The Simple Life

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...

“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...

“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...

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....

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

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:...

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...