If and When...

 

II Chronicles 6:24 “If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to them and to their fathers. 26 “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, 27 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.

After David had passed and Solomon took the throne in Jerusalem, he made his first order of business to do what his father had requested: build and furnish the temple. When he did so, he offered a lengthy prayer to God, including the verses above.  Notice the first situation involves "if", while the second begins "when."  No one wants to lose soldiers in battle, but Solomon was wise enough to know that the people would sin, forfeiting the blessing of rain in the Promised Land." In either case (and more listed in this chapter) Solomon's request-in-advance was for God to "hear and forgive" when His people called out in repentance.  Solomon knew He would.  We know it also. Will we do it?

A Life of Impact

I Chronicles 29:26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 28 Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place. 29 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, 30 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.

David's reign was lengthy and impactful.  He pulled together a people living in fear, struggling to survive, and shaky in commitment, and organized it into a nation known for strength and the presence of God. He was by no means perfect, but what he did was recorded by many. He lived a full life with positive reviews. We may not live a life of fame, riches, and power, but we can also have an impact if we are: willing to be patient like he was, waiting years to become king; focused on making it known that we serve the True and Living God, and committed to His worship; open to inviting others to join with us and advise us as we make decisions and take actions toward our goals. 

Lots of Trust

I Chronicles 27:25 Over the king's treasuries was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah; 26 and over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub; 27 and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28 Over the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the stores of oil was Joash. 29 Over the herds that pastured in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai. 30 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. 31 Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were stewards of King David's property.

Military leaders were trusted by David to oversee the safety of the land.  Spiritual leaders were given new, up-to-date roles in temple worship. Now, we find stewards were entrusted with the economic resources of the kingdom. To be a steward is a great responsibility, indicating a lot of trust. The chapter closes by listing his cabinet members, who informed him when big decisions were to be made. We will find later that one of them betrayed him when his son Absalom rebelled.  What has God entrusted to you? Are you a good steward?

Let There Be Music!

I Chronicles 25:5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 They were all under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king. 7 The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288. 8 And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.

Besides reorganizing the priests and Levites for service in the Tabernacle (temple that would be built), David organized the musicians.  We know that David himself had deep musical interest, but even more so, he saw music as a big part in worship.  He wrote it, participated himself, and here arranged to it to be an ongoing part of worship in Jerusalem.  But like the other roles above, he saw it as a privilege and calling to serve, not make a name for oneself.  The focus was (and still should be) for all who come to worship God to want to, feel free to, and joyfully worship God together. Do you?

New Methods; Same God

 I Chronicles 23:25 For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God. 

Scripture is real and practical. When David was arranging for the building of the temple, he realized that things had changed. Since the people were finally being permanently established, they no longer would be traveling with the Tabernacle. The jobs of the Levites were changing, but their calling was the same. They would be keeping the temple clean and functioning well. In a sense there were even more jobs to be done. The same is true for us individually and for the church.  Methods change; responsibilities adjust, but the worship of God remains. He is Holy, as always.

Getting off Track...

I Chronicles 21:21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. 22 And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” 23 Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” 24 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.” 25 So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. 26 And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.

Between the passage above and what we looked at yesterday, there are some brief descriptions of the many battles and wars David won.  Of more importance to the historian is what happened in this chapter. David held a census - not because God told him to, but because he was getting too self-confident.  The fall-out was horrible, with thousands dying by "the sword of the Lord." David had less men for his census. This was a lesson for David, his people, and us.  God needed to be put back on the throne. Who is your life all about?

Who Am I?

 I Chronicles 17:23 And now, O Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have spoken, 24 and your name will be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel's God,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. 26 And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for it is you, O Lord, who have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”

As David and Israel celebrated the return of the Ark and the renewed consecration of the Tabernacle at Jerusalem, they also commemorated the Covenant God was renewing with His people and their leader. In response to God's Covenant, David responds with a prayer that begins in verse 16: "Who am I, Lord, that you would do this?" Included in that was the sentiment that it was not because of how wonderful David was or his people were that all this was happening. It was because, and only because, of God being so great and merciful.  May we start the day with that same perspective and stay that way. "It's you, Lord."