S181P7 – The king’s exiting prayer: a king’s commission

1 Chr. 29:20

Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.”  So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king.

A commission is a personal directive to an individual or a group.  It is a command, not a mere suggestion or good advice.  A commission tells the audience not what should be done but what will be done.  We are all familiar with the Great Commission of Jesus Christ recorded in the gospels.  He was about to ascend to heaven and no longer reside here in the flesh to guide his disciples.  Before departing, He commanded them to do as He did while here in Earth.  He was not suggesting that these men heal the sick and spread the gospel message.  He was commanding them to carry on this work.  This was the King of Kings giving his last instruction for those under his authority to follow in his absence. 

When King David said, “Praise the Lord your God,” he was not giving praise.  He was commanding those under his charge to praise their God, and they did.  This command was not only for the moment but also for the future.  David had just prayed for the Lord to keep his son and his people faithful in his absence.  Now he was commanding them directly to remain in a posture of praise for the God who had done so much for him and his people.  From our reading of the Psalms, we know that David was very familiar with the importance of praising God even in circumstances that seem to show that God is either absent or silent.  If only these people had fulfilled this commission from generation to generation, Israel’s history could have been vastly different. 

We will have great people of God who leave our lives for one reason or another.  Some of those people might give us commissions to follow in their absence to keep us on the right track.  Perhaps some of us will be in David’s position here and will need to give a commission to those we leave behind.  He was wise enough to recognize his responsibility to give this command before his departure.  We should seek that same wisdom, because someone might need our parting instruction for the same reason.  Father, give us wisdom as both the givers and recipients of these spiritual commissions, that we would be faithful to instruct and to obey according to Your will.