1 Chronicles 20 "Redeem Your Idle Time"

“Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the sons of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.” (1 Chronicles 20:1)

Spring was the time when kings went out to battle (to protect and preserve their kingdoms), as the weather was favorable to man and beast. David should have been in battle with Joab, but he wasn’t. Instead, he stayed in Jerusalem, in the comforts of the palace, while all the mighty men of Israel were at war. This was the point in David’s life where he became vulnerable to his encounter with Bathsheba.

What we do with our idle time: where we go, what activities we get involved in, who we spend time with, what we choose to look at, can go a long way in either; 1) leading us to, or 2) keeping us from, a compromising situation. Had David been about his kingly duties, with the other men of valor, protecting his kingdom and its people, he would have had plenty to keep him occupied.

The same holds true for us. Therefore, redeem your idle time my friends. Put yourselves in the service of our King, king Jesus – for there is plenty of work to be done in His service.  

The Truth

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

1 Chronicles 19 "Do Your Best - Commit The Rest"

“Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.” (v.13)

What great advice this is for us to apply in our daily battles and struggles. It reminds us that we have a part to play, that we are to participate, to do our best, to fight the good fight, but that the ultimate issue of our battles must be left to God.

This also shows us that there is a balance between God’s work and ours. To believe that God will take care of everything and we don’t have to do anything is unrealistic. Conversely, believing He leaves us on our own, unaided in any way, is just as ludicrous. 

Remember we must do the very best we can in any situation, and leave the rest to the LORD.  

The Truth

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

1 Chronicles 18 "David's Victories"

Now when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, he sent Hadoram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou); and Hadoram brought with him all kinds of articles of gold, silver, and bronze. King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had brought from all these nations; from Edom, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek. Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went. (vv.9-13)

Here in chapter 18 we get a general overview of all the wars David carried out victoriously against his enemies around him, to secure Israel’s rule. We also get a short statement of the results and a cataloque of David’s chief public officials. As we go through the next few chapters a more detailed account will be presented.

What continues to jump out at me in our reading today is, "The LORD preserved David wherever he went." This is the summary of this whole chapter. Every victory and every enemy subdued was a testimony to the Lord’s preserving power in the life and reign of David. And, that those who take God along with them wherever they go may expect to be preserved in all places. And, those who are focused on God, will have His focus on them. Thus you and I, like David, can be preserved wherever we go.

The Truth

“You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me.” (2 Samuel 22:44)

1 Chronicles 17 "David's Request Denied"

‘Thus says the Lord, You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in..’ (v.4”)

David, in today's reading, didn't want to live in a palace while the Ark remained in a tent. He wanted to build a proper temple for it. And this time, he didn't rush ahead as he had done previously. Instead, he consulted Nathan the prophet, showing that he had learned an important lesson about submitting all his plans, to the Lord. God's answer, however, was “no”—the honor of building a temple would go to his son, Solomon.

When petitioning the Lord with our prayers, even with the best of motives, His answer can be “no”, as any good parent will sometimes respond. Why? Because our heavenly father knows what is best for all of us and His ways are not our ways. However, if our requests aline with HIS WILL, He will hear us (1 John 5:14) and give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4).

David was not allowed to build to the temple of the Lord because he was a man of war. However, the Lord promised to build him a house and establish his throne forever (vv.11-13), giving him abundantly more than he requested. I have experienced this great truth many times in my life. The closure of one door followed by the opening of an even better one. As a result, I will gladly take door number two, the door of His choosing rather than mine.

The Truth

“How great is God—beyond our understanding!” (Job 36:26)

1 Chronicles 16 "The Blueprint for Worship"

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name..Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness” (v.29)

Today's reading mostly consists of a psalm David composed for the occasion of the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (parts of this song are found in Psalms 96, 105, and 106). In it, David lays out for us a blueprint for; 1) the proper recognition of God (vv.8-22), and  2) our proper response of worshiping and giving the glory due His name (vv.23-36).

Verse 29 is the key and begins with the word, “Ascribe”. It basically means to recognize the truth of something, to name it for what it is. And the truth is that all honor, and glory, and worship are “due his name.” Our response then (our worship), flows from a loving and greatful heart. We are glad, we rejoice, we give thanks, we cry out our praises, we raise our hands, we bow down, and like David we may even dance.

“The Lord reigns,” pure and simple (v. 31). And, the destiny of history is for all nations to praise Him (vv. 23-28), and eventually by all of creation (vv. 30-33). So lift up your hands you people, shout for joy and tell of the wonderous works He has done for you.  

The Truth

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9)