I sometimes wonder just how much David had growing up. Was Jesse his father a wealthy man? I am led to believe that he may have grown up in a modest home. The family had sheep, but could not afford a hireling to watch over them. David being the youngest son was delegated the job of watching the sheep. I know David had a sling and a harp, but I wonder just how much he had in the days of his youth. Then we see that he becomes king of Israel and becomes wealthy beyond our imagination. He lived in a palace and had all that his heart desired. However, let us notice David was still a good steward from I Chronicles 28 and 29.

(i)DAVID LIVED IN A PALACE, GOD’S ARK WAS IN A TENT. David was not blind to the fact that while he had a palace the ark of the covenant was still housed in a tent. David thought, “How is it I live in a palace and the ark of the covenant which represents Israel’s covenant with God is still in a tent?” David reasoned within himself that he would build a temple to house the ark of the covenant.

(ii)GOD SAID NO TO DAVID’S DESIRE TO BUILD THE TEMPLE. Why did God refuse David’s desire to build a temple to house the ark of the covenant? Because David was a man of bloodshed; he was a man of war. God said that because of the violence David had seen and partaken in that he could not build the temple, but that his son would. David could have sulked and pouted and declared, “Fine, I won’t do a thing!” However, that is not how David acted. Instead David started making preparations for the temple to be built. He gathered materials from all over in preparation to build the temple of God.

(iii)DAVID’S GIVING (I Chron.29:2-5). David gave generously from his own money for the materials to construct the temple. Now consider the fact he gave of his means to build a temple he would never see. Yet, David gave from his heart cheerfully.

(iv)DAVID’S QUESTION, “WHO ELSE WILL GIVE?” (I Chron.29:5). As king, David could have commanded the people to give, but David would rather give the people an opportunity to give of their own free will. He gave them an opportunity to do good.

(v)THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE TO DAVID’S QUESTION (I Chron.29:6-7). The leaders offered willfully and cheerfully to give to the building of the temple. Great leaders always set a great example. Here the leaders gave cheerfully and the people followed their lead and gave (vs.8).

(vi)THE RESULT OF THEIR GIVING WAS JOY! They did not have some sinking feeling in their heart that they wasted their money when they gave, but they rejoiced in giving to God. Consider the joy they had in giving back to the God of heaven who had richly blessed them.

(vii)DAVID’S PRAYER (I Chron. 29:10-20).  

David addresses God in one the most beautiful prayers as we read recorded in I Chronicles 29:10-20. Notice

Several statements from this beautiful prayer. In vs.12 he states “riches come from You.” David recognized where all blessings come from. He realized God is the giver of every perfect gift (Jas.2:17). In I Chron.29:14 David realizes another great truth that we would do well to recognize. David understood that he was just a steward and not an owner of the things in his possession. Whatever we think we own we only have for a short time while here, the only eternal possession we have is our soul (Matt.16:26). A third great truth David uttered in his prayer is in regard to the heart of man (vs.17-20). He pleads with God to let this giving heart remain in His people. David knew the temptation of material things becoming the focus and not God, and he prayed that Israel would keep their focus on God. We should pray the same thing David prayed, remembering that we are only stewards of what God has blessed us with, not really owners.

LESSONS FOR US: (1) All things belong to God, we are just stewards. (2) Material things do not bring lasting happiness. There will always be an upgrade we desire and we are never satisfied with what we have. Get tired of what we have and want something bigger to fulfill our empty lives when in reality only God can. We need to be laying up treasures in heaven (Matt.6:19-20). You will never regret investing in God. (3) We need to give to God cheerfully and willingly (2 Cor.9:7). (4) One day we will give an account of what God has entrusted to us.

And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” -Nehemiah 4:2

(i)STONES OUT OF RUBBISH Jerusalem had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Twenty years later, due to Zedekiah’s insurrection, the city was besieged and burned again. The walls were torn down and there were rocks everywhere. The city had been totally destroyed.

(ii)NEHEMIAH RETURNS TO REBUILD THE WALLS OF THE CITY AND IS MET WITH OPPOSITION Nehemiah and Ezra return from Persian exile to rebuild the Temple, the walls, and the city of Jerusalem. However, there was a tribal leader with ties to the Samaritan army (Neh.4:2) who selfishly opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The man who vehemently opposed the rebuilding of the city is a man named Sanballat the Horonite (2:19). The men of God, Nehemiah and Ezra, saw the need for a revival amongst the people of God. They, along with a remnant of the people, came back from captivity to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and restore worship as God directed. Can you imagine how they felt when they arrived in the city and saw it burned, with one stoned turned on top of another? Imagine the beautiful city of David now lying in a heap of rocks as a reminder of a more glorious time for the Jewish people.

(iv)SABALLAT MOCKS THE PEOPLE OF GOD Notice how the wicked man mocks and belittles the Jews for their efforts to rebuild the city. Notice what he says about them: (1) He looks at the people and calls them FEEBLE JEWS. No doubt, compared to the enemies around them they looked like a feeble military that would not have the strength or means to fight off an attack. (2) He mocks them for INACTIVITY. Before Nehemiah came to the site it seems the Jews that had remained in Jerusalem had been inactive. They had made no efforts to rebuild the city. Sanballat and the other enemies of the people of God were permitted to do as they pleased.  

(iv)THE NEED FOR REVIVAL WAS REVEALED When the people saw the ruins of the city of Jerusalem their hears must have been broken. Their homeland had been destroyed. However, take note they did not quit, they went to work to restore the city and the worship of God. Their broken hearts were revived with hope. (1) Revival was needed because Israel had failed to renew the forms of worship God instituted. They needed to sacrifice to God as He had directed to atone for their sins and worship in the old way that God instructed. (2) They needed revival because they were living in the past. Remembering days when the nation was stronger instead of trying to revive the work they just let their minds dwell on past days that seemed better.

(v)NEHEMIAH’S PLAN OF REVIVAL How was Nehemiah to meet the need of these defeated Jews? (1) First, he had a broken heart (Neh.1:3). He had a personal interest in his people and his home. He did not shrug it off or act indifferent, but cried. (2) Second, he prayed earnestly, genuinely, sincerely, and persistently. The Bible says for “certain days he mourned and fasted.” He prayed till he got an answer. (3) He prayed a pointed, passionate, penitent prayer (Neh.1:4-11). (4) He had a triumphant faith. Notice his faith was based upon the work of the word of God (Neh.1:8). He was willing to work (Neh.2:5). He was willing to tell others about his faith in God (Neh.2:18). He had a working faith (Neh.2:20). He had a winning faith…the walls were rebuilt, the city had a

revival!

LESSONS FOR US:

(i)PEOPLE MAY SEE US AS FEEBLE RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS. They may say we are insignificant in number and in work. Sometimes such criticism is justified when we act indifferent and display little faith, no prayer, etc.).

(ii)WE NEED TO REVIVE AND RESTORE OUR WORSHIP AND WORK FOR GOD. We need to follow God’s pattern not man’s way. We must also do the work God calls us to do today. So often we just think about the good old days and no longer are active in making the work great again. We need to be revived and refreshed. Don’t say, “I have put in my time” and quit working for the kingdom, then bemoan the fact the church is not growing like it once did.

(iii)PRAY FOR REVIVAL. Be persistent, pointed, and penitent in our prayers for revival in our land and in this community. When was the last time you prayed for revival for this church and in your private life?

(iv)GROW IN FAITH. When our faith is based on His Word, we are willing to obey and tell others what God has done in the past. We work to glorify Him (Matt.5:16). That is winning faith.

(v)CAN THIS CHURCH GROW? Can these stones that were rubbish be used to God’s glory? (I Pet.2:5). When we are inactive the devil will do his best to tear us down to a pile of rubbish. Let us grow, revive, and rebuild the work here.