365 Reflections

Every year ends when a new year begins. This blog has been the one consistent in my life for the last few years when it comes to personal devotions in the scriptures. I have most enjoyed how this work has kept me coming back to the books of the Bible to hear God speak and I pray that you have been blessed and guided to discover the God of the Universe through the Word He gave to the world.  I begin this last night of 2020 with a new book, 2 Chronicles. Remember the Chronicles are accounts of the Exiles returning to Israel from Babylonian captivity. They are learning who they are again and remembering Who made them who they are.  2 Chronicles 1:1 (ESV)  Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. We enter 2 Chronicles on the hopes of God's chosen king, the son of David. Solomon was specially selected from the sons of David. He was the 2nd child of Bathsheba (the first child died in judgment of David&#

1 Chronicles 29:17–18 (ESV) I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. 18 O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. I love this prayer. The people have given to the house of God in David's preparations for Solomon. Now David's prayer for the people is that they might always have a heart for the house of God, to give to it constantly remembering that in this house, something wonderful happens - people meet with the Lord.  "keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people" As I began my study of 1 Chronicles I was reminded that this book is about coming out of exile to find ourselves home again, where we belong, in the land of promise wi

David calls on the assembly of Israel to donate to the construction of the temple in 1 Chronicles 29. He will also lead the giving of the assembly and the people will rejoice in their contributions to God's house.  1 Chronicles 29:2–5 (ESV) So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. 3 Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 4 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, 5 and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the

The 28th chapter of 1 Chronicles illustrates David's final charge to his son Solomon on the precipice of building the Temple. Already the writer has been made clear in the book that David's life of war would lead to Solomon's life of peace. David who shed much blood would not be the one to build the temple. You could say through the shed blood of David, Solomon receives peace.  Now with preparations made, the words from David to Solomon are clear: there's a work to accomplish now and Solomon needs to commit! First, David makes it plain for Solomon. Solomon must understand he's been chosen to do this very thing.  1 Chronicles 28:6 (ESV)  He (God) said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. On the heels of that impressive reality, David bears down: 1 Chronicles 28:9–10 (ESV) “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a wil

The New Testament teaches us that God is a God of order. But where does that idea come from? The Old Testament. Especially in the book of 1 Chronicles. 1 Chronicles 27:1 (ESV) This is the number of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000: We learn from this chapter that order is important to David because as God's chosen king, the nation had to stand ready to defend itself and also prepare for the people a habitation to meet with God. 12 divisions of 24,000 soldiers took one month each to serve the king in this capacity.  The Bible is big on 12, 24, 7, and 3. These numbers run through the scriptures in heavy doses. It is no coincidence that these numbers are what govern our time. Consider that we eat three times a day (or regard three times of the day - morning,

There's a verse in 1 Chronicles 26 that James Boice, the great theologian, and pastor of the last Century shares about a Seminary dropout who ridiculed the Bible based on a verse within it. It sounds like a useless verse in a book that we say is inspired by God Himself.  What's the verse? 1 Chronicles 26:18 (ESV) And for the colonnade on the west there were four at the road and two at the colonnade . Boice points out that in older Bible translations, the Hebrew word, " Parbar " was simply used because translators were unfamiliar with its meaning.  1 Chronicles 26:18 (NKJV) As for the Parbar on the west, there were four on the highway and two at the Parbar . Modern translators use colonnade .  But here's the context of the verse in 1 Chronicles 26. Every ministry matters in the house of God. The chapter is spelling out the specific direction God has in mind for the maintenance men of the Temple, the janitors if you will. The verse comes after the chapter highlig

When David puts the worshippers in the Temple, we find some incredible insights into the theology of worship.  1 Chronicles 25:1 (ESV) David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was: Now we have to see this event as pointing to Christ and revealing His work in the church to establish orderly worship and prophesy in the assembly. Notice that the SONS of Asaph were set apart by David and the chiefs. I believe the Lord does that to this day. He sets us apart for the service of worship. The rest of the chapter is filled with relatives serving together in the house for the administration of worship.  But there's more to the worship than singing. Verse 1 says they "prophesied" with the instruments. Let us consider that worship is a ministry of prophecy in the Old Testament. My mind goes back t

The idea that God is not interested in order and process in our worship experience ignores the record both of God's own commitment to order (see the universe and seasons) and the regular reference to order and divisions in the company of Israel's priests and musicians.  As David continues preparation for the Temple build Solomon will undertake after him in 1 Chronicles 24, we see order and division of labor come clearly into place. 1 Chronicles 24:1–4 (ESV) The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests. 3 With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service. 4 Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of fathers’ houses of

1 Chronicles 23:2–6 (ESV) David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. 3 The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men. 4 “Twenty-four thousand of these,” David said, “shall have charge of the work in the house of the Lord, 6,000 shall be officers and judges, 5 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise.” 6 And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.  This passage comes right after David makes Solomon King in Israel.  1 Chronicles 23:1 (ESV) When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.   It’s incredible to think that upon the transfer of power for Israel David does not first take up the task of establishing a strong military. He has learned that hard lesson by God’s judgment at the time of the census. Nor does David seek to build storehouses of gold and silver

David cannot build God's temple. Perhaps that reality is a struggle for many Bible readers because of how faithful and courageous David was for the Lord. Well, in 1 Chronicles 22 we get a LOT more clarity on that matter. Look with me: 1 Chronicles 22:7-10 (ESV) David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. 8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’   There are some key ideas communicated here by David. First, the reason for David

1 Chronicles 21:1–4 (ESV) Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” 3 But Joab said, “May the LORD add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” 4 But the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. This chapter picks up on a particular sin of David recorded also in 2 Samuel 24. David takes a census of the nation. The account in 2 Samuel 24 says God was the instigator of the moment. Here, it is Satan. Why the difference? It's the Bible's way of saying the same thing in two ways. Yes, Satan incited David but the Lord was ultimately in charge of the entire moment.  The narrative of

There's a familiar refrain in 1 Chronicles to anyone who has read through the Bible from cover to cover. See if you can pick it up.  1 Chronicles 20:1–3 (ESV)  In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it. 2 And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 3 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and axes. And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. A learned Bible reader will recall the phrases that begin this chapter. Springtime is wartime and David sends the generals but remains in Jerusalem. What the

Christian, do not be ignorant. This world is not your friend.  1 Chronicles 19:1–2 (ESV) Now after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will deal kindly with Hanun the son of Nahash, for his father dealt kindly with me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites to Hanun to console him. David seeks to be kind to Hanun - a foreign king of Israel's enemies. Why? Because we know from this passage is that his father had been kind to David. But what we know from other passages is that Nahash's threat against them originally instigated Israel's demand for a king which gave them Saul: 1 Samuel 12:12 (ESV) And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘ No, but a king shall reign over us ,’ when the LORD your God was your king. In 1 Samuel 11, it was Nahash's antagonism against Israel that instiga

1 Chronicles 18:1 (ESV)  After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines. The 18th chapter of 1 Chronicles is filled with victories for David. He first takes the stronghold of Gath where Goliath was from and then proceeds to decimate his enemies on every side. It's really an incredible account of a man zealous to cleanse the house of Israel from the foreign nations around them.  It is not without intention the Chronicler mentions David's great victories right after chronicling David's submissive attitude toward God concerning the building of the Temple. We remember that 1 Chronicles 17 started with his mind on building a temple. He is rejected for this task and given a promise that God would bless his house forever, bringing the world an everlasting kingdom. David submits to God's authority and receives the negative answer to his desires with humility. I believe it was that humility that em

When David prepares to build God's Temple the Lord sends word quickly through Nathan that he is not going to do it. This had to be hard to take for a man who was so used by the Lord to defeat the giant threatening Israel's existence. Yet the response David expresses is incredible. He received the Lord's "no" with grace and he focused on what God was going to do through him rather than what he had planned to do for God.  1 Chronicles 17:16–18 (ESV) Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 17 And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, O LORD God! 18 And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant. God told David he would not build a house for him but instead, the Lord would build a house through David that would outla

When David's kingdom is established and he has set in place the proper offerings of Israel before the Temple you would think anything this man wanted would be his. Here David has subdued Israel's enemies. He has learned his lesson concerning the Ark of the Covenant and brought in right sacrifices and leaders. Now David, the great king, and hero has it in his heart to do something noble in 1 Chronicles 17. He's going to set out to build a glorious Temple for the Lord.  At first Nathan the prophet is with him. He encourages him to do whatever is in his heart for the great history of his life is proof positive that God is with him (see verse 2). But the very next verse presents Nathan, the prophet with a complete turnabout.  1 Chronicles 17:3–4 (ESV)  But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. Could you imagine being Nathan in this moment? You have just spok

In David's song as the Ark comes into the city of Jerusalem, there is an important point made about the reality of salvation. God's people are saved and should rejoice. But they are also in need of saving and so must repent regularly.  Look first at verse 23: 1 Chronicles 16:23 (ESV) Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. David has been recounting the wonderful works of God on behalf of the nation of Israel. He recounts their exodus and wanderings. He sings about their habitation in the land. He writes a verse that is often used by some preachers to mean no one can touch the "preacher." Notice... 1 Chronicles 16:19–22 (ESV) When you were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, 20 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 21 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, 22 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!” Verse 22 is often taken out of cont

Imagine God puts someone you know to death because you and they disregarded His Word. How would you respond? Bitter and resentful toward Him? Would you doubt His goodness? Would you run from Him because you see Him as unfair? Many people respond that way every day.  Not David.  After the Uzzah incident, David was humbled and chastened. He was, at first, afraid of God.  1 Chronicles 13:12 (ESV) And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” But then his heart opened to what God was teaching him through that awful moment. He needed to listen closely to the Lord if he was going to be in charge of the Lord's people. And David did. We talked about this in previous posts. How David listened intently to God as the Philistines attacked him repeatedly. We then noted how David searched the scriptures for God's prescription on transporting the Ark and establishing proper worship in Israel.  By this chapter, all is accomplished. David has or

David has had a rough go of things at the beginning of his reign as king. He lost Uzzah and he's been attacked repeatedly by his age-old nemesis, the Philistines in 1 Chronicles 13-14. But all those moments were lessons that would lead David into the best possible place, the presence of God.  We need to learn to thank God when we face difficulties that disturb us. David was disturbed by Uzzah's death at the hand of God and then no doubt was disturbed by the attacks on his kingdom by the Philistines. Now he's come around to learn the value of listening to God. In 1 Chronicles 15, he lays out clearly why things went so poorly for the kingdom up to this time. 1 Chronicles 15:1–2 (ESV) David built houses for himself in the city of David. And he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever. Notice David

Fresh off the disaster with Uzzah touching the Ark, David must have felt like a failure. After all, it was his idea to go get the Ark and bring it home. By 1 Chronicles 14, I would have been ready to listen to God more closely than ever as a result of such a horrific tragedy. This chapter sends a clear message that David learned his lesson. As soon as David is established as King of Israel, the Philistines attack not once but twice. In spite of their defeat at his hands, they keep attacking. David is diligent in NOT doing what made the mess in 1 Chronicles 13 that cost Uzzah his life. He isn't seeking anyone's approval or advice. He is seeking clear direction from the Lord.  In the first attack, David seeks God for whether or not he should fight at all.  1 Chronicles 14:9–11 (ESV) Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. 10 And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to him

One of the great misunderstood moments in all of scripture happens in 1 Chronicles 13. 1 Chronicles 13:9–10 (ESV) And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. David, seeking to bring the Ark of God back to Jerusalem from it's dormant facility in Kirath-Jearim is rejoicing and worshipping as it makes it's way back. But then tragedy strikes. Uzzah, seeking to steady the ark (we read that from 2 Samuel 6), touches the Ark and immediately is struck down by the Lord for his act of irreverence.  This is where secularists have problems with the Bible. They cannot imagine how unfair God could be in this moment. They have problems that the Lord would be so impetuous. This passage is why aggressive atheists in our world love to call the God of the Bible as a hate

I don't know about you but I'm always distracted lately. The information and technology age combined with hyper individual products like smartphones, watches and tablets with instant access to unlimited dalliances has me often wasting time with unimportant matters.  The truth is, it's harder than ever to focus our minds.  For that reason, the passage on the men who joined David really grabbed my attention. As 1 Chronicles 12 unpacks those who came to David from Saul, it also describes some of the gifts and abilities these men brought to the table.  First, we have listed the Benjaminites who brought their substance to David's authority: 1 Chronicles 12:29 (ESV) Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. Then there is the Ephraim tribe bringing their renown: 1 Chronicles 12:30 (ESV)  Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses. Then there is th

1 Chronicles 12:1 (ESV) Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. There are four noteworthy gatherings to David in this chapter. The first is in the darkest time of David's exile from Saul - in Ziklag and basically under house arrest as he seeks asylum from the king's threats. Yet God brings mighty men to David even when David cannot do much in himself. What is most shocking is where this group descends from: 1 Chronicles 12:2 (ESV) They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul’s kinsmen. Amazingly, these were Benjaminites, the very tribe from which Saul hails. How incredible to see the familial bond break for David in this scenario. Consider that David must have wondered if anything positive would happen for him at this point. But God brings him the men he needs