Posts that reference the book of 1 Chronicles

Real Greatness

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
And You are exalted as head over all.

1 Chronicles 29:11

As another week begins, it is easy to get consumed by the details of our schedules.
It is easy to become disheartened by events on a world scale and on a personal scale.
It is easy to feel small and ineffectual.

But there is real greatness.
There is real power and glory and majesty.
There is an exalted King who rules over all.
A sovereign Lord and Master.

This King knows my name and your name.
And He invites us to call Him Father.

Revival: Worship with All Your Might

By Paula Wiseman

A new year is a good time to take stock and evaluate where we are compared to where we need to be. Many people, unhappy with that evaluation will make resolutions, and it’s no secret most of those people will abandon those commitments within a few days. As believers, we may be less in need of a resolution and more in need of REVIVAL. Biblical revivals can point us in the right direction. We’ve seen how Israel recommitted themselves to God’s Law after their great sin in making the golden calf. The prophet Samuel led the nation in a revival that began with throwing out their idols. This week, King David sets the example in a key mark of a believer and shows us the short path to revival — worship.

And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 2 Samuel 6:14

Let’s start with some background. In 2 Samuel 5, David is crowned king of all twelve tribes and he decisively defeats the Philistines. The next item on his agenda is to bring the Ark of God into the capital city of Jerusalem. The first attempt ended in failure and the death of one of David’s men. In 1 Chronicles 15:13 David explained what the problem was.

“Because you [the Levites] did not carry it [the Ark] the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” 1 Chronicles 15:13

Bringing the Ark to Jerusalem was a good idea, but David did what made sense, what seemed reasonable to him. He was wrong. When Uzzah reached out and touched the Ark to keep it from sliding off the cart, he did what seemed reasonable. He was wrong. God had chosen the Levites to carry the Ark.

There is a proper way to approach God in worship and HE determines what that is.

In the New Testament, we learn that we have access to God through the blood of Jesus Christ, and that we come to God in faith and with humility. Worship is a chance to ascribe to God the honor due His name and to extol His greatness. Does God have a preference of worship styles? Have we ever asked?

Second Samuel 6:14 also tells us David was wearing a linen ephod, the garment of the Levites. It was a uniform of service and ministry. This garment, rather than his king’s robes, better reflected his heart as he worshiped.

There were songs, there was music and there were sacrifices. Lots of sacrifices. Every six steps, in fact. Since the death of Christ, we no longer have to offer sacrifices to cover our sins or restore peace with God. However, the idea of sacrifice is still connected with worship. Jesus instructs us to deny ourselves, to leave family behind, to take up our cross, to die to self.

After the Ark was safely in its own special tent in Jerusalem, and after yet more sacrifices, David gave gifts to everyone.

When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offering, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed each to his house. 2 Samuel 6:18-19

When you spend time considering the grace and mercy God has shown you, you can’t help but be gracious and generous to others.

Finally, when you worship with all your might, others may question your motives. Like Michal did with David.

But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!” 2 Samuel 6:20

The text calls Michal “Saul’s daughter” rather than David’s wife. Perhaps that is to draw attention to her attitude. She, like her father, cared much more what the people thought than what God thought. She accused David of humiliating himself showing off for the girls. David told her as much, and he wasn’t at all deterred, essentially responding, “I wasn’t doing it to impress you.”

So why don’t we have revival every week, then? We go to church every week, don’t we? Yes, but do we worship? And more importantly, do we worship with all our might? I suspect if we did there would be a revival like we’ve never seen.

Hello My Name Is Asaph

By Paula

So [David] left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required; 1 Chronicles 16:37

Perhaps the greatest celebration in David’s reign as king was when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. Even though David was prevented from building a temple to house the Ark, he made every preparation for that time. Not only did he procure building materials and furnishings, but he also considered how to best manage the utilize those ordained by God to serve, that is, the priests and Levites. Because David was a musician and songwriter himself, it is no surprise that the role music was to play in Israel’s worship was a priority for the king.

David chose three men: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan to oversee the worship music. They weren’t literal brothers but rather belonged to the same tribe. All three men are mentioned performing multiple duties and we have psalms written by each of them. Pulling together some snippets about these men from 1 Chronicles, it seems Heman served as the primary singer, the lead, the director even. Asaph seems to have been the primary songwriter. Ethan then, may have been the lead musician. Perhaps, the first worship band.

So how did Asaph and the others lead worship? What was their philosophy and can we learn anything from it?

Asaph’s worship was a daily activity (1 Chronicles 16:37). Somehow, I don’t think worship was just a vocation for him. I doubt David would have chosen him if it were. The Message says Asaph and the others were “responsible for the needs of worship around the clock.” That takes devotion both to God and to the congregation they served. They viewed worship as a calling, as a sacred trust, rather than a chore or obligation.

Asaph’s worship centered on God’s character, His words, and His actions (Psalm 50, 73-83). If we do a quick read of Asaph’s, several themes emerge. God’s holiness. Lots of holiness. His power and might. His dealings with men. His judgment of the wicked. But also His restoration of those who have sinned, and His intervention on behalf His people.

Asaph’s worship was inspired (1 Chronicles 25:1-7) These verses mention Asaph and the others prophesying and by Hezekiah’s time, he was called Asaph the seer. (2 Chronicles 29:30). From what we know of the New Testament gift of prophesying, it doesn’t necessarily mean to foretell the future. Even in the Old Testament, the prophets didn’t always make predictions. They did however always deliver God’s message, His unvarnished truth to the hearers. When we clearly understand God’s message to us, our natural response is worship.

Is worship a daily activity, a weekly routine or a special event for you? Is it, or should it be all three?
What role does music play in your personal worship? In the worship at your church?

Another Time When God Told David ‘No’

By Paula

Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.’ 1 Chronicles 17:4

We’re continuing our look at some times when God said no. We’ve learned some heavy lessons about God’s holiness and that sin is not something to be trifled with. Today the no comes with an overwhelming outpouring of grace.

In the parallel account in 2 Samuel 7 we learn that David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from his enemies. No longer having to fight off threats to the nation or to his own rule, David was finally able to catch his breath and his first thoughts were of the God who had made him king. He wanted to build a temple, a real, permanent place for the Ark of the Covenant. He wanted to show that God’s presence with His people Israel was tangible and fixed, representing the eternal promises God had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

It was a worthy thought, a well-placed desire and Nathan the prophet gave his blessing. “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” (1 Chronicles 17:2).

Except that God had other plans.

He said no to the temple. (At least to David building it.) But then God said He would build DAVID a house, a heritage, an eternal dynasty. The Messiah, the King of Kings would come from David’s and he would forever be associated with the Chosen One of God. He would be called the Son of David. He would sit on the throne of David.

And David said, “Whoa.” (That’s a paraphrase.) You can read his actual response in 1 Chronicles 17:16-27 or 2 Samuel 7:18-29. It’s good stuff.

Here are some takeaways from this no.

God rejected the notion of David building the Temple. He didn’t reject David. In fact, He CHOSE David for a particular honor and distinction that went far beyond that of building the Temple. It’s important for us to remember that a ‘no’ is not personal.

God’s plan was greater than David’s. By promising to build David a “house,” God invited David to take a step back and see a bigger picture, to see a plan drawn out on an eternal canvas. When God tells us no, let’s resolve to look for the greater purpose God is working out in our lives.

The most important thing to build is not a monument but an intimate relationship with God. Since the time that God called Abraham out of Ur, He was calling a people for His name’s sake. On Sinai, He promised to be Israel’s God and they promised to be His people. There had never been a people whom God had met with the way He met with Israel. Today He chooses to dwell not just WITH us, but IN us.

It’s all about Jesus. When God responds to David, He immediately draws the focus to the coming Messiah who will rule over His kingdom forever. If that’s God’s perspective, then that should be ours as well.

Next week we’ll look at a New Testament example when God told Paul no.

Confession Enables Worship

By Paula

And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father’s house. But do not let the plague be on your people.” 1 Chronicles 21:17

David is one of the most discussed individuals in Scripture. He is supremely devoted to his God, enjoying a unique intimacy but then in the next chapter he throws it all away in a stunning display of arrogance. David does this multiple times. I suppose that is why we love him. He gives us hope in the midst of our unexplainable failures. He also shows us how confession enables worship. 1 Chronicles 21 records the aftermath of one of those failures, and the confession that follows. It is the account of David’s census

On the surface, and from our vantage point thousands of years later, this may not seem like such a big deal. A census makes good administrative sense, right? It wasn’t just a census, though. It was a reckoning of military strength. David wanted to rest on his perceived power and not the God who granted it. Blinded by his need for numerical confirmation of his own greatness, David ignored the advice of his closest advisors and ordered the count.

In verse 8, David prays, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” David is given the choice of judgments to fall on Israel. He chooses three days of plague. Thousands die in a costly lesson on the consequences of misplaced faith.

The prayer in verse 17 comes after David sees the effects of his sin, especially on the multitude of innocent people whose lives are irreparably devastated. It is far more intense and wrenching than his earlier confession. It is after this second confession that God sends instructions to build an altar.

Confession enables worship.

Worship requires fellowship, and there can be no fellowship if sin exists. In verse 8 David asks for his sin to be dealt with. It is a sincere prayer, not unlike one we would pray, I would pray. But then David is allowed to see why sin is so horrible – innocent people suffer because of his sin. Innocent people suffer because of my sin.

It is in the midst of David’s anguish and brokenness over his sin that God invites him to worship. God invites David to worship at the very spot where the Temple will be built, on the same mountain where Abraham would have sacrificed Isaac, on the same mountain where Jesus would deal with sin once and for all.

David buys the ground and offers burnt and peace offerings, the ones offered in faith that God would take away the sin and restore fellowship. In verse 26, God answered with fire.

Confession enables worship, and worship brings about intimacy.

In this season of Advent take some time to consider the amazing gift of Jesus, who not only takes away our sins but restores our fellowship with God. Spend some quiet moments confessing the hurt inflicted on innocent people because of pride and a determination to find strength in ourselves. Then accept the invitation to worship the God who answers by fire, consuming the sin and purifying the sinner.

The One Thing You Need In a Battle

By Paula

“And they were helped against [their enemies … ] for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.” 1 Chronicles 5:20

I’ve been in some battles. Not with swords or even guns, but the threat was almost as palpable.

The battles were emotional. Relational. Spiritual.

I know you’ve been in some battles, too.

In between the reality of divine intervention and the desperate cry for help, though is the one thing that makes all the difference.

Trust in God.

Many times, I cry out, but I don’t trust.

I get impatient for God to act.

I miss His hand at work.

I go back to fighting in my own strength.

I make it harder than it has to be. I need to remember the one thing I need. Trust in God.