Please find below the notes from the Elder's Prayer this past Sunday.
On the other side of the Cross, long before our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to redeem us from our sins, toward the end of King David’s reign, David gathered the people of Israel together for the purpose of addressing them concerning the building of a temple.
It had been his desire to build a temple-a house of rest, as he states in 1 Chron 28, for the ark of the covenant-a footstool for the God of Israel.
It was not, however, God’s desire for David to build the temple, but rather that his son, Solomon, would be the one to do so.
David reveals this to the assembly and upon hearing there is a temple to be built there is a great outpouring of giving of wealth for the purpose of building the temple and glorifying God.
In 1 Chronicles 1:29, beginning in verse 10, though he is not the one chosen to build the temple, David leads the congregation in prayer of praise and adoration acknowledging the eternal greatness of the Lord, who in spite of all their rebellion against him, had continued to bless the nation of Israel-to keep his covenant with them-listen to David’s words:
10b “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 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. 12 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. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
As we gather here today, how much more should we praise the glorious name of the Lord.
On this side of the Cross we can see even more clearly God’s plan of redemption, revealed throughout the history of Israel, and being carried towards its ultimate conclusion-first through the redeeming work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross-when he bled and died to take away our sin.
And, as we just sang, when Christ comes again to take us home and his eternal covenant will be fulfilled-so just as David did, let’s give thanks and praise his glorious name.
Lord-as we gather here today, redeemed by the blood of your Son, may we do so with awesome wonder-astounded daily by your greatness and the goodness and faithfulness of your provision-not only while we are on this earth, but for eternity.
As your word tells us you saved us not because of our works, but according to your great mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit whom you poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.
It is by your grace we are counted righteous-you saved us so we might be heirs of your covenant promise of eternal life-reconciled to you forever.
May we live sacrificially, devoting our lives-all that we have and all that we are-to you- our redeemer.
How great thou art-the mighty creator of all things, and yet still caring for each of our souls.
Lord, we stand before you in awe today and give thanks in the name of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, amen.