(14) But who am I?--And, indeed, who am I? (answering to the Greek ??? ???). That we should be able.--That we should hold in: i.e., keep strength ('?car k?ah), a phrase confined to six passages in the Chronicles and three in Daniel (Daniel 11:6; Daniel 10:8; Daniel 10:16). All things come of thee.--For from thee is the whole (scil.) of our wealth and power. (Comp. 1Chronicles 29:16.) And of thine own.--And out of thine own hand. 29:10-19 We cannot form a right idea of the magnificence of the temple, and the buildings around it, about which such quantities of gold and silver were employed. But the unsearchable riches of Christ exceed the splendour of the temple, infinitely more than that surpassed the meanest cottage on earth. Instead of boasting of these large oblations, David gave solemn thanks to the Lord. All they gave for the Lord's temple was his own; if they attempted to keep it, death would soon have removed them from it. They only use they could make of it to their real advantage, was, to consecrate it to the service of Him who gave it.But who am I,.... Originally dust and ashes, a sinful creature, unworthy to receive anything from God, and of having the honour of doing anything for him:and what is my people: subject to him, the least of all people, separated from the nations round about them, and despised by them: that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? that they, who were a poor people, some years ago brought out of Egyptian bondage, should now be possessed of such an affluence, and have such a generous heart and liberal spirit given them, as to contribute in so large and liberal a manner as they had done; all was owing to the goodness of God to them, and the efficacy of his grace upon them: for all things come of thee; all good things, temporal and spiritual; the Lord is the fountain of goodness, and Father of mercies: and of thine own have we given thee; for there is nothing a man has but he has received from the Lord, and therefore can give nothing to him but his own, see Romans 11:35. |