Category: 1st and 2nd Chronicles-BibleTrekToday
Trek through 1st and 2nd Chronicles
The half has not been told!
Scripture reading for April 24th: 2nd Chronicles 6-9
Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived other than Jesus Christ. Solomon got his wisdom by asking for it! (James 1:5) God appeared to him early in his rule and asked him what he needed. Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God’s people. (2nd Chronicles 1:7-10) God granted him his request and gave him fame and fortune as well.
The Queen of Sheba was a foreign dignitary of Solomon’s time who had heard reports of Solomon’s wisdom and wealth. She came to see for herself and took it all in. Her recorded remark was “not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me”. (2nd Chronicles 9:6) This Gentile queen praised Solomon’s God for delighting in Solomon and placing him on the throne. She noted that the Lord loved His people and appointed Solomon as king to uphold them and rule them for God! She had great understanding herself as she stood in Solomon’s presence.
The Queen of Sheba also lavished gifts of gold and spices on Solomon. She gave him over 25 tons of gold helping to fulfill God’s word to Solomon! A king who is full of wisdom deserves great honor and recognition!
Solomon had a distant grandson, Jesus Christ, who was also filled with wisdom from God. Luke recorded that he grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. (Luke 2:51) Paul stated that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2-3) This same Jesus has been made unto us wisdom from God. (1st Corinthians 1:30) If we need wisdom, we can simply ask God and He will give us liberally! (James 1:5) We have record of Jesus’ unequaled wisdom, yet the half has not been told! When we see Him we will know fully what we only know in part now!
As Solomon’s fame spread far and wide, so Jesus Christ’s fame is spreading to all the nations! As the Queen of Sheba gave lavish gifts to Solomon, so we are to honor Jesus Christ and give our tithes and offerings. He alone is worthy! We are to tell of the riches of His glorious Kingdom and publish His wisdom for all who will listen! We bring Him the precious “gold” of our faith and the “spices” of prayer and worship. All nations will worship Him of whom “the half has not been told”!
God is good! His Love endures forever!
Scripture reading for April 23rd: 2nd Chronicles 1-5
Two great truths about God are voiced in this simple song that was sung when the priests and Solomon moved the Ark of the Covenant into the completed temple of the Lord. These truths are so simple and obvious that one would think everyone should know them and had experienced them but Satan is a liar! He is always questioning God’s goodness and His enduring love!
The first truth is that God is good! God is good in all his ways and character. His goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. (Psalm 23:6) He is good in His creation through which He has provided for all creatures food and drink to sustain them. Everything we eat ultimately comes from His hands. He is good to both the evil and the good. He shows mercy by his goodness in sending rain and bringing forth crops and food for all, no matter how they might treat Him! God is good in His character as well. He is pure and holy and righteous in every way. (Revelation 15:3-4) His perfection and holiness causes the hosts of heaven to adore Him, crying: “Holy, Holy, Holy!” ( Revelation 4:8) Ultimately all nations will come and worship Him for his goodness, justice and truth!
The second truth declared by those who moved the Ark into the Temple was that God’s love endures forever. God is love. (1st John 4:16). God is from everlasting to everlasting! (Psalm 90:2) He pours out His love on those He has made in His image and likeness! “God so loved the world” (John 3:16) is one of the most quoted verses of the Bible. God’s love moved Him to send His only Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to seek lost men and save them. (Luke 19:10) His love heals the sick, cleanses the defiled, and restores broken lives, turning them into to trophies His of love!
Today, try singing this simple song as you go through your day. Look for all the ways that God is good to you and thank Him as you are reminded of His goodness! Tell Him that you love Him and appreciate his eternal love! As you do, remember that you now bear His presence and glory as a living stone in his temple! As you worship, you join Solomon and the hosts of heaven as they worship eternally!
God loves willing givers!
Scripture reading for April 21st: 1st Chronicles 28-29
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all you that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2nd Corinthians 9:7-8
Preachers are sometimes pushy or manipulative in asking the people to give. There are so many needs and money is often a limiting factor in the work of the church, at least in our minds. The love of money keeps many from giving and holds back God’s blessing in the people as well. This area is a touchy area for many because of the various abuses and the strongholds of idolatry to money and materialism in this land.
I love the 29th chapter of 1st Chronicles. In this chapter, King David sets forth what he is personally giving to fund the vision he has been given of building the temple of the Lord. He sets the example of personal dedication by first giving sacrificially himself. A good leader will always lead the way for those he is calling to help. David gives of his personal treasure 188 tons of gold, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze and 3,750 tons of iron! From this position of personal dedication, he challenged his other leaders to give as well.
His leaders caught the spirit of generosity that King David had modeled. They contributed “willingly and wholeheartedly” to the Lord. (1st Chronicles 29:6-9) David rejoiced with a psalm of praise to the Lord for His greatness and power. He attributed everything that he had to God’s grace! (1st Chronicles 29:11-12) We can boast about nothing because all things come from God’s hand to us!
David prayed for the people: “And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O, Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever and keep their hearts loyal to you.” (1st Chronicles 29:17-18)
May God give each of us a heart to give! If you are a leader, may you set an example of extravagant giving. May your heart remain loyal to the Lord and open to be generous forever! God loves a cheerful giver!
Transition of leadership!
Scripture reading for April 20th: 1st Chronicles 22-27
As I have attended and worked in different church families, one of the things that is often done poorly is the transition of leadership. Often when there is a change of leaders, no preparation or thinking has been done by the core leadership of the church. Sometimes the selection process becomes a popularity contest instead of seeking God’s will. It divides the church and there is great turmoil. Many times people fail to seek the Lord for His plan of succession and a plan for success!
When David was old and “full of years”, (1st Chronicles 23:1) he made Solomon king over Israel. David’s son Adonijah had tried to make himself king but Bathsheba and Nathan the prophet worked together to redirect the situation. (1st Kings 1:1-5) There was a power struggle because flesh wants control and often seeks to take power for self. It is one of the strategies of Satan to bring division and confusion in a church or nation.
After installing Solomon, David wisely helped his son succeed in accomplishing the tasks he knew were God’s will. David told Solomon that it was God’s will that he build the Lord’s house. He was positive and encouraging and prayed for God’s wisdom and discretion that his son might keep the Law of God and have success! A father’s blessing and God’s blessing go a long way toward success! (1st Chronicles 22:11-13)
Next, David assembled materials for the Temple. He generously provided from his own treasury for God’s house! He set a good example for his son and the nation of personal sacrifice. He understood that when God’s house was provided for, God would bless His people. (1st Chronicles 22:14-16)
The last thing David did was to gather the key leaders of Israel together and encourage them to support Solomon. David cited the Lord’s victories and how God had given the people rest. He encouraged the leaders to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul and to begin building. This transition would continue the vision of the Lord through David and insure the accomplishment of God’s will and purposes. (1st Chronicles 22:17-19)
Pray for your church family and nation for godly transition in leadership. Stand against Satan’s strategy to divide people and promote selfish leadership who will ignore God’s plans. May God’s kingdom come and His will be done here on earth as in heaven!
The wiles of the Devil!
Scripture reading for April 19th: 1st Chronicles 17-21
We have an enemy who is known to be crafty and who uses schemes to gain access to God’s people. His motives are to steal from them, kill them, and ultimately destroy their souls in Hell. (John 10:10) Satan is said to be like a roaring lion prowling around looking for someone to devour. (1st Peter 5:8-9) Several passages of scripture admonish God’s people to flee temptation and resist the devil. (Matthew 6:13) We are in a cosmic battle with evil forces of darkness and are in need of God’s help.
David was a man after God’s heart but he was also prone to temptation and did not always resist. We all remember the time he stayed back in Jerusalem when his army went to war. (1st Chronicles 20:1) It is interesting to note that the adultery with Bathsheba is not mentioned in Chronicles but another serious pride issue is. David came and took the crown off the head of the king of the Ammonites who Joab and the army had defeated. This crown weighed around 75 pounds and was full of precious stones. David placed that crown on his own head. (1st Chronicles 20:2)
Right after this, David returned again to Jerusalem and Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census! (1st Chronicles 21:1) This was evil in God’s sight because it was motivated by pride and not by God’s direction. (1st Chronicles 21:7) It appears that Satan gained an inroad in David’s life. We know David was not fighting the Lord’s enemies but stayed home to engage in sexual sin. He had Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, killed. He took this massive crown belonging to a pagan king and placed it on his own head. After this Satan was able to incite him to sin that cost the lives of 70,000 Israelites!
However, David did repent. He ended up buying the threshing floor of Arunah as a place of sacrifice to stop the plague. This site became the site of the temple! Pride brings destruction, but humility brings repentance and forgiveness. The temple is where God’s presence dwelled and where anyone who had sinned could bring a sacrifice and find forgiveness! David’s latter Son, Jesus Christ, would offer Himself in this temple to be the final sacrifice for the sins of the world! What a victory over our enemy, Satan, and his schemes of death! Praise the Lord!
The “Mighty Men”!
Scripture reading for April 18: 1st Chronicles 10-16
In today’s culture, men of God are often portrayed as not too bright, weaklings, or slightly effeminate. Many men have lost their sense of identity when it comes to serving the Lord. They tend to take a back seat to women and often fail to be the spiritual leaders of the home or the church. The “mighty men” of king David would certainly not fit the current portrayal of men who serve the Lord.
The mighty men of David’s bodyguard were courageous fighters! Jashobeam, the chief of the officers, raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter! (1st Chronicles 11:11) Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was a valiant fighter who went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day! This man then struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall using only a club. He killed the Egyptian with the man’s own spear! Three of the mighty men risked their lives just to get David a drink from the well near the gate of Bethlehem. David was so humbled that he poured the water out before the Lord. (1st Chronicles 11:17-19)
To be a mighty man today, we have to be just as tough! We are in the army of God! We are wrestling with principalities, powers, and rulers and authorities in the spiritual battle we are in. (Ephesians 6:10-18) We need to have the full armor of God and wield the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, with skill and courage. God has called men to lead in the home and the Church. Men are to be men of prayer. (1st Timothy 2:8) We are to be loyal and honor authority! When we do, we honor God and He can honor us!
God is looking for “mighty men” who will serve Him loyally and whole-heartedly! If you are a man, offer yourself to be one of God’s “mighty men”! If you have a husband or son who needs to make this kind of commitment, pray for him today in faith, believing that God is able to bring them into this place of honor! One day we will hear our King say: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things! Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)
Individuals are important!
Scripture reading for April 17th: 1st Chronicles 1-9
Chronicles is written from the view of the priesthood and some think that Ezra helped compile this record. One thing that we might note is that Chronicles begins with Adam and gives a record of descendants right up to the exile in 586 BC. This record is basically repeated again with additions right up to the time of Christ in Luke’s Gospel. (Luke 3:23-37) God seems to be reminding us that we can trace our history back to Adam and Eve!
Another thing to note is that God considers individuals important. He knows our name and lists all these people by name. Of the sons of Judah, Er, the first-born, is noted as being wicked and the Lord put him to death. (2Chronicles 2:3) Another man, Hezron, married at 60 years of age and had a son, Segub. (2nd Chronicles 2:21) Evidently it was unusual to marry so late! In 2nd Chronicles 4:9-10, Jabez cried out to the Lord for his blessing and an enlarged territory. Jabez asked to have God’s hand with him and to be free from pain. God answered his prayer! That’s a good thing to note and an encouragement to us.
In the last section of this genealogy, there is a record of the sons of Levi. The Levite families had assigned jobs to do in the temple and for the ministry to the Lord. The house of Merari, for instance, were assigned to be musicians ministering before the tabernacle from the time of David. (2nd Chronicles 6:31-32) Aaron and his descendants offered the sacrifices in the most holy place. (2nd Chronicles 6:49) A later record in 2nd Chronicles 9:17-27 describes Levites who returned from captivity in Babylon as gatekeepers in the house of the Lord. A single man, Mattithiah, was a Levite who was put in charge of baking bread for the tabernacle.
God is a God of order. He assigns jobs to His people according to their abilities and His needs. He knows each by name and makes note of those who do well as well as those who mess up. Each person is important and the job they are assigned is significant. Take time today to thank God for the gifts He has given you. Ask Him to show you the significance of your work and offer your gifts to Him to use for His glory! God is keeping a record for Heaven!
Seek the good of others!
Scripture reading for August 16th: 1st Corinthians 10:15-11:2
The issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols was very controversial in the church at Corinth. There were many idol temples and people who were in the church had come from backgrounds where they participated in the worship of these idols and the demons behind them. Some were very sensitive in their consciences because of what God had delivered them from. They believed that they were participating in the worship of demons if they ate the meat. Others had learned through study of God’s word that these idols were really nothing at all and that the sacrifice did not mean anything. As believers, they were free to eat the meat and simply give thanks to God for providing it.
This conflict was causing division and some in the church to stumble. Paul wrote clearly to help them with this problem as he had done to the Romans. (Romans 13-14) Paul warned everyone to flee from idolatry. God is jealous and wants all our worship! (1st Corinthians 10:14, 22) When we partake of holy communion, we partake of the ‘cup of thanksgiving’ and participate in the blood of Jesus Christ. When we eat the bread we partake of the body of Christ. As believers, we become one with Christ and with all true believers through the sacrifice of Christ given for us. (1st Corinthians 10:15-17)
“”Everything is permissible”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” (1st Corinthians 10:23-24) When we are part of the body of Christ, we must be mindful of those who may be sensitive in this area of eating meat sacrificed to idols. We may have liberty to eat, but it may be harmful to our brothers and sisters who came out of this kind of idolatry. We should limit our liberty to help them grow in faith.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God–even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example as I follow Christ.” (1st Corinthians 10:31-11:1) Winning people to Jesus Christ for God’s glory is our single focus!
Youth and Leadership
Scripture reading for May 3rd: 2nd Chronicles 33-36
The Chronicles are filled with records of the kings of Israel and Judah. Each record usually begins with a note about the age of the king when he took office and a general comment about whether he did good or evil. Manasseh was only 12 years old when he began his reign and Josiah was only 8 years old. Manasseh did evil and Josiah did what was right and good.
Manasseh was the son of a good king, Hezekiah. Manasseh was born to king Hezekiah later in his life after God miraculously spared his life and gave him 15 more years. Hezekiah had torn down the idol temples and humbly tried to walk with the Lord but Manasseh undid much of his father’s reform and took the nation away from God. He worshiped the starry host of heaven and even offered his children to these worthless idols. (2nd Chronicles 33:3-6)
God tried to speak to Manasseh but because he refused to listen, he was taken in captivity to Babylon. Manasseh did cry out to the Lord there and God had mercy on him. He was restored to Jerusalem where he removed some of the idols he had erected and tried to restore the Lord’s altar. He failed to teach his own sons. One of them, Amnon, succeeded his father and did evil without repentance.
Josiah was one of the youngest kings and one of the best. He sought the Lord early in his reign and purged Jerusalem of idols and images. (2nd Chronicles 34:3-7) He set out to repair the temple, collecting funds to pay the workers and do the repairs. While repairing the temple, the priest Hilkiah, found the Book of the Law that had been lost and neglected. When Josiah heard the word of God, he humbled himself and sought prophetic help. Huldah, the prophetess, told the king of the anger of God aroused because of the unfaithfulness of his people and their disobedience to His commands. Josiah led the people to renew their covenant with the Lord.
These two kings took opposite paths. Their youth was not the main factor in their walk with God. Their heart to follow God and obey His word determined God’s verdict concerning their lives. What will He write about us?
Sunday Rest and Reflection:Extravagant Giving
Dear Friends,
Greetings on this first Sunday in May! May brings the fullness of new life back to the earth and trees. Gardens are growing and the crops are beginning to cover the ground in fields. Planting of seeds and plants is done with the expectation of resurrection and the hope of a harvest. I trust you are with God’s people today giving extravagant worship to the Lord of Heaven and Earth who abundantly bestows these blessings on all people.
As I reflect on the readings of this past week, I again remember the cleansing of the temple by King Hezekiah as he began his reign. He sent the priests and Levites to consecrate the temple and themselves for service to the Lord. This process took 16 days as they removed idolatrous articles and re-consecrated and restored the sacred utensils that King Ahaz had removed in his wickedness. The idolatrous articles were taken to the Kidron valley and burned there. This is the place that in Scripture is likened to Hell.
After the cleansing of the temple and the offering of sacrifices by the leadership, there was great joy and rejoicing. God had enabled them to quickly be restored and His favor was evident among the priests and leaders. Hezekiah then invited all Israel and Judah to come to Jerusalem for the Passover. Hezekiah encouraged the people to return to the Lord and that the Lord would restore their children who had been taken captive. People came from all over and brought offerings and sacrifices. They celebrated the festival for seven days and then, because they were so blessed, celebrated for seven more days! (2nd Chronicles 30:21-23) The priests stood and blessed the people and God answered with more blessing!
After this revival of the Passover by Hezekiah, the people went home, tore down their idols and smashed their sacred stones. They took actions of faith because of the grace of God. They brought tithes and offerings and blessed the Lord to such an extent that there was an abundance for God’s house and the storerooms were full! (2nd Chronicles 31:6-10)
Revival here had two notable effects: removal of idols and consecration to the Lord by the priests and people, and extravagant giving by God through the grace of passover and by the people in response to this grace! I pray your Sunday was filled with both!
In His Love, Pastor John