Archive for the ‘1 Chronicles’ Category

Day 179: 1 Chronicles 25:1-26:32; John 20:19-21:14 — Some days . . .

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Singers appointed, Israel prepares to praise the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who freed them from Egypt, made a great covenant with them, and gave them a homeland forever, if they would remain His and His alone. Skilled in music, they prepared their best for the worship of the Highest One. The LORD had led them, fought for them, provided for them. David appoints men who would make it their life’s work to prepare praises, songs to teach and to exhort generations to come: Have faith, give loyalty to the Holy One of Israel.

Then we have the fishermen. The passage pictures them as huddled together, trying to decide what to do next. Jesus comes, unexpectedly, quietly, bringing peace. Thomas missed it, would not believe it. Jesus comes again and his presence overwhelms Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” Fishing, let’s go back to what we know best. We have to make a living. Jesus comes again and they do not recognize him at first. “Do you need fish? Is that what you need? Let me help.” Let’s go back to the beginning, remind you of those early days, new, exciting, full of promise. Here is where that song I learned as a child comes back to me, “Fished all night and caught no fishes . . . Cast your net to the other side.”

Such a contrast! Professional singers of a conquering faith and rich tradition. Lone fishermen, outcasts, fearful. Just they and the resurrected One.

We have those days, so disparate. Days of faith so strong, victories so great, blessings, all which lead us to nearly burst with praise and adoration. Then the other days. Alone, dark, beaten down. Then Jesus comes…some days we do not recognize him in the midst of our troubles. He seems so far away, on a distant shore. “Cast your net, ” Jesus says, “I have something for you to do.” Then we know, it is the Master.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Jn. 20:30-31

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Day 172: 1 Chronicles 9:1-11:3; John 15:18-16:15 — “…to keep you from falling away.”

Monday, June 21st, 2010

The opening lines of 1 Chron. 9:1 and the end of chapter 10 remind the Jews returning from exile that unfaithfulness, breach of faith–treachery against God and the covenant–resulted in the exile of Judah to Babylon, and was the end of Saul’s one king dynasty. After all of the time and effort to list the people of God, to keep track and lose none of them, the writer reveals an irony of the relationship of God and man: He is always finding us to bless and preserve us. We are always fighting His wisdom and blessing, running away to descend to a pit of despair from which we cry out to Him, and it all starts again. The bright spot for the chronicler is David, the son of Jesse. He begins the eternal dynasty. What a wonderful encouragement to those reading and listening. They fell, but do not have to stay down. They left God but He never left them. He brought them back for a greater, wonderful purpose. Now comes their time to choose. What will they do? Will they be faithful? Will they endure? They try to do it on their own, eventually leaving God in a way less obvious but just as destructive. They will not consult the witches as Saul, yet neither will they consult their God, rather they will murder Him.

Jesus, son of David, encourages His small band that even though He must leave and the world will hate them, they will not be left alone. Another irony ensues here. This time it seems that God is leaving, an apparent abandonment. Worse yet, He says that they will be hated, even pursued. Yet Jesus must leave so that the great, pervasive, and perhaps even closer presence of God in His Spirit will come to them. What will they do? Will they be faithful? Will they endure? They do.

Paul reminds us that the things which were written in the past were written for our learning, to help us stay strong, to help us endure, Rom. 15:4. The chronicler tells the returning exiles, and tells us, we have a great and magnificent heritage as the people of God. John tells his readers, during a time of spiritual warfare, that they are not alone–although it may seem that way. They have part in the great plan and work of God to redeem the world of men, to enter a Promised Land greater than all. Today we will choose. What will we do? Will we be faithful? Will we endure?

Prayer: Holy, Righteous Father, in Jesus’ name we kneel to You. In this day we choose faith and trust in You. Help us by Your Spirit to live with confidence in Your great plan, and promises, to know Your presence, and to do Your will.

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Day 170: 1 Chronicles 6 — He knows my name!

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

1The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 2The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 3The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar…

33Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel…47the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. 1 Chronicles 6, excerpts

list of namesTrue confession time here — you didn’t read it, did you? Eighty verses; mostly names. “I can go ahead on to our New Testament reading for today, John 14:1-24.” That’s all right; you’re in good company. Not to point out anyone specific here, but I know someone pretty well who may have done that a time or two.

When reading the New Testament, do you skip over Matthew 1? Luke 3?

Let’s step back a minute. I know you believe as I do, that “all scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). Surely you don’t believe God inspired prophets, apostles, and other writers to pen words that were unimportant. I don’t believe that. So what possible importance could a simple list of names have to us?

I suggest that’s the wrong question. I further suggest a better question is this: what possible importance could a simple list of names have to God? I can’t answer that, but I know two things. One, that Mahli and Mushi, Amram and Izhar, Heman the musician, and the tribe of Reuben were all just as precious to the Father as was Moses, Abraham, and Isaiah, and so are Bob and Randy, Powell and Matt, Scott and Charles…

He knows our names! (Matthew 10:29-30)

Two, He knows their works of service. “Here are the men who served”, we are told (1 Chronicles 6:33). Many times, people who perform works of service for the Lord or for His church are named. We know Bezalel’s craftsmanship was responsible for the Ark (Exodus 37:1), and two chapters earlier, Oholiab is also named as an artisan. But in Exodus chapter 36 alone, mentioned 27 times, the unnamed congregation of “they” performed the numerous other works of service toward building the tabernacle. How many people today perform works of service for the Lord that only they and the Lord know about?

And yet He knows your name.

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Day 169: 1 Chronicles 5:1-26, John 13:18-38 — Shoutout

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Today’s passage in 1 Chronicles 5:1-18 is what in modern day language might be considered a “shoutout”. It’s like when you call up a radio station to wish someone a happy birthday and have their name read aloud over the air. Or when you put their name on the scoreboard at a sporting event. Here is a list of names of the descendants of the sons of Israel. While I realize they were important to the Hebrew people, it can be hard to read the long, seemingly pointless genealogies. But I like to look at passages like this in another way. Imagine that the creator of the universe mentioned you in his instruction book to his children. In a sense, he’s giving you a “shoutout”. That’s quite an honor. The point is that whether these people did good or evil or nothing more notable than being born to someone else who was mentioned, God knew their names. God knows my name. He knows who I am. Just like he knew who each of these people was. He’s not too busy running the universe that he can’t take just a moment and think about me.

In return do we ever give God a “shoutout”? Do those around us know the name of God? In John 13:35 Jesus clearly tells us how we can reciprocate: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” When we choose to love those around us, we’re spreading the name of Jesus around and honoring him.

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Day 166: 1 Chronicles 1:1-54; John 12:12-36 — His Care

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Last month I had the chance to return to my home area and visit with old friends and relatives. While talking with my nephew I pointed to his two boys, one four and the other less than a year, and told him to make sure he taught them about their great-grandfather. Dad was one of my heroes. I would hope that the world would never forget him.

From time to time someone in the family will work on our family tree and uncover a new bit of information here or there. 1 Chronicles 1 is a researcher’s dream. It doesn’t give a lot of personal information about each person, but it quickly lays out the family history.

To contrast 1 Chronicles with John 12 might not make sense at first, but there is a connection. In John 12:21 (NAS) — These then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Did you catch it? “We wish to see Jesus.” That same request is made daily by the world of His followers today. In us they wish to see Jesus.

How can they see Jesus in us unless we have learned of Him to the point that we emulate Him in our everyday life? When the world sees Jesus in us, it’s not a performance—it is an automatic reflection of who we have become under His care.

Study of our ancestors will only satisfy our selfish curiosity. Study of the one who saved us and keeps us in God’s grace can lead us and others to an eternity with the Father. Now that is real satisfaction.

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