Saved and Being Saved

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 context to suggest the preacher alone is untouchable and woe to the person who dares criticize him. But in the context of the passage, it refers not only to God's ministers but to God's people! What a promise for all of us. To know we all are under His divine protection. He has our back. 

If we remember that 1 Chronicles is written to a post-exilic people returning to the land of Promise after 70 years of decimation under the Babylonians we find that hope for tomorrow is rooted in their salvation in the past. God did this before. He took a few people and made them a great and conquering nation. What a word of comfort for those weakened exiles as they stepped out in the promise that God would once again restore them. 

As Israel is called to look over their past and see the salvation of God, David turns their attention forward to what must be done in them today. Salvation is both a past and present experience for God's people. Look at what David adds to this song at the end...

1 Chronicles 16:35–36 (ESV) Say also: “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. 36 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.

I love that phrase at the beginning of verse 35. "Say also." In other words, don't forget as God's saved people to be a people who seek His salvation. 

Now you may say, "What does this mean?" It means that salvation is both a past and present reality. This is how the New Testament regards our salvation as well. Notice the two tenses employed by Paul. 

Past tense:

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Present reality:

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Paul speaks of Justification in our past and Sanctification in our present. This is important in the context of Israel's return to the Promised Land here in 1 Chronicles. For if we do not progress in salvation, we run the risk of undoing the blessings God offers us in salvation. Moreover, we must continually place our trust in God's work and not ours to continue refining us into the people He calls us to be. Our prayer resonates with them - "Save US, O God of our salvation!"

When this is our desire, our hearts are strengthened in hope and our lives are changed in Christ.

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