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Showing posts from October, 2024

Powerful Lessons

Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place. Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the Chronicles of Samuel the seer, and in the Chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the Chronicles of Gad the seer, with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the circumstances that came upon him and upon Israel and upon all the kingdoms of the countries. 1 Chronicles 29:26-30 (ESV) David was a great leader whose life was on display. We saw the good, bad, and ugly and learned from his many experiences. God did not hide David's real life, but He used it to teach people for many years to come. God has chosen to work through people, and we must realize that the most powerful lessons in this life are taught through example, not words. The...

A Leader Who Enjoyed God and His People

“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. Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision." 1 Chronicles 29:18-19 (ESV ) What a wonderful prayer and hope from a leader who truly enjoyed God and His people. He was not looking for honor or glory himself. He was not trying to affirm his legacy. He was pointing the people toward what he had learned during his lifetime. The good, bad, and ugly are great schoolmasters in life, and if we pay attention, we will learn much and be much better prepared to enjoy God for eternity. David was about to join his forefathers and enjoy being in God's physical presence for eternity. His thoughts and desires were appropriate. Legacies belong to God, not to man. https://www.podbean.co...

The Idea if Choice

“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.” 1 Chronicles 29:17 (ESV) The thought of giving freely and joyously is so much better than those who give out of necessity. Giving gifts should always be done with joy, not from guilt, pain, or obligation. If we give to relieve guilt, remove pain, or just provide a need, we would be better off not giving. God does not and has not needed us to provide for His work, yet He has chosen to allow us to participate. The idea of choice is always intriguing. God gives us choices, yet we cannot operate apart from our choices. Often, God allows our choices to dictate our circumstances, but He does not need to operate that way. Those who make mistakes with a pure heart are often protected, while those who intentionally disobey God are just disappointed. For now, t...

We Are Strangers

For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. 1 Chronicles 29:15-16 (ESV ) There are those who "get it" in life and those who live in a fog. Those who "get it" understand that all they have, that is good, comes from God, and is to be used for God. Those who live in a fog think that all they have is theirs, and they share it with God. We are stewards, not owners, workers, not kings, and slaves, not masters. To live any other way means that we have chosen to live in a confused state. Modern man is guilty of the same poor thinking as ancient man, for that ancient enemy, the devil, has not changed his tactics. He often has little to do other than fan the flames of our self-adoration and then take a seat to watch our demise.   https://www....

We Praise The One Who Gave

Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. “ 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 (ESV) Those who give have given what they were given, and we praise the one who gave, not the instrument the giver used to provide. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

I Must Listen

He 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. I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.' Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:6-8 (ESV) God has a plan. We would be foolish to fight it. In fact, those who keep His commandments or obey Him are guaranteed to be in His plan. This does not guarantee that we will live peaceful lives. It guarantees that we will live at peace. It does not mean that we will never experience troubles. It means that we will not be troubled. My responsibility is to listen to God and accept His plan for my life. He made it something I can do. https:...

Ideas Have Consequences

Then King David rose to his feet and said: "Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building. But God said to me, You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.' Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 1 Chronicles 28:2-4 (ESV) Ideas have consequences. Actions that follow ideas have consequences. It is the way it is. For all the good that David accomplished and his reputation for being a man after God's heart, he still had to live with the idea that he was not the right man for the job he so desired. A strong desire does not always indicate a call from God.   https://www.po...

Examples

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But King David said to Ornan, "No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing." 1 Chronicles 21:24 (ESV) We have not given if it costs us nothing. We are not generous if we ensure our needs are met before helping those in need. Self-absorbed people have perfected the art of honoring themselves by making the giving of gifts about themselves rather than about the recipient. They need to make everything about themselves worthy of their time and effort. King David shows an understanding of this vital principle and refuses to offer something that costs him nothing, realizing that the word "sacrifice" has implications. Those in leadership can never escape being an example. David was on display when he disobeyed God, and he is now on display in his approach to the repentance process. Leaders need to embrace this position, not run from it.   https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Ripple Effect

So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, "It is enough; now stay your hand." And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 1 Chronicles  21:14-16  (ESV ) Sin is devastating. Our choice to disobey God affects everyone our lives touch. We may not think that is fair, but being in genuine relationships demands it. We want to think that our stubbornness will not harm anyone, yet God made all of us as relational beings, meaning our lives are intertwined in many ways. A bump in one life will cause a ripple eff...

Working The System?

But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. And David said to God, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly." And the Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, "Go and say to David, 'Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.'" 1 Chronicles 21:7-10 (ESV) David confessed but did not repent. Strangely, he seemed to be trying to work the system. He disobeyed God and now wanted to do this confession thing, claim God's mercy, and carry on like it never happened. Nice try. Confession was never meant to be a manipulation tool; it is something that needs to flow from a broken and contrite heart. David would soon have a broken heart, and God would forgive him, but the loss in the process will be devastating. All those who want loopholes rather than love will be disappointed. It is best to obey G...

What do we expect?

Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 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." 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?" But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 21:1-4 (ESV) We all follow someone or something. David, at least for a moment, decided to ignore God's directive and follow Satan. Can you imagine a person intentionally deciding to disobey God? What foolishness! David knew this was wrong; Joab knew it was wrong, and even spoke up and got overruled. What kind of outcome can you expect when you disobey God? David was about to find ...

Successful Focus

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? 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! And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant. For your servant's sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.” 1 Chronicles  17:16-19  (ESV) David, the king, mighty warrior, and valued friend, states, from his heart, "Who am I?" Successful people focus on what God is doing, not what they have been and are doing. God works so we can see Him, not so people can see us. When we become the focus of an event, we eclipse its purpose and lose any true fulfilment that would have come from living life the way it was meant to be.   https://www.podbean.com...

Through It All

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.’” 1 Chronicles 17:3-4 (ESV) \ It is not always about us. We must live in a way that takes advantage of our opportunities while setting up the next generation to take advantage of their opportunities. Today's leaders must live in a way that sets tomorrow's leaders up for success. David was a shepherd whose life journey brought him many experiences, from watching sheep, to slaying Goliath, to becoming a fugitive and king. He walked with God and walked away from God. He took care of his men and killed a man to have his wife. David lived a life full of good, bad, and ugly. His life was such that God did not want him to build the temple, but he could arrange for it to be built. Through it all, as God remembers David, He remembers him as a man after His own heart. In the end, that's what matters. https://www.pod...

Stand Firm

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Israel his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! 1 Chronicles 16:8-13 (ESV)   In order to be able to give thanks to the Lord and make His deeds known among the people, you need to know who God is and what He has been doing. If you do not know what God has been doing, then, possibly, your life has been eclipsing God's work, and it is time for you to get out of the way. Those who sought God know God and love to tell of His wondrous works. As they recount His works, they garner strength and courage to continue to stand firm, so they might be part of His current and future works. It is fun ...

Doing Right Things Wrong

Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, and said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule." 1 Chronicles  15:11-13  (ESV) There is no room for stubbornness among Christians. When we make mistakes, we need to own them, make changes, and press on. Those who are defeated by their mistakes do not understand God's mercy, grace or power and, in a strange way, have allowed perfection to rule them rather than God. David's original intention was good, but his actions were evil. He eventually kept his intentions while changing his actions, and in the end, the ark was returned to where it...

Regrets

And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets. 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. 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. 1 Chronicles 13:7-10 (ESV) David had become the leader of a worthless community. God had made it clear how one was to carry the Ark, but David ignored it, and the people did not feel it important enough to challenge him on it. It was not as if the law was unclear; it was that the law was ignored for some reason. Listening to the majority voice can never determine truth, and there is no good reason to ignore God and His direct commands. Those who do so will regre...

Doing Right Wrong

David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. And David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you and from the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us. Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul." All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 1 Chronicles 13:1-4 (ESV) It is nice that David consulted the leaders of the people and that they collectively decided that it was a good thing to bring back the ark. I am not sure one needed to take a vote on this issue, but it was nice of David to do that. Having all the assembly agree does not guarantee things will be done correctly. A majority vote can never determine right and wrong. In this case, David and the majority voice were ...

Proper Examples

David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. And David said longingly, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!" Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord and said, "Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. 1 Chronicles  11:16-19  (ESV) It's encouraging to see people who continually think of others. David expressed a desire for water, and his mighty men, thinking of David, risked their lives to bring him that water. David thought of the men and saw the water as too precious to consume. Good leaders are not...

Do Not Ignore Him

And he built the city all around from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him. 1 Chronicles 11:8-9 (ESV) Cause and effect. David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him. This seems simple enough. When the Lord is with you, you win. When the Lord is against you, you lose. For now, the choice is ours. Success in life does not depend on our bootstraps, heritage, ability, or luck. It is dependent upon our closeness to God. Those who choose to walk with God will reap the benefits of walking with Him, and those who choose to ignore Him will wander through life, looking for life while forever remaining lost. We so often complicate life when, in reality, it is very simple. There is a God; I'm not Him. My sin has separated me from Him, and He sent Jesus to repair the damage my sin caused. He knows everything about me, loves me, and knows the future. I would be fooli...

Faith

So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. 1 Chronicles  10:13-14  (ESV) Saul died, as all men die. The reason we all die will be different. Some are finished with their assignment and are called home. Some never get to their assignment and are given up on it. Saul was a king who was given much and had much expected of him. He is not listed in Hebrews 11, and we are told that he died due to his breach of faith, which is even further defined by telling us that a breach of faith is when we do not keep the command of the Lord. Faith is simply believing that God means what He says and obeying Him. We can all do that to succeed in life and be listed with those in Hebrews 11, rather than those in 1 Chronicles 10. https://www.podbean.com...

Regretful Decisions

But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day. 1 Chronicles 5:25-26 (ESV) The most tragic words in the English language are the following: "They broke faith with God." It is not as if God was not capable; it was that they were not positioned to participate in His capability. We can be sure of victory if we align ourselves with the one who most certainly wins. This is not rocket science; it's common sense. For some reason, we lose touch with reality. We begin to see the world and the events in history as revolving around us and our experiences, and we focus on our abilities rather than God's cap...

Daily Reminder

And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him. They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile. 1 Chronicles  5:20-22  (ESV) We are told that "The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war.” They were trained, skilled men, yet their training and skill did not allow them to prevail. They won wars because they trusted in God. God prevailed through them. It was not they who prevailed through God. These men did not expect God to fight for them, but through them. Therefore, they were prepared, skilled, and honed in on what needed to be done. They could do eve...

Read The Bible

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…Adam, Seth, Enosh; Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech; Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim…. 1 Chronicles 1:1-7 (ESV) For some, the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles are to be avoided. For others, these are extremely important as they give us the historical side of spiritual heritage. Not all history is invigorating information. We are so used to being entertained that we no longer have the capacity or desire to be a part of anything that does not entertain. The Bible is not a history book, but it is full of history. It is also not a science book, but it is full of science. The Bible is not a psychology book, but it is given to us by the creator of the mind, who certainly understands how and why men think and act like they do. It is not a sociology book, but it does study people groups. Would you r...