second coming servants will give account of His money and be rewarded according to their works.
Possessions held by people are entrusted resources to be used as His stewards to meet urgent needs and advance His work, including freeing His institutions from debt. His treasures are at hand, lent in trust to be used in emergencies, so those who hold them must use them to free His institutions in Denmark and Norway from debt, and those who give to His work act as stewards of what is already His. Angels will cooperate with those who do so that no reproach rests on His cause. Workers are not the source of supply, for He is not dependent on any person or on human workers to do His work; they have the privilege of cooperating with Him and working through strength He gives, and He can accomplish His purposes by His power through another willing and obedient person if one refuses to cooperate according to His order.
Giving and Cooperative Service
The cattle upon a thousand hills and every beast of the forest with the world and its fullness already belong to God, so He is not dependent on any person's gold or silver for the support of His cause. He could send means direct from heaven to supply His treasury, send angels to preach the truth without human agency, make known His will with His own voice as at Sinai, or write the truth upon the heavens. Whatever necessity exists for human agency He has purposely arranged for man's good, to honor men by making them coworkers with Him, to keep their benevolent affections in exercise, and to test and prove them by giving them a work to do. He calls for gifts and offerings not from need but to cultivate a spirit of benevolence in givers and to develop generosity and Christian character by helping those in need, and only as people fulfill that divine purpose in creation can life be a blessing to them.
He does not need offerings, for giving is for the good of His servants, yet He accepts humble, grateful offerings as obedience and as evidence that all they have and are belongs to Him. He will not accept offerings when givers withhold themselves, because He asks for what is already His own, not only entrusted means but body, soul, and spirit with time and talents, all purchased by the blood of Christ. Gifts received as an acknowledgment that He owns all things and that people depend on Him for what they possess matter when they express love and devotion, and are to be devoted with all powers to His service. God is the source of what people possess, so they owe Him gratitude for His gifts and return a portion of His bounty in offerings to sustain His worship and to advance His cause and glorify His name.
Because the world and its fullness are His, with an abundance placed in the hands of men to supply the hungry with food, the naked with clothing, and the homeless with homes, He moves upon worldly men, even idolaters and Gentiles and heathen, and upon men in high places with means and influence, to give of their abundance for the support of His work. His people, in the world but not of the world and remaining distinct from it, should become acquainted with them, wisely bring the needs of the work and the truth before them, give them opportunity and a fair chance to give and to weigh evidence, travail of soul for them and invite them to the marriage feast. Then they are privileged to receive what is given and to obtain advantages from them without sacrificing one principle of truth, while advancing the cause of God. When they walk with Him in dependent faith He will open the hearts of wealthy unbelievers to give money freely and voluntarily, convinced His power is present, without placing conditions or claiming control, restrictions, or direction.
Trying to secure gifts by binding to worldly men, following their wisdom, and conforming to their standard while still claiming to be God's people departs from Him, for there can be no union between God and mammon.
Every wild animal of the forest and the tame cattle on a thousand hills already belong to God. In its setting He is telling Israel that He does not need their sacrifices for animals, since the animals are already His, and obedience matters more than sacrifice. All the world and everything in it — houses, lands, riches, gold and silver — is His, lent to people by Him, so He is never dependent on human wealth and His resources are unlimited. People hold possessions, abilities, time and strength only as stewards in trust from Him, and must use them faithfully in His service and give account of them at the second coming. He asks for gifts and offerings not from need but to honor people as coworkers with Him and to test and develop their character, and when they trust Him with living faith and prayer He supplies what is needed for His work so it does not stand still.
Wording and Original Setting
The wording declares that every wild beast of the forest and the domestic cattle upon a thousand hills already belong to God, with all animals and the riches of the earth held as His own possession. In its setting God is telling Israel that He does not need or depend on their sacrifices for animals, since those animals are already His. He likewise did not need animals taken as spoil from the Amalekites, a people and their possessions under His curse, to be offered to Him, for obedience to His commands matters more than sacrifice. The sacrifices appointed in that setting were to teach that sin brings death and that the blood of an innocent animal could atone for the transgressor only by virtue of the greater sacrifice yet to come.
Read with verses 11-12, the declaration widens to all earthly property, land, wealth, living creatures, and the world and its fullness belonging to the Lord, held by those who control wealth only in trust and to be used faithfully in His service rather than by personal preference. That ownership is a reason to rejoice and to trust in Him. Studied together with Psalms 24 and 25, the psalm displays the greatness of God that will expose the fearful loss caused by those working on Satan's side in anarchy, war and strife, who at the last great day will see how many souls were lost because they would not take their stand under the rule of Christ.
The verse reveals Christ as one with God the owner of all creation and every creature, since His provision of the tribute money through the fish displayed divine glory and showed freedom from obligation as a mere subject bound to pay. Yet at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem He depended on a stranger's kindness for an animal to ride, so that His humble dependence stands in contrast to His ownership of all creatures.
Divine Ownership and Sufficiency
The verse means that God owns the world and everything in it, including houses and lands, every wild beast and domestic animal, all riches and treasures, gold and silver, and all living creatures, and whatever people possess comes from Him and is lent by Him as entrusted goods to supply need. The world and its fullness are His, with abundance placed in human hands to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and house the homeless.
Because everything is His, God is not dependent on any person's gold or silver, wealth or human resources to support His cause or to make Him rich, and He is not without resources when financial needs arise. His resources and treasures are unlimited, at hand, and never lacking, and He knows the situation of His work. He has power to do whatever He wills without human help.
He could send means direct from heaven to supply His treasury, send angels to preach the truth without human agency, make known His will with His own voice as at Sinai, or write the truth upon the heavens. He graciously gives people the privilege of working with Him, but He can accomplish His purposes by His own power, and if one refuses to cooperate according to His order He can choose another willing and obedient person.
Money and worldly honor give a person no greater worth, power or standing before God, who favors no one for what is possessed and cares nothing for human money as a ground of acceptance. Riches sway human judgment and bring influence among people, but they do not raise anyone in favor with Him. He is no respecter of persons, and He weighs moral worth and excellence of character whether found in the poor or the rich.
Human Stewardship and Accountability
All earthly property, including animals and land, houses, riches and treasures, belongs to the Lord, and those who control wealth hold it only in trust and not as their own independent possession. Human beings therefore hold worldly possessions and abilities as stewards entrusted with means to test whether they acknowledge Him and use His gifts to advance His cause and glorify His name. As stewards they are to use what is committed to them faithfully rather than according to personal preference, and willingly to honor and serve God with time, strength, intellect and means. They are to dedicate abilities and possessions to His service and work and to help His work with the resources they hold.
Stewardship calls for careful self-examination over for whom talents are put out and whether they yield increase for their rightful owner. Men own nothing themselves but hold everything committed to them to dedicate every power of mind and body and all money to His service and the extension of His kingdom, rather than spending needlessly or locking funds up in banks and investments. At the second coming servants will be called to give account of their use of His money and will be rewarded according to their works.
All wealth and all money in the treasury are His to distribute, for the cattle, the silver and the gold and the earth's resources are His, so money given to support His work is the Lord's and not merely the giver's. Faithful workers carrying forward needy enterprises in harmony with His instruction, even when not owned by a conference organization, are entitled to a portion of that money and to ask His people for the means needed to advance their work. Those who tie their hands and forbid them will be called to account, and no one should claim authority to divert means entrusted for a particular part of His work, for He may direct the use of what is His.
That ownership means money sent in for His work is the Lord's, and His treasures lent to people in trust are to be used in emergencies. People are therefore stewards of the Master's entrusted goods who should faithfully return tithes and offerings to His treasury and use their means for His work. He bids them deny themselves in the expenditure of means and put the money thus saved into His treasury, including to free His institutions from debt, and angels will cooperate with those who do so that no reproach rests on His cause.
Provision for Mission Work
The cattle on a thousand hills with all beasts, living property and riches of earth belong to the Lord, so He is rich in resources and never without means to sustain His work. He knows the financial needs of mission work, and even when funds and human resources are scarce He can and will supply what is needed. His work will not be allowed to come to a standstill for lack of supply.
Help is sent when His people trust Him with living faith, pray and believe, rely on Him and do their very best while acting as He gives wisdom. Needs for His cause are to be brought directly to Him in living faith rather than depending too much on others. He is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God with whom there are no impossibilities.
That provision extends to a meetinghouse and other suitable buildings for His work in Australia when His people walk humbly with Him, and to a place for His people to worship. It extends to a school even when money is scarce, to a sanitarium when faith has been tested and remains unfailing, and to a house of worship in Melbourne. Men own nothing themselves but hold everything committed to them as stewards to dedicate every power of mind and body and all money to His service and the extension of His kingdom, rather than spending needlessly or locking funds in banks and investments, with careful self-examination over for whom talents are put out and whether they yield increase for their rightful owner, because at the second coming servants will give account of His money and be rewarded according to their works.
Possessions held by people are entrusted resources to be used as His stewards to meet urgent needs and advance His work, including freeing His institutions from debt. His treasures are at hand, lent in trust to be used in emergencies, so those who hold them must use them to free His institutions in Denmark and Norway from debt, and those who give to His work act as stewards of what is already His. Angels will cooperate with those who do so that no reproach rests on His cause. Workers are not the source of supply, for He is not dependent on any person or on human workers to do His work; they have the privilege of cooperating with Him and working through strength He gives, and He can accomplish His purposes by His power through another willing and obedient person if one refuses to cooperate according to His order.
Giving and Cooperative Service
The cattle upon a thousand hills and every beast of the forest with the world and its fullness already belong to God, so He is not dependent on any person's gold or silver for the support of His cause. He could send means direct from heaven to supply His treasury, send angels to preach the truth without human agency, make known His will with His own voice as at Sinai, or write the truth upon the heavens. Whatever necessity exists for human agency He has purposely arranged for man's good, to honor men by making them coworkers with Him, to keep their benevolent affections in exercise, and to test and prove them by giving them a work to do. He calls for gifts and offerings not from need but to cultivate a spirit of benevolence in givers and to develop generosity and Christian character by helping those in need, and only as people fulfill that divine purpose in creation can life be a blessing to them.
He does not need offerings, for giving is for the good of His servants, yet He accepts humble, grateful offerings as obedience and as evidence that all they have and are belongs to Him. He will not accept offerings when givers withhold themselves, because He asks for what is already His own, not only entrusted means but body, soul, and spirit with time and talents, all purchased by the blood of Christ. Gifts received as an acknowledgment that He owns all things and that people depend on Him for what they possess matter when they express love and devotion, and are to be devoted with all powers to His service. God is the source of what people possess, so they owe Him gratitude for His gifts and return a portion of His bounty in offerings to sustain His worship and to advance His cause and glorify His name.
Because the world and its fullness are His, with an abundance placed in the hands of men to supply the hungry with food, the naked with clothing, and the homeless with homes, He moves upon worldly men, even idolaters and Gentiles and heathen, and upon men in high places with means and influence, to give of their abundance for the support of His work. His people, in the world but not of the world and remaining distinct from it, should become acquainted with them, wisely bring the needs of the work and the truth before them, give them opportunity and a fair chance to give and to weigh evidence, travail of soul for them and invite them to the marriage feast. Then they are privileged to receive what is given and to obtain advantages from them without sacrificing one principle of truth, while advancing the cause of God. When they walk with Him in dependent faith He will open the hearts of wealthy unbelievers to give money freely and voluntarily, convinced His power is present, without placing conditions or claiming control, restrictions, or direction.
Trying to secure gifts by binding to worldly men, following their wisdom, and conforming to their standard while still claiming to be God's people departs from Him, for there can be no union between God and mammon.