Category: 1st and 2nd Chronicles-BibleTrekToday
Trek through 1st and 2nd Chronicles
Man of Peace–Prince of Peace!
Scripture reading for April 21st: 1st Chronicles 22-27
King David had it in his heart to build a house for the Lord. As King David approached the end of his time on earth, he sent for his son Solomon and commissioned him to build the house for the Lord. David had begun preparations for this house but a word from the Lord had stopped him from building it. Because David had been a man of war and had fought many battles costing many lives, God told him not to build His house. (1st Chronicles 22:8)
God told David that He would use his son Solomon to build the temple. Solomon would be a man of peace. God would grant him rest and peace with all his enemies. Israel would enjoy a reign of peace and during this time, Solomon could build the temple. Solomon would become a “son of God” and God would be his Father and establish his throne over Israel forever. (1st Chronicles 22:9-10)
David blessed his son and encouraged him to be strong and full of courage. He assured him of the great financial resources that he had provided for the temple. He also encouraged the people to support Solomon in the work. Best of all, David prayed that the Lord would be with Solomon in this undertaking. That help would make all the difference in the world!
As we reflect on this portion of Israel’s history, we can see definite parallels to the work of Jesus Christ in building God’s temple. Jesus Christ was a man of peace–“the Prince of Peace”. Jesus called people to come to Him and find rest for their souls. Jesus Christ defeated all of our enemies, even death, to provide this rest! God was Christ’s “Father” and Jesus was God’s “Son”! God established Jesus’ throne and kingdom forever! Jesus had success because he fully obeyed God’s commands and laws and was strong and courageous. God provided Jesus with many “brothers and sisters” as helpers in building the true temple. Jesus Christ would build the temple and the gates of hell would not prevail against Him!
This ancient record contains prophesy that is already fulfilled and also prophesy that will be fulfilled in the millennial reign of peace when Jesus takes the throne in Jerusalem and rules over a thousand years of peace! (Revelation 20:4-6) Praise the Lord for the Prince of Peace!
Doing Battle With Satan
Scripture reading for April 20th: 1st Chronicles 17-20
God’s people and their leaders are always in a spiritual battle. Even when things seem to be going well and there is a time of peace, Satan never sleeps or slacks off. In fact, it is often during the good times that we let down our guard and relax our watchfulness and Satan takes advantage!
David went through a time like this. Even though his fighting men were out fighting the Lord’s battles, David stayed home. It appears that David was motivated by pride to conduct a census of all the fighting men in Israel and David told Joab and his army commanders to do the counting. Joab wisely tried to stop David, but David did not listen. Scripture says that Satan incited David to do this and bring judgment on Israel. (1st Chronicles 21:1-6)
Joab did not like this command, but he did it anyway. God did not like it either and He punished Israel. David then came to his senses, admitted guilt, and asked God to take away his guilt. Sin has consequences and though God is merciful, He must also be just. God gave David three choices: “Take your choice: three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord–days of plague in the land with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.” (1st Chronicles 21:11-12)
David chose to fall into the hands of God rather than the hands of men, for he knew God’s mercy was great. Seventy thousand men of Israel died during the plague. Then David saw an angel with his sword extended toward Jerusalem. David cried out for mercy and took responsibility. The angel told him to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah. David bought the land and offered a sacrifice to stop the plague. This site was the place where the Temple would eventually be built.
The battle against Satan is a real one for all of us. There are unseen forces of evil and good arrayed in battle every day. We must stand firm to be victorious. We have a King who has taken our guilt and paid the price for us by sacrificing His own body on the cross. He defeated Satan and ever prays for us, keeping God’s judgment away!
Sweet Psalmist of Israel
Scripture reading for April 19th: 1st Chronicles 10-16
King David is well known for his many psalms. He loved to worship God and was always composing songs that helped express his inner life and feeling during times of joy or hardship. His life stands as a testimony to us of a man after God’s heart who was know as the sweet “Psalmist of Israel”.
Chronicles is a priestly view of events that were also covered by the writers in Samuel and Kings. Chronicles records the return of the Ark of the Testimony in more detail than does the account in Kings. David was zealous for the presence of God being brought to Jerusalem and knew he must find a way to bring it there. He failed to inquire from God’s word how this might be done and Uzzah lost his life when he tried to steady the cart it was riding on. (1st Chronicles 13:9-12) This event angered David and caused him to be afraid of God.
On the second attempt to return the Ark to Jerusalem, David sought directions from the Lord, and found that only the Levites could carry the Ark on their shoulders. He made the proper sacrifices and then worshiped and danced before the Lord with all his might as he lead the procession back to Jerusalem. (1st Chronicles 15:11-15,25-28) That same day he gave Asaph a psalm of thanks that he had composed for the occasion. This psalm was probably sung as they moved the Ark.
This psalm gives thanks to God for His wonderful acts, miracles and wonders He had done. There was thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Israel. In several verses, the psalm extols the Lord among the nations of the earth. (1st Chronicles 16:8,24,28,31) God’s goodness and love are noted and thanks was given. With God in their midst, the nation of Israel was to be a testimony to the nations of the blessing of loving God and having His covenant.
David’s heart for God blessed the people of God and drew them closer to the Lord. His worship was a great example to the people of how to approach God. We are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. David modeled this as he led the procession bringing the Ark of the Presence to Jerusalem!
A People, a King, and a Kingdom!
Scripture reading for April 17: 1st Chronicles 1-9
The Book of Chronicles was originally the last book in the Hebrew Scriptures. It begins with a listing of names starting with Adam and going through Noah. (1st Chronicles 1:1-4) From there it takes the three sons of Noah and tells of their descendants. From Shem, the genealogy follows Abraham’s line through Isaac and Ishmael. Then the line is continued through Isaac to Jacob (Israel). (1st Chronicles 2:1) Jacob’s line is traced to Jesse, the father of David and then picks up David’s family as well. (1st Chronicles 3:1-9) The last chapters of today’s reading cover the children of each of the twelve sons of Israel and their offspring.
What can we gain from this somewhat boring portion of Hebrew history? Is there any good to come from this repetition of people, offspring, and historical tidbits?
We actually can gain confidence and insight into the heart of God from this passage of Scripture. First, God keeps good books! He cares about names and people as well as what they did! This gives us confidence about the Book of Genesis as a source book for God’s people throughout their history. God knows each person by name and knows and remembers their children as well as their faith. He also has a plan to bring forth a King, His Son, through a specific line of people.
One example of a remembrance concerns Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel (Jacob). He is noted for defiling his father’s marriage bed and losing his rights as firstborn because of this. (1st Chronicles 5:1-3) Another note concerns the sons of Levi and his descendant, Merari. His sons were put into service by King David to minster with music before the tabernacle and Tent of Meeting until Solomon built the temple. (1st Chronicles 6:29-32) The people of Judah were noted for being taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness and then being the first to resettle on their own property afterward. (1st Chronicles 9:1-2)
We would do well to realize today that God has a plan. He gives each person a name and holds each one responsible for how they respond to what they know. By grace He chooses people to fulfill His purposes. He will have a people who will rule His Kingdom under the rule of His Son Jesus Christ who came through the lineage of David! Praise the Lord for His faithfulness!
Sunday rest and reflection! The mercy of God
Greetings on this day of worship and reflection! God is to be praised for His mercy and long-suffering! As I think back on the nearly 500 years of history in the Kings and Chronicles, God surely was patient with His people! He suffered long with their stubbornness. He waited patiently for them to respond to His prophets and Word. He punished them, but still His mercy was extended to those who would listen and respond. They endured wars, captivity, famines, internal bickering and strife while God kept continually offering them His amazing grace! They only needed to turn to Him in repentance and call on His name and He would hear and answer! Wow, how long our God bears with us!
As I think about the day we live in, God is still offering the amazing grace of forgiveness! He is still suffering long and ready to extend His cleansing grace. All who call out to Him are heard! He still saves and delivers. He forgives sin, rebellion and strife when His people repent! He has sent His people out with a message of good news! God’s wrath has been satisfied with the blood of His own Son! Whoever believes can get in on it! What an amazing display of mercy available to all who will come to Him!
After the trials and tests of this life are over, God promises us full life with Him forever! This is extreme mercy! We who were His enemies are now brought near and given a full inheritance! The same God who foretold the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple, tells us of a new heavens and new earth where we will dwell in righteousness with Him forever! Go and tell the Good News of God’s amazing mercy! Have a great week in Jesus Christ! Love in Him, Pastor John
There was no remedy!
Scripture reading for May 2: 2nd Chronicles 33-36
“The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and His dwelling place. But they mocked His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against His people and there was no remedy.” 2nd Chronicle 36:15-16
The period of the Kings and Chronicles ends with this sober statement concerning the Lord’s evaluation of the state of His people. God had done His best to call out to His people. He sent messengers again and again. His mercy had suffered long with this people. He had loved them and provided for them again and again. He had driven out their enemies and delivered them miraculously time after time. He had given them His presence in their midst in the Temple and a way to return to Him. But they mocked His words and mistreated the prophets that were sent to them. This aroused God’s anger and He decided to allow the consequences He had promised to fall upon them.
There was no remedy! What does this mean? Does it mean that God would not hear the prayers of His people any more? Did it mean that He had given up on them and was through? Did it mean that God had failed His people and would not honor the covenants that He had made with them? What about the land that belonged to them, would it be lost to them now because of their stubbornness?
No, God is faithful, even when we are faithless! (2nd Timothy 2:11-13) God was going to allow the consequences of their stubbornness to fall on them. They would see the destruction of their temple and go into captivity. The land would enjoy it’s sabbath rests that they failed to give in accordance with God’s Word. (2nd Chronicles 36:21) Seventy years would pass in captivity as decreed by Jeremiah, the prophet. (Jeremiah 25:11-12) After this time of captivity and punishment, God would again restore the nation to their land and rebuild the temple. Isaiah the prophet correctly named Cyrus as the ruler who would give the decree to rebuild Jerusalem more than 150 years before it happened! (Isaiah 44:28) The Book of 2nd Chronicles records the last word of God concerning this rebuilding as a word of hope to all who would trust God and follow him through the captivity! (2nd Chronicles 36:23)
Wow! God is merciful even in judgment! God has a plan and is working it out. He lets us in on His plan if we are humble and teachable. He has written down that plan in His Holy Word, the Bible! We need to pay heed while we still can. There is coming another day when again, there will truly be “no remedy” for those who reject Jesus Christ! If you die in your sins without repentance and faith in Him, there is truly “no remedy”! (Revelation 20:11-15) May that never be heard of concerning you or me!
Priorities for success!
Scripture reading for May 1: 2nd Chronicles 29-32
The times we are in are not new. There is nothing new under the sun, according to Solomon. Today we find our country in economic turmoil with banks failing, foreclosures mounting in the housing sector, and the job market shrinking. We find many of our children leaving the path of the Lord and going into captivity in the world system of humanism and self-gratification. Many churches are losing members and there are few young families in attendance. What is behind all of this? The anger of the Lord has been poured out on our nations because we have forsaken Him and left Him out of our lives!
This was the case 2700 years ago in Judah under King Hezekiah. The wrath of God was poured out on the nation because they had forsaken Him! Many had fallen to the violence of that day. Women and children were in captivity and the nation was in terror and fear. (2nd Chronicles 29:8-9) King Hezekiah began to set things in order. His plan of action was the setting of priorities for success and the blessing of God again. The first step he took was to reopen the doors of the the temple and repair it’s doors. (2nd Chronicles 29:3-6) He brought in the priests and Levites and had them consecrate themselves first and then they began to cleanse the temple. They removed all defilements from King Ahaz and restored the utensils and furniture that he had removed.
The next thing was to gather all the leaders and renew the covenant with the Lord by sacrifice. Sin must be confessed and atoned for. Sin brings death so in their case, animals had to die on their behalf. The blood was sprinkled on the altar. (2nd Chronicles 29:24) The king and the people sang and worshiped as the sacrifices were being offered. The Levites played and led the singing. The people bowed and worshiped and offered themselves with joy and gladness! The people brought thank offerings and sacrifices for themselves. This work was done quickly because God had brought it about through a godly leader, Hezekiah!
If you find your life in turmoil and fear and your family in captivity, the plan of Hezekiah might work well for you. Is your temple in disrepair? Is it cluttered with idols and remnants of the world system? Begin by removing the clutter and idols and turn to the Lord in humble repentance. Consecrate your life to the Lord again and establish a regular pattern of worship. Claim the blood of the last and only perfect sacrifice to be sufficient to atone for your sins! Jesus Christ has done all that is needed to cleanse your temple and cover your sin! He wants your life to be marked by joy! He can do a “quick work” in your life too! These ancient words from Hezekiah are as true today as then! May you have great success!
The secret of great power!
Scripture reading for April 30: 2nd Chronicles 26-28
People are always curious when someone says that they know a secret that will make them young, rich, beautiful, successful or powerful. Many people have gotten rich selling secrets to these popular desires. Most of them are people who are playing on the selfish nature of man for their own benefit. We would do well to avoid them. But in today’s reading, we find a treasure from the Lord!
Do you want the secret of great power? Look at the Life of Jotham, the twenty five year old son of King Uzziah. This king did right in the eyes of the Lord. (2nd Chronicles 27:2) We have seen that this is always a good sign! The main event recorded of this king is a war with the Ammonites and it says that Jotham conquered them. (2nd Chronicles 27:5) After the conquest, he got a large amount of silver, wheat, and barley for several years.
The secret of his power is found in one verse that makes up a paragraph! “Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God.” (2nd Chronicles 27:6) It is so simple that anyone can grasp this concept. Faithfulness is the first requirement of a good steward. Jotham was faithful and he kept the faith all of his life! It’s that simple! He served the Lord his God. God must be your God personally as well. He can’t be just the God of your father or mother. He can’t be just your nation’s God or your wife’s God. In order to serve steadfastly, you need to know God for yourself!
If you need to ask the Lord to be your God today, take time now and get right with Him. The path to great power starts with a heart commitment to the Lord in faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12) We must humbly confess our sins and our need of His grace. (1st John 1:9) We must believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and we will be saved. (Romans 10:9-11) All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ and He has good works for us to walk in. (Ephesians 2:8-10) If you continue in the faith, steadfast to the end, you will experience the greatest power available to man–God will raise you from the dead and you will live forever with Him! (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18) May the Lord bless you with great power!
He passed away, to no one’s regret!
Scripture reading for April 29th: 2nd Chronicles 21-25
I have officiated at many funerals. Most have been fairly well attended and most have been for people who knew the Lord and had a Christian testimony. Sometimes there much crying and mourning because of the great loss of that person’s life. Sorrow is normal and mourning can go on for several months or more. Usually, if a person is a great leader or a person who has had public contact and great influence, the funeral is well attended and many kind words are said. I remember attending the funeral of a famous Christian musician and songwriter. The service was three hours long and the graveside service another half-hour! This man ended well and there were lots of people who were sad that he had departed. Of course, we all rejoiced that he was with the Lord for he had a strong Christian testimony.
In today’s reading, we have the story of King Jehoram. King Jehoram was a king of Judah who did evil in the Lord’s eyes. He married a daughter of the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. God raised up enemies who constantly caused trouble in Jehoram’s kingdom. Jehoram sought idols and built pagan shrines instead of seeking the Lord. The prophet Elijah sent him a letter that told him of his sins and the coming consequences. (2nd Chronicles 21:12-15) This letter warns of God striking Jehoram’s family and then the king himself with a wasting disease of the bowels. It appears that Jehoram was unresponsive to God’s warning.
God aroused the Philistines and Arabs, and they attacked Jerusalem and carried off all of Jehoram’s sons but the youngest. Jehoram was afflicted with the disease of the bowels and he died in great pain. There is no record that he sought the Lord or tried to find help from God. When this king died, there was no big funeral or celebration of remembrance. No one mourned or was sad to see this king leave this world. No one regretted his passing!
How are you living your life? What kind of legacy are you leaving behind in your community and family? What will people say about you and your life when you pass from the scene? More importantly, what will God say about your life? Will the only record be that you “did evil in the eyes of the Lord”? (2nd Chronicles 21:6) My prayer is that you hear “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25: 23)
The importance of Godly Judges!
Scripture reading for April 28: 2nd Chronicles 17-20
A dangerous trend in our own land is the appointment of judges who do not just render decisions based on the law, but try to legislate from the bench. They feel that they can help tailor the laws of the land to meet the needs of more people rather than just interpreting the laws according to their original intent. Every government needs a moral base of what is right and what is wrong. God’s law has proven to be the best definition of right and wrong that was ever written down!
In today’s reading, King Jehoshaphat had narrowly escaped death when he unwisely allied himself with King Ahab of Israel. When he cried out to the Lord, God spared his life. King Jehoshaphat decided to bring more reform to the people he served. He appointed judges in each of the fortified cities and gave them strict instructions about how to serve the Lord and His people. He told them that each decision should be rendered as from the Lord and that the fear of the Lord should be upon them. (2nd Chronicles 19:5-7) There should be no injustice, partiality, or bribery, for God is righteous!
In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites to administer the Law of the Lord. He gave them strict orders to uphold the Law of the Lord and to warn the people not to sin against the Lord or his wrath would come upon them. (2nd Chronicles 19:9-10) They were to act with courage and if they did well, God would be with them and reward them.
God Himself places all authority. (Psalm 75:6-7) God is pleased when that authority rules and enforces His laws. When the authority violates His laws, consequences follow that bring God’s wrath and judgment. Our nation is in peril today because of violating God’s laws. Unrighteous judges have reinterpreted the laws of our land to remove God and His law from the land. Every time a judge rules, he is ruling for God. God does not want to be misrepresented! We as a nation need to take warning from God’s Word about judges and law. We are in danger of God’s wrath and are already experiencing it.
Take time today to pray for those in authority. Pray that they will appoint judges who will impartially interpret the laws. Pray that there will be no bribery, injustice, or partiality. After you pray, think about ways God gives you to make a difference. Vote for godly leaders. Call elected officials and make your godly beliefs known. Teach your children God’s Word and law so that they know what He expects! Discuss with them where our nation violates God’s law so that they can be informed with a Christian world view. If we don’t pray and take action, we will be overwhelmed with ungodly laws, unrighteous judges, and God’s wrath!