I Chronicles 29

Dear RTB’ers,

Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. (v. 9a) I was chatting with our treasurer, Ellen Backs, on Sunday and she was recounting how generous our congregation is and has been the past few years. She was also remembering how difficult my last few years as treasurer had been, when we ran deficit budgets two or three or four years in a row. And it was a difficult time for us. However, it was only the operating budget that was in deficit. Our congregation had given in abundance for other needs – Uganda, Avanza, the Mission Committee and our missionaries, ARDF, memorials, etc. And we don’t even have records of private giving to other needs. So yes, we’ve always had a generous congregation!

King David praying: 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. (v. 16) And our congregation, like King David’s people, have recognized God’s hand in all our giving and thanked Him with grateful hearts.

For all things come from You, and of Your own have we given You. (v. 14b)

Blessings.

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See also: April 30 (2023) / I Chronicles 26:20-29:30.

I Chronicles 28

Dear RTB’ers,

King David speaking, …for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought… (v. 9b) I find this verse to be both encouraging and “scary”. I am happy to know that the Lord searches me and knows my thoughts because I want to know that His Holy Spirit is there to guide and comfort me in all that I am thinking. The “scary” part is that all too many of my mental ramblings are “unworthy” thoughts that I would not want any of my friends to know about! But God does know them, all of them. That helps me to dismiss those thoughts (and actions), knowing that the Lord is right there beside me. …the LORD searches all hearts…

Blessings.

I Chronicles 25-27

Dear RTB’ers,

More of David’s organizing – the musicians, the gatekeepers, the treasury guards, and the military, with an additional listing of the leaders of ten of Israel’s twelve tribes (Gad and Asher were omitted, but the number was kept at twelve by adding Levi and both of Joseph’s sons – with two Manasseh’s noted).

Obed-Edom. We remember him as the owner of the land where the Ark was stored for three months after David’s first attempt to move it: And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had. (I Chronicles 13:14) We see him again today (I Chr. 26:4-8) in his duty as a gatekeeper, with a naming of his eight sons and six of his grandchildren and a count of sixty-two total male descendants. God had indeed blessed him!

Blessings.

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See also: April 27 (2023) / I Chronicles 23-26:19 (again).

I Chronicles 23-24

Dear RTB’ers,

It has always been interesting to me how kings and military leaders get credit (or at least their names connected) for battles won or lost. We know of Grant winning Vicksburg, Lee losing Gettysburg, and Patton coming to the rescue of the besieged soldiers at Bastogne. In reality these men were leaders who probably never fired a shell for the occasions in which they are named. It was more generals and officers and enlisted men under their command who did the fighting and won or lost the battles.

The same holds true for our Old Testament readings. We hear of Joshua (and Caleb) conquering the Promised Land and of David defeating those nations who had risen up against Israel during the time of the Judges. But it’s not battles only. Today we read of David organizing the Levites and David organizing the priests. Yes, David probably ordered it done, but it was others who took to the task of doing the actual organizing. And in one verse today the Chronicler acknowledges the assistance accorded David in organizing the priests: With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service. (v. 24:3) Zadok and Ahimelech are also mentioned later in verses 6 and 31. We have seen how this author seems to take greater care for the Levites and anything associated with the Temple and worship. And it’s with the sons of Aaron that he gets more specific, both the people involved and their charges.

I’m sure there have been thousands of scholars and students who have pored over the Chronicler’s lists and written thousands of articles highlighting their findings. But for us today, mostly it’s a bunch of names from history, not much relevant for our day-to-day activities. However, as John and I have mentioned before, it’s nice to know that God has known each and every one of these people named, that He knows them still, and that their names are recorded somewhere in the heavenly archives. He knows us, too, and all that we do. How will our names be recorded?

Blessings.

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See also: April 27 (2023) / I Chronicles 23-26:19.

I Chronicles 23-27

Dear RTB’ers,

Another travel day for us, but that’s OK in that today’s STS assignment has no Scripture text reading, only an Introduction to I Chronicles 23-27. So please read that section on your own. See you tomorrow!

Blessings.

I Chronicles 22:2-19

Dear RTB’ers,

My Study Bible noted that today’s reading and the rest of I Chronicles (chapters 22-29) is material not found in the Samuel or Kings books.

Twice today, the same phrase: Arise and work! Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God… (vv. 16b, 19b). I love it when my Scripture reading takes me back to another time, another place. Before Carol and I were married we were attending a church in Northern Virginia and the rector was doing a series on Nehemiah. When it came to building the walls our song leader had written a piece specifically for the wall building that had one repetitive phrase, “Arise and build.” It came directly from the Scripture text: And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” (Nehemiah 2:18b) The song’s words encouraged us to do just that, arise and build.

So, for us… Arise and build. Is there something in our lives that we’ve been putting off, something that we know needs to get done, but we haven’t had the will power to do it? Maybe it’s time. Maybe “arise and build” is all the encouragement that we need to get started…?? Do it! Arise and build!

Blessings.

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See also: April 26 (2023) / Psalms 37, 30; I Chronicles 22.

I Chronicles 21:1-22:1

Dear RTB’ers,

David’s census – today’s reading and II Samuel 24 have us all wondering, why do this thing? In the USA today we take a formal census every ten years and use those numbers in forming federal and state policies. So most would agree that a census is a good thing. But back in 1000 BC, what’s to gain for David? Why do it? How would he use the numbers? My Study Bible suggested two motivations – first, David’s pride for his success and second, military preparedness in the event of future warfare.

Both II Samuel and I Chronicles have God’s punishment for David’s census leading to David’s purchase of Ornan’s property – land on which Solomon’s temple was built. Today’s final four verses are not included in II Samuel 24; presumably the Chronicler was clarifying that this location was to be the land for the temple.

The Chronicler tells us that David was tempted by Satan, but II Samuel 24:1 reports otherwise: Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” So, what’s your take on that?

Blessings.

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See also: April 18 / Psalm 60; I Chronicles 18:14-21:30; II Samuel 24.

I Chronicles 18-20

Dear RTB’ers,

David’s wars and victories, wherever he went. One sentence in these three chapters captures the essence of “holy war” (Joab, David’s commander speaking): Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to Him. (v. 19:13) God has given us talents and abilities to use for His glory. We do what we can with what we’ve got, the Lord continuing to guide us. But whatever we do, in the end it’s the Lord’s outcome, not ours. It’s why we pray, “Your will be done.”

Blessings.

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See also: April 18 (2023) / Psalm 60; I Chronicles 18:14-21:30; II Samuel 24 (first paragraph).

I Chronicles 17

Dear RTB’ers,

Throughout the Chronicles books the author is rewriting the Samuel and Kings books. Today he is copying II Samuel 6, editing it only slightly. I typically put the beginning of David’s reign as king at about 1000 BC. If that’s the case, then the Samuel and Kings books were probably written sometime in or around 900 BC (the author clearly knew of Rehoboam and Jeroboam and the “divided kingdom”, Israel and Judah). However the Chronicler is writing some five or six centuries later. I bring this item because of today’s “Messianic” verses 11b-14 (God speaking): I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to Me a son. I will not take My steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.

So, to whom is God referring? David is concerned about God’s physical house (a permanent home for the Ark), but God seems to be answering with respect to David’s lineage, his descendants. And there David and Nathan and the Samuel author and his contemporaries might have imagined Solomon and Rehoboam and the continuing kingly lineage. Then the author of Chronicles can follow that line even further, having seen that kingly realm continue beyond the Exile in a person (Zerubbabel) if not in a mighty kingdom. Then going centuries further, New Testament writers apply these verses to Jesus in Luke 1:32-33 and Hebrews 1:5. Finally, we can’t read those verses today without inserting Jesus therein. I’m connecting three millennia of history here, a history that we embrace firmly, completely, and with endearing thankfulness. Glory!

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?” (v. 16) I couldn’t help but ask the Lord the same question about myself, “Who am I…that you have brought me…?” Herein I plug in my own “things”. And I daresay that most (all?) of us can ask the Lord the same questions – who am I, how did I get here, why have You blessed me so greatly? Take some time to dwell on that today, thanking the Lord even as David did in today’s ending verses.

Blessings.

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See also:

• April 3 (2023) / II Samuel 5-7
• April 12 (2023) / I Chronicles 17; II Samuel 8-12:15a; Psalm 51 (first sentence)

I Chronicles 16:7-43

Dear RTB’ers,

After years of Saul failing to seek the Lord in all that he did, David wanted to make sure that his administration would not be guilty of that same behavior: And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly morning and evening, to do all that is written in the Law of the LORD that He commanded Israel. (vv. 39-40) …to do all that is written…! Leave nothing undone!!

The next verse was the one that really caught my eye: With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to give thanks to the LORD, for His steadfast love endures forever. (v. 41) Yes, we are all called to prayer – for worship and thanksgiving. But there are some “over and above” people who are prayer warriors on our behalf. And it’s not just priests and nuns in religious orders. In our midst we have people whom we need to appreciate more. They are mostly unknown to us, but they are there for us nonetheless. We need to be grateful for them.

Blessings.

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See also: April 7 (2023) / I Chronicles 16 (again).