“I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
29:15 Strangers - For the land which we possess is thine, not ours;we are not the proprietors but only thy tenants: and as our fathersonce were mere strangers in it, even before men, so we at this day areno better before thee, having no absolute right in it, but only to travelthrough it, and sojourn in it for the short time that we live in the world.None abiding - We only give thee what we must shortly leave, and what wecannot keep to ourselves: and therefore it is a great favour that thouwilt accept such offerings. David's days had as much of substance inthem as most men: for he was upon the whole a good man, an useful man,and now an old man. And yet he puts himself in the front of those whomust acknowledge, that their days on the earth are as a shadow: whichspeaks of our life as a vain life, a dark life, a transient life, and alife that will have its period, either in perfect light or perfect darkness.
29:16 All thine own - In like manner we ought to acknowledge God inall spiritual things: referring every good thought, good desire, andgood work to his grace.
29:18 Of Abraham, &c. - A God in covenant with them, and with us fortheir sakes. Keep forever - Since it is from thy grace that thy peoplehave such willing minds, continue that grace to them, that they maypersist in the same generous disposition towards thee and thy worship.Prepare - Or, rather, confirm, thou who hast begun a good work,confirm and carry it on by thy grace.