365 Reflections

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. D...

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 hi...

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...

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...