March 31st, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Worshiping with Life

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Opening Prayer

I praise You, God of the old and the new. I bless You for yesterday and open myself to fresh grace today.

Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-20

[10] David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. [11] Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. [12] Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. [13] Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. [14] “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. [15] We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. [16] O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. [17] I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. [18] O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. [19] And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.” [20] Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Christianity is not just a ‘ticket to heaven’ but a way of life that starts now and transcends death” (Keith Miller).

Think Further

David is at the end of his life and calls the people for a celebration to express gratitude to God and transfer the throne to Solomon. Later, the writer summarizes David’s life: “He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king” (28). During this celebration, David is an example of one who distributes his earthly goods before death by saying “I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided” (3). Then he invites the people to give generously, and they follow David’s example by giving “freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord” (9). From this emerges the text for today, in which David worships the Lord for what he has done in his life. What a privilege to be able to stop at the end of one’s years and have a celebration like this!

Recognizing who God is (10-13), David describes in his worship the character of God; the God in whom he has trusted all his days. God is over all human history (10) and is owner of the universe (11); human power and wealth belong to him (12).

Recognizing who we are (14-19), David continues worshiping; only now he focuses on human nature. God is the source of life (14); life is short (15) and human wealth is a loan from God (16).

This was a king who gained the respect of his people: “they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king” (20). David was someone who reflected God; honoring him was honoring God. Worship reminds us who God is, prompting us to refocus our lives within God’s will.

Apply

The ultimate way to align yourself with God is to become like Jesus. Are you preparing yourself through life to arrive at the end, as God desires?

Closing prayer

Father, I pray for the grace to accept the inevitable fact of death. While I am helpless before it, I praise You that Jesus overcame death for me.

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