show us our place

Posted on January 4, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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Photo by Andru00e9 Cook on Pexels.com

show us our place

1 Chronicles 23:1-24:31

1 Chronicles 23:1 When David was old and full of days, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.
1 Chronicles 23:2 Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites.
1 Chronicles 23:3 The Levites thirty years old or more were counted; the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand by headcount.
1 Chronicles 23:4 “Of these,” David said, “twenty-four thousand are to be in charge of the work on Yahveh’s temple, six thousand are to be officers and judges,
1 Chronicles 23:5 four thousand are to be gatekeepers, and four thousand praise Yahveh with the instruments I have made for worship.”
1 Chronicles 23:6 David divided them into divisions according to Levi’s sons: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
1 Chronicles 23:7 The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
1 Chronicles 23:8 Ladan’s sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel — three.
1 Chronicles 23:9 Shimei’s sons: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran — three. Those were the heads of the families of Ladan.
1 Chronicles 23:10 Shimei’s sons: Jahath, Zizah, Jeush, and Beriah. Those were Shimei’s sons– four.
1 Chronicles 23:11 Jahath was the first and Zizah was the second; however, Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became one family and received a single assignment.
1 Chronicles 23:12 Kohath’s sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel — four.
1 Chronicles 23:13 Amram’s sons: Aaron and Moses. Aaron, along with his descendants, was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of the Lord, to minister to him, and to pronounce blessings in his name forever.
1 Chronicles 23:14 As for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.
1 Chronicles 23:15 Moses’s sons: Gershom and Eliezer.
1 Chronicles 23:16 Gershom’s sons: Shebuel was first.
1 Chronicles 23:17 Eliezer’s sons were Rehabiah, first; Eliezer did not have any other sons, but Rehabiah’s sons were very numerous.
1 Chronicles 23:18 Izhar’s sons: Shelomith was first.
1 Chronicles 23:19 Hebron’s sons: Jeriah was first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, and Jekameam fourth.
1 Chronicles 23:20 Uzziel’s sons: Micah was first, and Isshiah second.
1 Chronicles 23:21 Merari’s sons: Mahli and Mushi. Mahli’s sons: Eleazar and Kish.
1 Chronicles 23:22 Eleazar died having no sons, only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.
1 Chronicles 23:23 Mushi’s sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth — three.
1 Chronicles 23:24 These were the descendants of Levi by their ancestral families — the family heads, according to their registration by name in the headcount– twenty years old or more, who worked in the service of Yahveh’ stemple.
1 Chronicles 23:25 David said, “Yahveh God of Israel has given rest to his people, and he has come to stay in Jerusalem forever.
1 Chronicles 23:26 Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service” —
1 Chronicles 23:27 because according to the last words of David, the Levites twenty years old or more were to be counted —
1 Chronicles 23:28 “but their duty will be to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of Yahveh’s temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God’s temple —
1 Chronicles 23:29 as well as the rows of the Bread of the Presence, the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and all measurements of volume and length.
1 Chronicles 23:30 They also stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and likewise in the evening.
1 Chronicles 23:31 Whenever burnt offerings are offered to Yahveh on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed festivals, they are to offer them regularly in Yahveh’s presence according to the number prescribed.
1 Chronicles 23:32 They are to carry out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting, for the holy place, and for their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of Yahveh’s temple.”
1 Chronicles 24:1 The divisions of the descendants of Aaron were as follows: Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
1 Chronicles 24:2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
1 Chronicles 24:3 Together with Zadok from the descendants of Eleazar and Ahimelech from the descendants of Ithamar, David divided them according to the assigned duties of their service.
1 Chronicles 24:4 Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than Ithamar’s, they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of ancestral families were from Eleazar’s descendants, and eight heads of ancestral families were from Ithamar’s.
1 Chronicles 24:5 They were assigned by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.
1 Chronicles 24:6 The secretary, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the officers, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites. One ancestral family was taken for Eleazar, and then one for Ithamar.
1 Chronicles 24:7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
1 Chronicles 24:8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
1 Chronicles 24:9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
1 Chronicles 24:10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
1 Chronicles 24:11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
1 Chronicles 24:12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
1 Chronicles 24:13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
1 Chronicles 24:14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
1 Chronicles 24:15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
1 Chronicles 24:16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
1 Chronicles 24:17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
1 Chronicles 24:18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
1 Chronicles 24:19 These had their assigned duties for service when they entered Yahveh’s temple, according to their regulations, which they received from their ancestor Aaron, as Yahveh God of Israel had commanded him.
1 Chronicles 24:20 As for the rest of Levi’s sons: from Amram’s sons: Shubael; from Shubael’s sons: Jehdeiah.
1 Chronicles 24:21 From Rehabiah: from Rehabiah’s sons: Isshiah was the first.
1 Chronicles 24:22 From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from Shelomoth’s sons: Jahath.
1 Chronicles 24:23 Hebron’s sons: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
1 Chronicles 24:24 From Uzziel’s sons: Micah; from Micah’s sons: Shamir.
1 Chronicles 24:25 Micah’s brother: Isshiah; from Isshiah’s sons: Zechariah.
1 Chronicles 24:26 Merari’s sons: Mahli and Mushi, and from his sons, Jaaziah his son.
1 Chronicles 24:27 Merari’s sons, by his son Jaaziah: Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
1 Chronicles 24:28 From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
1 Chronicles 24:29 From Kish, from Kish’s sons: Jerahmeel.
1 Chronicles 24:30 Mushi’s sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. Those were the descendants of the Levites according to their ancestral families.
1 Chronicles 24:31 They also cast lots the same way as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites — the family heads and their younger brothers alike.

show us our place

The Levites were a subculture in the land. Among them were chosen officers who served the temple and its services. They were part of the community but they had special tasks, and were honored by reason of their place among the people. There were no menial tasks. Each was to be performed as unto the LORD. So it is in living the Christian life. The Holy Spirit gives each believer spiritual gifts as he sees fit. Rather than seeking to be someone else, or do something else, we should seek to be ourselves in the most honorable way.

LORD, show us our place, and give us zeal to take it.

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This is the house of Yahveh

Posted on January 3, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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Photo by Vlad Bagacian on Pexels.com

This is the house of Yahveh

1 Chronicles 21:18-22:19

1 Chronicles 21:18 So the angel of Yahveh ordered Gad to tell David to go and set up an altar to Yahveh on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1 Chronicles 21:19 David went up at Gad’s command spoken in the name of Yahveh.
1 Chronicles 21:20 Ornan was threshing wheat when he turned and saw the angel. His four sons, who were with him, hid.
1 Chronicles 21:21 David came to Ornan, and when Ornan looked and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face to the ground.
1 Chronicles 21:22 David told Ornan, “Give me this threshing-floor plot so that I may build an altar to Yahveh. Give it to me for the full price, so the plague on the people may be stopped.”
1 Chronicles 21:23 Ornan said to David, “Take it! My lord the king may do whatever he wants. See, I give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering — I give it all.”
1 Chronicles 21:24 King David answered Ornan, “No, I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for Yahveh what belongs to you or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
1 Chronicles 21:25 So David gave Ornan fifteen pounds of gold for the plot.
1 Chronicles 21:26 He built an altar to Yahveh and offered burnt and fellowship offerings. He called on Yahveh, and he answered him with fire from the sky on the altar of burnt offering.
1 Chronicles 21:27 Then Yahveh spoke to the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.
1 Chronicles 21:28 At that time, David offered sacrifices there when he saw that Yahveh answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1 Chronicles 21:29 The tabernacle of Yahveh, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at the high place in Gibeon,
1 Chronicles 21:30, but David could not go before it to inquire of God because he was terrified of the sword of Yahveh’s angel.
1 Chronicles 22:1 Then David said, “This is the house of Yahveh God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
1 Chronicles 22:2 So David gave orders to gather the resident aliens in the land of Israel, and he appointed stonecutters to cut finished stones for building God’s house.
1 Chronicles 22:3 David supplied a great deal of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gates and for the fittings, together with an immeasurable quantity of bronze,
1 Chronicles 22:4 and innumerable cedar logs because the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought many cedar logs to David.
1 Chronicles 22:5 David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for Yahveh must be exceedingly great and famous and glorious in all the lands. Therefore, I will make provision for it.” So, David made lavish preparations for it before his death.
1 Chronicles 22:6 He summoned his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for Yahveh God of Israel.
1 Chronicles 22:7 “My son,” David said to Solomon, “It was in my heart to build a house for the name of Yahveh my God,
1 Chronicles 22:8 but the word of Yahveh came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You are not to build a house for my name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before me.
1 Chronicles 22:9 But a son will be born to you; he will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies, for his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.
1 Chronicles 22:10 He is the one who will build a house for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’
1 Chronicles 22:11 “Now, my son, may Yahveh be with you, and may you succeed in building the house of Yahveh your God, as he said about you.
1 Chronicles 22:12 Above all, may Yahveh give you insight and understanding when he puts you in charge of Israel so that you may keep the law of Yahveh your God.
1 Chronicles 22:13 You will succeed if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances Yahveh commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.
1 Chronicles 22:14 “Notice I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the Lord — 3,775 tons of gold, 37,750 tons of silver, and bronze and iron that can’t be weighed because there is so much of it. I have also provided timber and stone, but you will need to add more to them.
1 Chronicles 22:15 You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and people skilled in every kind of work
1 Chronicles 22:16 in gold, silver, bronze, and iron — beyond number. Now begin the work, and may Yahveh be with you.”
1 Chronicles 22:17 Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon:
1 Chronicles 22:18 “Yahveh your God is with you, isn’t he? And hasn’t he given you rest on every side? He has handed the land’s inhabitants over to me, and the land has been subdued before Yahveh and his people.
1 Chronicles 22:19 Now determine in your mind and heart to seek Yahveh your God. Get started building Yahveh God’s sanctuary so that you may bring the ark of Yahveh’s covenant and the holy articles of God to the temple that is to be built for the name of Yahveh.”

This is the house of Yahveh

After David had purchased the threshing floor of Ornon and averted the plague, he builds an altar there and sacrifices to God on the site. Then, he gets the idea that the site could serve as the location of the temple Solomon is to build. So, he declares “This is the house of Yahveh.” Those reading David’s words centuries later would look up and see the results of that declaration. The massive temple and all its associated grounds and buildings would remind generations that it was the LORD who had established Israel, for his purposes.

LORD, may our lives be so dedicated to you, that generations after us people will know that you lived in us.

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run from wrong choices

Posted on January 2, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Pexels.com

run from wrong choices

1 Chronicles 21:1-17

1 Chronicles 21:1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel.
1 Chronicles 21:2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan and bring a report to me so I can know their number.”
1 Chronicles 21:3 Joab replied, “May Yahveh multiply the number of his people a hundred times over! My lord the king, aren’t they all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
1 Chronicles 21:4 Yet the king’s order prevailed over Joab. So, Joab left and traveled throughout Israel and then returned to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 21:5 Joab gave the total troop registration to David. In all Israel, there were one million one hundred thousand armed men, and in Judah itself, four hundred seventy thousand armed men.
1 Chronicles 21:6 He did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count because the king’s command was repulsive to Joab.
1 Chronicles 21:7 This command was also evil in God’s sight, so he afflicted Israel.
1 Chronicles 21:8 David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. Now, please take away your servant’s guilt, because I’ve been very foolish.”
1 Chronicles 21:9 Then Yahveh instructed Gad, David’s seer,
1 Chronicles 21:10 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what Yahveh says: I am offering you three choices. Choose one of them for yourself, and I will do it to you.'”
1 Chronicles 21:11 So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what Yahveh says: ‘Take your choice:
1 Chronicles 21:12 three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes with the sword of your enemy overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord — a plague on the land, the angel of Yahveh bringing destruction to the whole territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer to return to the one who sent me.”
1 Chronicles 21:13 David answered Gad, “I’m in anguish. Please, let me fall into Yahveh’s hands because his mercies are very great, but don’t let me fall into human hands.”
1 Chronicles 21:14 So Yahveh sent a plague in Israel, and seventy thousand Israelite men died.
1 Chronicles 21:15 Then God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but when the angel was about to destroy the city, Yahveh looked, relented concerning the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough, withdraw your hand now!” The angel of Yahveh was then standing on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1 Chronicles 21:16 When David looked up and saw the angel of Yahveh standing between the land and the sky, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David, and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.
1 Chronicles 21:17 David said to God, “Wasn’t I the one who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and acted very wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Lord my God, please let your hand be against me and against my father’s family, but don’t let the plague be against your people.”

run from wrong choices

The first wrong choice David made was to listen to the voice of Satan. His second wrong choice was to ignore the voice of Joab. David knew that Joab was right – that taking the census was wrong – but he decided to do what he wanted anyway. The result was that thousands paid for David’s presumption with their lives. God gave David a choice between three possible punishments. David chose to fall into the hands of God, because he knew God would be merciful. We always pay a price when we know something is wrong and yet choose to do it anyway.

LORD, give us enough sense to run from wrong choices.

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do your best

Posted on January 1, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

do your best

Happy New Year, everyone!

1 Chronicles 18:1-20:8

1 Chronicles 18:1 After this, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its surrounding villages from Philistine control.
1 Chronicles 18:2 He also defeated the Moabites, and they became David’s subjects and brought tribute.
1 Chronicles 18:3 David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah at Hamath when he went to establish his control at the Euphrates River.
1 Chronicles 18:4 David captured one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him, hamstrung all the horses, and kept a hundred chariots.
1 Chronicles 18:5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand Aramean men.
1 Chronicles 18:6 Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. Yahveh made David victorious wherever he went.
1 Chronicles 18:7 David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 18:8 From Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer’s cities, David also took huge quantities of bronze, from which Solomon made the bronze basin, the pillars, and the bronze articles.
1 Chronicles 18:9 When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah,
1 Chronicles 18:10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Tou and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Hadoram brought all kinds of gold, silver, and bronze items.
1 Chronicles 18:11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all the nations– from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and the Amalekites.
1 Chronicles 18:12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Salt Valley.
1 Chronicles 18:13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. Yahveh made David victorious wherever he went.
1 Chronicles 18:14 So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.
1 Chronicles 18:15 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;
1 Chronicles 18:16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was court secretary;
1 Chronicles 18:17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief officials at the king’s side.
1 Chronicles 19:1 Some time later, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son became king in his place.
1 Chronicles 19:2 Then David said, “I’ll show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So, David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. However, when David’s emissaries arrived in the land of the Ammonites to console him,
1 Chronicles 19:3 the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he’s showing respect for your father? Instead, haven’t his emissaries come to scout out, overthrow, and spy on the land?”
1 Chronicles 19:4 So Hanun took David’s emissaries, shaved them, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.
1 Chronicles 19:5 It was reported to David about his men, so he sent messengers to meet them since the men were deeply humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back; then return.”
1 Chronicles 19:6 When the Ammonites realized they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent thirty-eight tons of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.
1 Chronicles 19:7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and camped near Medeba. The Ammonites also came together from their cities for the battle.
1 Chronicles 19:8 David heard about this and sent Joab and all the elite troops.
1 Chronicles 19:9 The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance of the city while the kings who had come were in the field by themselves.
1 Chronicles 19:10 When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some of Israel’s finest young men and lined up in formation to engage the Arameans.
1 Chronicles 19:11 He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai. They lined up in formation to engage the Ammonites.
1 Chronicles 19:12 “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” Joab said, “then you’ll be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll help you.
1 Chronicles 19:13 Be strong! Let’s prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God. May Yahveh’s will be done.”
1 Chronicles 19:14 Joab and the people with him approached the Arameans for battle, and they fled before him.
1 Chronicles 19:15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they likewise fled before Joab’s brother Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab went to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 19:16 When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to summon the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates River. They were led by Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army.
1 Chronicles 19:17 When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan. He came up to the Arameans and lined up against them. When David lined up to engage them, they fought against him.
1 Chronicles 19:18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach, commander of the army.
1 Chronicles 19:19 When Hadadezer’s subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. After this, the Arameans were never willing to help the Ammonites again.
1 Chronicles 20:1 In the spring when kings march out to war, Joab led the army and destroyed the Ammonites’ land. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it.
1 Chronicles 20:2 Then David took the crown from the head of their king, and it was placed on David’s head. He found that the crown weighed seventy-five pounds of gold, and there was a precious stone in it. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city.
1 Chronicles 20:3 He brought out the people who were in it and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. David did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 20:4 After this, a war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.
1 Chronicles 20:5 Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath of Gath. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.
1 Chronicles 20:6 There was still another battle at Gath where there was a man of extraordinary stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot– twenty-four in all. He, too, was descended from the giant.
1 Chronicles 20:7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of David’s brother Shimei killed him.
1 Chronicles 20:8 These were the descendants of the giant in Gath killed by David and his soldiers.

do your best

These chapters record David’s battles with and victories over the Syrians, Ammonites and Philistines during his reign as king of Israel. Times were not easy for the Israelites, but they did rise to the challenge. Joab’s instructions to his troops still stands as wisdom for us as we face the challenges of this time: do your best, and trust the LORD to do what he wills.

LORD, give us the courage to do our best, and trust you for the outcome.

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a permanent house for Yahveh

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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Photo by SUNIL PATEL on Pexels.com

a permanent house for Yahveh

1 Chronicles 17:1-27

1 Chronicles 17:1 When David had settled into his palace, he said to the prophet Nathan, “Look! I am living in a cedar house while the ark of Yahveh’s covenant is under tent curtains.”
1 Chronicles 17:2 So Nathan told David, “Do all that is on your mind, for God is with you.”
1 Chronicles 17:3 But that night the word of God came to Nathan:
1 Chronicles 17:4 “Go to David my servant and say, ‘This is what Yahveh says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.
1 Chronicles 17:5 From the time I brought Israel out of Egypt until today, I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have moved from one tent site to another and from one tabernacle location to another.
1 Chronicles 17:6 In all my journeys throughout Israel, have I ever spoken a word to even one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar? ‘
1 Chronicles 17:7 “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what Yahveh of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.
1 Chronicles 17:8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest on the land.
1 Chronicles 17:9 I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done
1 Chronicles 17:10 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. ” ‘Furthermore, I declare to you that Yahveh himself will build a house for you.
1 Chronicles 17:11 When your time comes to be with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who is one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
1 Chronicles 17:12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.
1 Chronicles 17:13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not remove my faithful love from him as I removed it from the one who was before you.
1 Chronicles 17:14 I will appoint him over my house and my kingdom forever and his throne will be established forever.'”
1 Chronicles 17:15 Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.
1 Chronicles 17:16 Then King David went in, sat in Yahveh’s presence, and said, Who am I, Yahveh God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far?
1 Chronicles 17:17 This was a little thing to you, God, for you have spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. You regard me as a man of distinction, Yahveh God.
1 Chronicles 17:18 What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant.
1 Chronicles 17:19 Yahveh, you have done this whole great thing, making known all these great promises for the sake of your servant and according to your will.
1 Chronicles 17:20 Yahveh, there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as all we have heard confirms.
1 Chronicles 17:21 And who is like your people Israel? God, you came to one nation on the land to redeem a people for yourself, to make a name for yourself through great and awesome works by driving out nations before your people you redeemed from Egypt.
1 Chronicles 17:22 You made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, Yahveh, have become their God.
1 Chronicles 17:23 Now, Yahveh, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and his house be confirmed forever, and do as you have promised.
1 Chronicles 17:24 Let your name be confirmed and magnified forever in the saying, “Yahveh of Armies, the God of Israel, is God over Israel.” May the house of your servant David be established before you.
1 Chronicles 17:25 Since you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house, your servant has found courage to pray in your presence.
1 Chronicles 17:26 Yahveh, you indeed are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
1 Chronicles 17:27 So now, you have been pleased to bless your servant’s house that it may continue before you forever. For you, Yahveh, have blessed it, and it is blessed forever.

a permanent house for Yahveh

On this last day of the year, many will evaluate their year’s activities and determine that something was lacking, resolving to do something more or to stop doing something they regret.
Such thoughts were in David’s heart as he noticed that he was living in a fine cedar house, but the presence of the Yahveh (as symbolized by the ark) was residing in a tent. David wanted to build a more permanent structure for the ark. He would learn that it would not be him, but one of his sons who would build a temple. Another of David’s descendants (Jesus) would build a permanent house for God’s presence on earth. David’s desire reflected the desire of the ages.

Yahveh, build a permanent house for yourself in our hearts.

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connecting through worship

Posted on December 30, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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connecting through worship

1 Chronicles 16:4-43

1 Chronicles 16:4 David appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate Yahveh God of Israel, and to give thanks and praise to him.
1 Chronicles 16:5 Asaph was the chief, and Zechariah was second to him. Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel played the harps and lyres while Asaph sounded the cymbals
1 Chronicles 16:6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
1 Chronicles 16:7 On that day David decreed for the first time that thanks be given to Yahveh by Asaph and his relatives:
1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks to the Lord; call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples.
1 Chronicles 16:9 Sing to him; sing praise to him; tell about all his wondrous works!
1 Chronicles 16:10 Honor his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek Yahveh rejoice.
1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek Yahveh and his strength; seek his face always.
1 Chronicles 16:12 Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced,
1 Chronicles 16:13 you offspring of Israel his servant, Jacob’s descendants — his chosen ones.
1 Chronicles 16:14 He is Yahveh our God; his judgments govern the land.
1 Chronicles 16:15 Remember his covenant forever — the promise he ordained for a thousand generations,
1 Chronicles 16:16 the covenant he made with Abraham, swore to Isaac,
1 Chronicles 16:17 and confirmed to Jacob as a decree and to Israel as a permanent covenant:
1 Chronicles 16:18 “I will give the land of Canaan to you as your inherited portion.”
1 Chronicles 16:19 When they were few in number, very few indeed, and resident aliens in Canaan
1 Chronicles 16:20 wandering from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another,
1 Chronicles 16:21 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their behalf:
1 Chronicles 16:22 “Do not touch my anointed ones or harm my prophets.”
1 Chronicles 16:23 Let the whole land sing to the Lord. Proclaim his salvation from day to day.
1 Chronicles 16:24 Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples.
1 Chronicles 16:25 Because Yahveh is great and highly praised, he is feared above all gods.
1 Chronicles 16:26 Because all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahveh made the heavens.
1 Chronicles 16:27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.
1 Chronicles 16:28 Ascribe to the Lord, families of the peoples, ascribe to Yahveh glory and strength.
1 Chronicles 16:29 Ascribe to Yahveh the glory of his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship Yahveh in the splendor of his holiness;
1 Chronicles 16:30 let the whole land tremble before him. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken.
1 Chronicles 16:31 Let the sky be glad and the land rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “Yahveh reigns!”
1 Chronicles 16:32 Let the sea and all that fills it resound; let the fields and everything in them exult.
1 Chronicles 16:33 The forest’s trees will shout for joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the land.
1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:35 And say: “Deliver us, God of our deliverance; gather us and rescue us from the nations so that we may give thanks to your holy name and rejoice in your praise.
1 Chronicles 16:36 Blessed be Yahveh God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting.” Then everyone said, “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
1 Chronicles 16:37 So David left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of Yahveh’s covenant to minister regularly before the ark according to the daily requirements.
1 Chronicles 16:38 He assigned Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom, son of Jeduthun and Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.
1 Chronicles 16:39 David left the priest Zadok and his fellow priests before the Tabernacle of Yahveh at the high place in Gibeon
1 Chronicles 16:40 to offer burnt offerings regularly, morning and evening, to Yahveh on the altar of burnt offerings and to do everything written in the law of the Lord, which he had commanded Israel to keep.
1 Chronicles 16:41 With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord — for his faithful love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:42 Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals to play and musical instruments of God. Jeduthun’s sons were at the city gate.
1 Chronicles 16:43 All the people went home, and David returned home to bless his household.

connecting through worship

The worship that David had organized for the movement of the ark now becomes a regular daily tradition. The ark is now in Jerusalem, where David lives. The tabernacle with the altar for sacrifice is still in Gibeon. David institutionalizes regular worship in both places. The people and the king and the priests are to be constantly reminded by song of who the LORD is, what he has done, and what he is going to do.

LORD, thank you for the honor of connecting with you on a regular basis through worship.

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celebrating the presence

Posted on December 29, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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celebrating the presence

1 Chronicles 15:1-16:3

1 Chronicles 15:1 David built houses for himself in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.
1 Chronicles 15:2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because Yahveh has chosen them to carry the ark of Yahveh and to minister before him forever.”
1 Chronicles 15:3 David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of Yahveh to the place he had prepared for it.
1 Chronicles 15:4 Then he gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
1 Chronicles 15:5 From the Kohathites, Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives;
1 Chronicles 15:6 from the Merarites, Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives;
1 Chronicles 15:7 from the Gershomites, Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives;
1 Chronicles 15:8 from the Elizaphanites, Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives;
1 Chronicles 15:9 from the Hebronites, Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives;
1 Chronicles 15:10 from the Uzzielites, Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.
1 Chronicles 15:11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
1 Chronicles 15:12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of Yahveh God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.
1 Chronicles 15:13 For Yahveh our God burst out in anger against us because you Levites were not with us the first time, for we didn’t inquire of him about the proper procedures.”
1 Chronicles 15:14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of Yahveh God of Israel.
1 Chronicles 15:15 Then the Levites carried the ark of God the way Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord: on their shoulders with the poles.
1 Chronicles 15:16 Then David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers and to have them raise their voices with joy accompanied by musical instruments — harps, lyres, and cymbals.
1 Chronicles 15:17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah.
1 Chronicles 15:18 With them were their relatives second in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.
1 Chronicles 15:19 The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals;
1 Chronicles 15:20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth
1 Chronicles 15:21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to the Sheminith.
1 Chronicles 15:22 Chenaniah, the leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music because he was skillful.
1 Chronicles 15:23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.
1 Chronicles 15:24 The priests, Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be gatekeepers for the ark.
1 Chronicles 15:25 David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of Yahveh from the house of Obed-edom.
1 Chronicles 15:26 Because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, with God’s help, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
1 Chronicles 15:27 Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the music leader of the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.
1 Chronicles 15:28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahveh with shouts, the sound of the ram’s horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and the playing of harps and lyres.
1 Chronicles 15:29 As the ark of the covenant of Yahveh was entering the city of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing, and she despised him in her heart.
1 Chronicles 16:1 They brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in God’s presence.
1 Chronicles 16:2 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
1 Chronicles 16:3 Then he distributed to each and every Israelite, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

celebrating the presence

Getting it right took a great deal of cooperation and attention to detail, but David was determined to correct his former mistake. The ark of the covenant belonged in Jerusalem. Following the rules meant bringing the ark into the city with worship, rejoicing, and just lots of noise. It was not to be a mundane logistics task, but part of a celebration. David even distributed a meal to all Israel – another reason to remember the day – not because it was a solemn observance, but because it was a celebration. This is what it is like when the presence of God manifests.

LORD, make our lives acts of worship appropriate for your presence.

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trusting God for the details

Posted on December 28, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Pexels.com

trusting God for the details

1 Chronicles 14:1-17

1 Chronicles 14:1 King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him.
1 Chronicles 14:2 Then David knew that Yahveh had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been exalted for the sake of his people Israel.
1 Chronicles 14:3 David took more wives in Jerusalem, and he became the father of more sons and daughters.
1 Chronicles 14:4 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
1 Chronicles 14:5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
1 Chronicles 14:6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
1 Chronicles 14:7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
1 Chronicles 14:8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of David; when David heard of this, he went out to face them.
1 Chronicles 14:9 Now the Philistines had come and raided in the Valley of Rephaim,
1 Chronicles 14:10 so David inquired of God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” Yahveh replied, “Attack, and I will hand them over to you.”
1 Chronicles 14:11 So the Israelites went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated the Philistines there. Then David said, “Like a bursting flood, God has used me to burst out against my enemies.” Therefore, they named that place Yahveh Bursts Out.
1 Chronicles 14:12 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David ordered that they be burned in the fire.
1 Chronicles 14:13 Once again, the Philistines raided the valley.
1 Chronicles 14:14 So David again inquired of God, and God answered him, “Do not pursue them directly. Circle around them and attack them opposite the balsam trees.
1 Chronicles 14:15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God will have gone out ahead of you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
1 Chronicles 14:16 So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.
1 Chronicles 14:17 Then David’s fame spread throughout the lands, and Yahveh caused all the nations to be terrified of him.

trusting God for the details

In each of the battles described in this chapter, the Philistines made a raid in the valley, and David responded by first praying for God’s will. In each case, God’s will was the same, but the means of obeying it was different. Often when we come to the LORD seeking his will, we do not stay on our knees long enough to discover his way – the means of obeying his will. It takes faith to trust God not only for a “yes” or “no”answer, but for the details.

LORD, give us faith to trust you for the details.

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good intentions are not enough

Posted on December 27, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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good intentions are not enough

1 Chronicles 13:1-14

1 Chronicles 13:1 David consulted with all his leaders, the commanders of hundreds and of thousands.
1 Chronicles 13:2 Then he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is from Yahveh our God, let us spread out and send the message to the rest of our relatives in all the districts of Israel, including the priests and Levites in their cities with pasturelands, that they should gather together with us.
1 Chronicles 13:3 Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of him in Saul’s days.”
1 Chronicles 13:4 Since the proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to do it.
1 Chronicles 13:5 So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
1 Chronicles 13:6 David and all Israel went to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah) to take from there the ark of God, which bears the name of Yahveh who is enthroned between the cherubim.
1 Chronicles 13:7 At Abinadab’s house they set the ark of God on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart.
1 Chronicles 13:8 David and all Israel were dancing with all their might before God with songs and lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
1 Chronicles 13:9 When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to hold the ark because the oxen had stumbled.
1 Chronicles 13:10 Then Yahveh’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had reached out to the ark. So, he died there in the presence of God.
1 Chronicles 13:11 David was angry because of Yahveh’s outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place Outburst Against Uzzah, as it is still named today.
1 Chronicles 13:12 David feared God that day and said, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”
1 Chronicles 13:13 So David did not bring the ark of God home to the city of David; instead, he diverted it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.
1 Chronicles 13:14 The ark of God remained with Obed-edom’s family in his house for three months, and Yahveh blessed his family and all he had.

good intentions are not enough

It seemed like a good idea at the time. David enlisted the support of his kingdom to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. They built a new cart, got two drivers, and accompanied the procession with rejoicing and musical instruments. Then something went wrong. The oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached out to steady the ark, and ZAP — the LORD breaks out against him. One of the lessons God’s people have to keep learning is that good intentions are not enough. God is holy, and his work must be done the right way. Lack of preparation in this case cost a life, and delayed the mission for three months.

LORD, help us to take your work seriously, for you are a serious God.

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supporting God’s King

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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supporting God’s King

1 Chronicles 12:1-40

1 Chronicles 12:1 The following were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still banned from the presence of Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who helped him in battle.
1 Chronicles 12:2 They were archers who could use either the right or left hand, both to sling stones and shoot arrows from a bow. They were Saul’s relatives from Benjamin:
1 Chronicles 12:3 Their chief was Ahiezer son of Shemaah the Gibeathite. Then there was his brother Joash; Jeziel and Pelet sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu the Anathothite;
1 Chronicles 12:4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a warrior among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite;
1 Chronicles 12:5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite;
1 Chronicles 12:6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites;
1 Chronicles 12:7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
1 Chronicles 12:8 Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were valiant warriors, trained for battle, expert with shield and spear. Their faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.
1 Chronicles 12:9 Ezer was the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third,
1 Chronicles 12:10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth,
1 Chronicles 12:11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh,
1 Chronicles 12:12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth,
1 Chronicles 12:13 Jeremiah tenth, and Machbannai eleventh.
1 Chronicles 12:14 These Gadites were army commanders; the least of them was a match for a hundred, and the greatest of them for a thousand.
1 Chronicles 12:15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks and put to flight all those in the valleys to the east and to the west.
1 Chronicles 12:16 Other Benjaminites and men from Judah also went to David at the stronghold.
1 Chronicles 12:17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you, but if you have come to betray me to my enemies even though my hands have done no wrong, may the God of our ancestors look on it and judge.”
1 Chronicles 12:18 Then the Breath enveloped Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: We are yours, David, we are with you, son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to him who helps you, for your God helps you. So, David welcomed them and made them leaders of his troops.
1 Chronicles 12:19 Some Manassites defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. However, they did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers sent David away after a discussion. They said, “It will be our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”
1 Chronicles 12:20 When David went to Ziklag, some men from Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh.
1 Chronicles 12:21 They helped David against the raiders, for they were all valiant warriors and commanders in the army.
1 Chronicles 12:22 At that time, men came day after day to help David until there was a great army, like an army of God.
1 Chronicles 12:23 The numbers of the armed troops who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, according to Yahveh’s word, were as follows:
1 Chronicles 12:24 From the Judahites: 6,800 armed troops bearing shields and spears.
1 Chronicles 12:25 From the Simeonites: 7,100 valiant warriors ready for war.
1 Chronicles 12:26 From the Levites: 4,600
1 Chronicles 12:27 in addition to Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, with 3,700 men;
1 Chronicles 12:28 and Zadok, a young valiant warrior, with 22 commanders from his father’s family.
1 Chronicles 12:29 From the Benjaminites, the relatives of Saul: 3,000 (up to that time the majority of the Benjaminites maintained their allegiance to the house of Saul).
1 Chronicles 12:30 From the Ephraimites: 20,800 valiant warriors who were famous men in their ancestral families.
1 Chronicles 12:31 From half the tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 designated by name to come and make David king.
1 Chronicles 12:32 From the Issacharites, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their relatives under their command.
1 Chronicles 12:33 From Zebulun: 50,000 who could serve in the army, trained for battle with all kinds of weapons of war, with one purpose to help David.
1 Chronicles 12:34 From Naphtali: 1,000 commanders accompanied by 37,000 men with shield and spear.
1 Chronicles 12:35 From the Danites: 28,600 trained for battle.
1 Chronicles 12:36 From Asher: 40,000 who could serve in the army, trained for battle.
1 Chronicles 12:37 From across the Jordan– from the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh: 120,000 men equipped with all the military weapons of war.
1 Chronicles 12:38 All these warriors, lined up in battle formation, came to Hebron wholeheartedly determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel was also of one mind to make David king.
1 Chronicles 12:39 They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, because their relatives had provided for them.
1 Chronicles 12:40 In addition, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came and brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen — abundant provisions of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine and oil, herds, and flocks. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.

supporting God’s King

This chapter shows the strong support David received from the tribes of Israel after it became clear that he was God’s choice for king. Thousands came to him, even from Benjamin – Saul’s tribe. It was obvious that he was the focal point of the future of Israel. Those who helped him would be helped by the LORD. The mighty men who took up the sword in the name of David were ensuring a secure future for their families. There were no guarantees that they – personally – would survive the wars with God’s enemies. There was only faith that the LORD and his people would survive, and accomplish God’s will. The mighty men had the courage to do the right thing, even if they personally would not benefit from it. The world was watching to see if they would do the right thing.

We have just celebrated the birth of Christ, who was heralded as God’s newborn king. He is God’s king. Every day you and I are given the choice to serve and support God’s king. Will we do the right thing? The world is watching.

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