praise and prediction

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0410Psalm 8

David reflects on the glory of God manifested in his own life and leadership.  He thinks about his songs of worship, and praises God that he has used the words of a mere babe and infant to still the enemy (2). David’s greater son — Jesus — thought of David’s words when he heard the children praising him in the temple (Matt. 21:16). David thinks about his nights as a shepherd, looking up at a clear sky and seeing God’s awesomeness reflected in the celestial bodies he set in place. Yet he wonders how such a God would dare to honor him, and give him dominion (3-6). The author of Hebrews was reminded of these words when he was describing how God the Father has given Jesus dominion, after being made a little lower than the angels so that he could “taste death for everyone” as our substitute (Heb. 2:6f.). So, this psalm is both a psalm of praise from David and a psalm of prediction about the Messiah, David’s greater son.

LORD, may we appreciate what a privilege it is to lead others in your name.  May we follow Christ’s example by leading sacrificially.

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first things first

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_04091 Chronicles 9

This chapter records representative genealogies of those who returned to Jerusalem after the exile.  Of particular interest to the chronicler is the maintenance and watching of the temple area.  The detail in which the chronicler describes these security guards, maintenance workers and cooks tells us much about what was deemed important.  As they began the process of restoring order to the city, the temple and what it represented came first.  While the history of Israel did record times of neglect of the things of God, time in exile seems to have taught the people how wrong that was. 

Sometimes, in our zeal to better ourselves, we focus on the wrong priorities.  We think that we have to get our families and financial lives in order, and then we will be free to concentrate on fellowship and worship with other believers.  But a strong relationship with God and other believers should be our first goal.  Then, we will find that other kinds of recovery will come in time.

LORD, help us to focus on first things first.

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the pregnant man

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0408Psalm 7

David talks about how the wicked man conceives evil, and is pregnant with mischief.  He is thinking of Cush the Benjaminite, who must have slandered him in some way.  David knows that eventually God will judge and punish Cush.  His psalm implies that he has put that judgment in God’s hands.

LORD, help us to take our hands off the process of judging and punishing our enemies.  Give us the wisdom to let you be God.

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planted on purpose

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_03901 Chronicles 8

This list adds more detail to the genealogy of Benjamin that had begun in chapter 7.  It is appropriate to provide more details on this tribe, as Benjamin and Judah were the two “surviving” tribes that figured predominantly into the postexilic community.  In other words, the readers who first read or heard these words were most likely from these tribes.  While the whole list is their family tree, they would find themselves here. 

We believers belong to an extended community of faith that incorporates all those who are in Christ.  But we are also part of a local community of faith – a local church.  That is not a mere accident of chance.  Our LORD who brought us to himself also placed us just where he wanted us.  He either wants us to take roots here, or he wants to use our local community of faith to launch us into ministry elsewhere.  Either way, our local body is important.

LORD, thank you for where we have been planted.  Use us for your glory.

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what really matters

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0387Psalm 6

These are the words of a man who has some painful sickness, and fears that he will die from it.  Job was confident that his sickness was not a judgment of God, but this psalmist (David, according to the title) was not so confident.  He could only throw himself on God’s mercy, and ask for healing and restoration.  He feared that he might die, and go to Sheol, the place where all the dead go.  He did not want death because it would separate him from God.  In Sheol there is no praise or worship (5).  The psalmist faces the threat of death, and discovers that his relationship with God is the most important thing he has.  May we not have to get to that point before we discover that important truth.

LORD, help us to realize what really matters.

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significance

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_03861 Chronicles 7

By the time the chronicler records this genealogy, it is all history – gone.  The northern kingdom is no more, and all of these mighty warriors listed are dead.  That is the way things are now.  Nothing is permanent.  God lives on, but no one else does.  The best that anyone could hope for was to make their mark, either as a soldier, or as a builder, or as a leader.  Yet, these names are recorded exactly because the God they served lives on.  Because He lives on, eternal life is a true hope.  Because He lives on, what we do can be significant.  If there is no God, nothing matters.  Since there is a God, we all matter.

LORD, give us eyes to see the eternal significance of our mundane lives.

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lead us

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0385Psalm 5

What a great prayer for a king to pray.  He knows that many who will seek to influence him are actually flatterers who will fall by their own counsels.  He asks God to lead him by his righteousness.  Every leader should pray like this.  We are so prone to making decisions based on too little information, and being swayed by others.  We need the LORD’s leadership.

LORD, lead us leaders in your righteousness. make your way clear to us.

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sacrifice and song

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_03841 Chronicles 6

The Levites (along with the tribe of Judah) are given the central part of this genealogical record.  They were assigned the two aspects of worship before and during the Israelite monarchy: sacrifice and song.  The song was the human expression of God’s worth-ship.  The sacrifices were a message from God to the worshippers.  It spoke of the serious nature of sin, but also of a God who seeks reconciliation.  Unlike the sacrifices of the other nations, those of the Mosaic law were not a means of manipulating God.  They were symbols of grace.  God provides the lamb for the sacrifice.

LORD, we worship you because you are worth it.  You have provided your own solution to the sin problem in Christ.  thank you for your grace.

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good night’s sleep

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0372Psalm 4

What is the secret to getting a good night’s sleep in spite of an abundance of problems and cares?  For David, it was confidence in God. 

  1. He knew that the LORD had set him apart as a grace target (chasid).
  2. He was able to feel anger and disappointment, but did not allow those feelings to force him to react.
  3. He kept a regular pattern of worship which reminded him that the LORD was fighting his battles for him.

LORD, give us David’s confidence, so that no matter what challenges we face by day, we can still trust you for a good night’s sleep.

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dark background

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_03831 Chronicles 5

The record of the descendants of Israel here includes the Transjordan tribes, even though by the time the chronicler writes this, they had been broken up and deported by Assyria.  From beginning to end, this record manifests evidence of brokenness.  It starts with the fact that Reuben lost his birthright as Jacob’s firstborn due to incest.  It concludes with the exile, brought on because these tribes whored after other gods, so God gave them into their enemies’ hands.  The Bible does not sugar-coat these realities.  It reveals the dark background and that accentuates the brilliance of God at work by his grace.  It was to this Israel: condemned, broken, dysfunctional, hopeless, that the Messiah was promised.

LORD, thank you for the promise of your coming king.

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