1 Chronicles | Paula Wiseman

STT: 1&2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles

I'm considering 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles together because they cover the same main subject – the life and times of David. Volumes have been written about David and I can't possibly cover him in one quick blog post. However, if you undertake this study there are a number of different ways to approach it.

Character study – David's life divides into three phases: Shepherd, Renegade and King. What kind of man is he? How does he grow and change through each phase? What is the dominant aspect of his relationship with God during each phase?

David's triumphs and failures – He had plenty of both. Note how he responds to God in each situation.

A who/what study – Who does David come in contact with? What happens? What does he take away from the encounter?

David's prayers – What prompts the prayer? What does he say about God? What does he ask for?

Consequences – None of these books shy away from portraying sin or its effects. Keep track of the sins – not only of David, but others like Eli, and Saul – and how the individual sins impact others and even the nation itself.

If you're really ambitious, follow your footnotes and read the Psalms that are cross-referenced to the events in David's life. This gives a uniquely intimate look at his relationship with God. I love being able to look at his "journal". Also the range of emotions he records is reassuring.

David's walk with God wasn't all hearts and rainbows, and by allowing us to see his failures as plainly as his great victories, we see God's mercy and grace on full display.

What's your favorite story about David?

Filed Under: Book study, Study Tip Tuesday Tagged With: 1 Chronicles, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Bible study, David, Psalms

Success in Perspective

By Paula

Caution Tape I am a nerd. I admit it. I enjoy reading Chronicles. If you don't get hung up on the names, there are some interesting stories. With Chronicles, you also get commentary about the individuals, sometimes including their motives. Chapter 26 tells of King Uzziah. I suppose he's most famous for dying. (You know, Isaiah 6:1… 'In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, sitting on a throne, high and lifted up…")

He became king at 16 and reigned for 52 years. That's a tremendous burden, being responsible for a nation of God's people, surrounded on every side by enemies, especially for a teenager. There was a prophet named Zechariah- not THAT Zechariah- and Uzziah depended on the prophet's counsel. Verse 5 says 'as long as [Uzziah] sought the Lord, God made him prosper'.

However, verse 16 says, "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction…" After a string of successes, he decided he could set his own agenda. The rest of the chapter tells how he went into the temple with the intent of burning the incense. That was a job for the descendants of Aaron and them alone. For his presumption, he was immediately struck with leprosy and lived out the rest of his days in exile in his own house.

That's where the story hits home – There have been times when I've presumed to do things my way, and expected Him to bless my efforts. He'd blessed me before with success. To me, that indicated I knew what I was doing. I was wrong. We will never get to the place where we can operate on our own. It is only when we seek the Lord that success comes. And in truly seeking God, success is no longer the goal, but a footnote.

[This is a repost- VBS & football camp this week- things are crazy. Thanks for understanding.]

Filed Under: Living Tagged With: 1 Chronicles, Isaiah, success

No Seriously, 1 Chronicles

By Paula

: Image via Wikipedia

It’s been several years since I’ve read through the Bible- you know, the whole Genesis to Revelation thing. I’ve done plenty of studying, mind you. I just haven’t given in to the whole ‘order and structure’ thing. (That right brain asserts itself occasionally.) This year I began a new trek through, and I’ve hit 1 Chronicles. (And I’m not on any ‘plan’ or anything, so there’s no pressure. I hate pressure.)

Anyway, 1 Chronicles… The first few chapters are tougher than Leviticus and Deuteronomy put together. (I happen to like Deuteronomy, thank you very much.) The book begins with genealogies that go on page after page, with names I can’t spell (but I always pretend I can pronounce them). Why on earth would God want to include 1 Chronicles in His Bible? I don’t know, but I have a few ideas.

1. It’s the story of Israel, the apple of God’s eye, His chosen people. Don’t you revel in the minute details of those you love? Can’t you remember the first time your kids smiled? Or that second grade program? Don’t you include all that in your Christmas letter each year? Or… how about this… how long could you talk about your hobby? Those details get us giddy and excited because of the love, not the details themselves.

2. It shows the vast scope of God’s plan, involving so many people across so many generations. The web of His will is so intricately woven, we can’t begin to fathom the connections.

3. There are practical, useful things in there if you’re diligent (stay awake) while reading. In 5:20, there is a quick reference to a victory won by the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. It says the victory came because ‘they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer because they put their trust in Him.’ There are so many lessons there- crying out to God in battle, He hears when we put our trust in Him, how victory comes… and those are the obvious ones.

4. Those aren’t just endless names to God. He knows each one of those people intimately. He delighted in their obedience. He grieved when they sinned. So many stories are there waiting to be uncovered. Like the folks in 1 Chronicles, I am not just a number or a name to God.

So… any portions of Scripture slow you down? I have another that’s even more difficult, but I’ll save it for later.

Filed Under: Devotional Tagged With: 1 Chronicles, Bible study, God's love