Five Eternal Gifts from God - Praise 3

“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.” (I Chronicles 29:10-13, ESV).

David’s gift of praise to the LORD was a public praise. “Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly.” The word “blessed” means to kneel and to adore while in a position of worship and humility. This praise of the LORD (Yahweh. Self-Existent God. I am that I am) was done in the presence of, or before, the entire congregation of assembly of Israel.  

It was also praise to the eternal Father. “And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.” In praising God, David indentifies Him as the one, true God who is creator and judge. He is Israel’s God. David’s emphasis is on God’s transcendence.

Balancing this is David’s complementary identification as God being a heavenly and eternal father. This emphasizes God’s intimacy with His redeemed creatures.

Thirdly, David’s praise was praise for God’s attributes. “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.” The word “greatness” refers to possessing majesty, dignity and being a person of high and exalted status.

Not only is God great but He is also powerful and glorious. Power means having strength and bravery. Glory means beauty and splendor. Victory means everlasting. Majesty is synonymous with glory. Why does David afford God all this praise? Simple! God is worthy of it and everything in the universe belongs to Him.

Fourthly, David’s prayer is praise for God’s rule. “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.”

David attributes everything to God. God is not only exalted in personhood, but also in His behavior. God is the exalted one, the head about all. He gives wealth and honor. He is the absolute ruler for He alone possesses absolute power and might. God is the One who makes things grow and strong.

Finally, in praising God for His glory, David refers to God’s name. “And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” David gives praise and boasts in the beautiful and glorious name of the LORD.