Responding to a God Filled Victory

Today’s reading is 1 Chronicles 26-29.

1 Chronicles 29:10-19 is one of the best pictures of a God Filled victory in all of God’s Word. David and his people have given freely and abundantly to build the temple. Yet, when they come before God, they do not expect God to give them praise, honor, and glory for their actions and works. Rather, they give God the glory and praise because they know it was only through His empowering hand that they were able to give. Don’t misunderstand. God didn’t give for them or primordially elect them to give whether they wanted to or not. They chose to give and would have had no relationship with God if they chose to withhold. But they gave God the praise and glory because they knew without His blessing and strength in their lives, they would have no ability to give. When you have a spiritual victory, whether overcoming sin or accomplishing some work, how do you respond? “God, thank me, praise me, honor me, save me because of this great work I’ve done for you.” Or do you say, “In Your hand are power and might and in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now I thank You, my God, and praise Your glorious name” (adapted from 1 Chronicles 29:12-13, ESV)?

Tomorrow’s reading is 2 Chronicles 1-5.

Run to God When You Sin

Today’s reading is 1 Chronicles 21-25.

I don’t understand why God was upset about the numbering of Israel’s armed forces, but there are two things I do understand. First, if God doesn’t want something, it is a bad thing. Joab knew God didn’t want this census, David should have too. We have a tendency to water down sin, calling it a mistake, a flaw, an error in judgment. Instead, sin is a violation of our relationship with God and rebellion against His leadership. Second, David wanted to fall into God’s hands because God’s mercy is great. 1 Chronicles 21:15 says, “And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw, and he relented from calamity” (ESV). There were 1,570,000 men of Israel and Judah before the pestilence, and 1,500,000 after. When we face God’s disciplines, they can be hard, but He is a merciful God. So, when you are caught in your sins, don’t run from Him, run to Him. The consequences may be tough, but God loves you and wants to preserve you.

Tomorrow’s reading is 1 Chronicles 26-29.

What is Freedom For?

Today’s reading is 1 Chronicles 16-20.

Everybody wants to be free. But why? Notice the purpose of freedom for the God Filled in 1 Chronicles 16:35: “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.” Why do you pray for freedom? What do you hope to do with your freedom? These are the questions of the day.

Monday’s reading is 1 Chronicles 21-25.

O King, Your Wish is My Command!

Today’s reading is 1 Chronicles 11-15.

“‘And David said longingly, ‘Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!’ Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took and brought it to David” (1 Chronicles 11:17-18, ESV). There are plenty of aspects of this story that I do not understand. If someone smarter than me could share the deep meaning of David pouring this water out, I’d appreciate it. Whatever that part means, I want to be a mighty man for God, like these three were for David. They didn’t sit around waiting to be commanded by their king, asking, “Do I have to? Can you prove it?” They sold themselves completely to do the will of their king, hearing his slightest wish and selling themselves fully to accomplish it. God needs mighty men and women like this. May we, the God Filled, walk in their footsteps.

Tomorrow’s reading is 1 Chronicles 16-20.

P.S. I know the picture above is not of the well of Bethlehem. Couldn’t find one. But this picture filled me with longing for a drink.

Don’t Break Faith with the LORD

Today’s reading is 1 Chronicles 6-10.

“So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the Son of Jesse” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14, ESV). This is not just a declaration of why Saul lost the kingdom for the sake of telling the history. For the first readers of the Chronicles (the returning Israelites after the Babylonian Captivity, cf. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23), this was an explanation of why they had lost the kingdom in the first place and a warning of what would happen if they broke faith with God again. It is also a warning to the God Filled. Don’t break faith with the LORD: keep His commandments and seek His guidance. The guidance of the God Filled must come from God. Any other guide leads us only to death.

Tomorrow’s reading is 1 Chronicles 11-15.