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timewithgod.blog-city.com — July 2008
1 Chronicles 5 & 6 -- Building A Priestly Line
The two and a half tribes that had remained outside of the Promised Land had gone to war with their distant Arabic cousins and defeated them by praying to God. But then they took up praying to the gods of the people they had defeated instead of
The two and a half tribes that had remained outside of the Promised Land had gone to war with their distant Arabic cousins and defeated them by praying to God. But then they took up praying to the gods of the people they had defeated instead of praying to their victorious God! They'd become corrupted by the world outside of the Promised Land and were the first tribes carried off into captivity.
Levi's family were the first ones who had stepped up to fight for the Lord when asked, and they'd been given the priestly duties as a result. Levi was Moses' great-grandfather, and Moses' brother Aaron and his family were selected by God as the High Priest's lineage for Israel. Who knows if that High Priestly line still exists today? How ironic that God set all of this up, but man's choices eventually tore it all down.
Father, just as Moses and Aaron were 3 generations removed from Levi, I'm three generations removed from my great-grandparents who, in addition to their normal jobs, provided music for churches in the area as well. I pray that our family line will honor You, and that what You began in my great-grandparents will continue on in my great-grandchildren someday, and that they will marvel at how You brought their grandparents from Ukraine and planted them here to continue their line!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
1 Chronicles 7 & 8 -- Being "Unlisted"
Chapter 7 says that Benjamin had three sons, while five are mentioned in chapter 8. It would sure seam that at least 2 were somehow left out in chapter 7. I'd think there'd be no joy in being one of the unlisted.Two glaring exampl
Chapter 7 says that Benjamin had three sons, while five are mentioned in chapter 8. It would sure seam that at least 2 were somehow left out in chapter 7. I'd think there'd be no joy in being one of the unlisted.
Two glaring examples of that are the descendants of Israel's sons Zebulun and Dan, for only 10 tribes had condensed genealogies in this book, and Dan is also notably left out of Revelation!
One of my commentaries mentioned that some names are omitted because the men died early or childless, and some names are left out because "they don't serve the Chroniclers purposes". Or possibly some men had failed to lead, since so many times I saw, "....and they were leaders...".
I cannot imagine living such a life of anonymity, failing to do anything noteworthy, to such an extent that I wouldn't be "worth listing". God has been too good to me for me to simply sit back and exist and not be a part of what He's doing. Yet there were so many more of those "truncated genealogies" again today. And hindsight won't get you listed.
Father, I suppose every church is populated with a number of "attenders" -- people who remain uninvolved other than that they show up on Sunday mornings and listen. I'm so glad You've led me to do much more than that. You've made my life richer in the doing. I hope I've impacted lives that otherwise might never have been impacted had I not obeyed You. Lead those who just attend to find the joy I've found in being an active part of what You are doing.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
1 Chronicles 9-10 One Church Position NOT Listed
"The first people to come back and live in their own lands and towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and Temple servants ..... there were 1,760 priests." Seven Levites were specifically named. "In all, 212 men were
"The first people to come back and live in their own lands and towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and Temple servants ..... there were 1,760 priests." Seven Levites were specifically named. "In all, 212 men were chosen to guard the gates ... they were responsible for the rooms and treasures in the Temple of God. They stayed up all night guarding the Temple of God, and they opened it every morning .... they counted the utensils when people took them out and when they brought them back."
The Temple itself wasn't all that large. In fact, it's floor plan would have fit inside our small-town church's sanctuary. The courtyard around it accounted for most of the Temple's area. Yet 2000 people had duties there! People were assigned to polish the furniture, store the offerings, and there was even a master baker. All this in a newly-restored town of Jerusalem with few inhabitants!
The one job I didn't see mentioned was "professional critic" (although the utensil counters probably came close). Nowhere in the Bible was there a job description for that title associated with the church. How odd it is today that we have trouble sometimes finding enough ushers for Sunday mornings, yet we never seem to run out of critics.
My sidebar said, "You have a responsibility to build up your church and help it to be and do. You could do so much for your church if you would just give yourself AND your church a CHANCE.... Use your God-given gifts and temperament to help build the church"
Father, transform us into people who humbly go about doing whatever You want for our church. Help us to resist the urge to be critical, and instead lead us to adapt to what You are doing there. Help us to be church builders, not church critics.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
1 Chronicles 11 & 12 -- The Kind Of Warrior God Wants
As I read through the lists of individuals and tribal groups who served as warriors under David, there were some descriptions that God pointed out to me in verse 31-36 of chapter 12: -- Each one was especially chosen to make D
As I read through the lists of individuals and tribal groups who served as warriors under David, there were some descriptions that God pointed out to me in verse 31-36 of chapter 12:
-- Each one was especially chosen to make David king;
-- They knew what Israel should do, and they knew the right time to do it;
-- They followed David completely;
-- They were ready for war.
God still calls men today, and I imagine that these are the kinds of men He picks: Each one especially CHOSEN, who know what should be done and the right time to do it, who follow HIM completely and are ready to serve.
Father, help me to be part of what You are doing. Thanks for choosing me to be in Your army. Give me the discernment to discover Your will and Your timing. Strengthen me to follow You completely and lead me to be able to say no to anything that would keep me from being able to serve when You need me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
1 Chronicles 13 & 14 -- Enough To Make Me MAD Once
Oh, how I remember struggling mightily with this chapter the first time I ever read it. I remember getting mad at God and almost deciding that some biblical writer had editorialized. I even doubted God for awhile.Here was David seeking to
Oh, how I remember struggling mightily with this chapter the first time I ever read it. I remember getting mad at God and almost deciding that some biblical writer had editorialized. I even doubted God for awhile.
Here was David seeking to do something great for God. And poor Uzzah was just wanting to help and appeared sincere in his desire to help move the Ark to Jerusalem. The stone floor (put there by God, I once noted) was uneven, and the oxen probably weren't smooth in their gait (again, not David's fault, I reasoned. After all, God made the cattle). I didn't realize that I was rationalizing.
I hadn't fully believed at that time what I've come to know for certain now -- that, yes, the Bible is indeed without error AND that, although God is a God of love, in the same breath we must acknowledge that He is also the Creator of the Universe.
So what was going wrong? In verse 2, David had placed two conditions on his decision to move the Ark: If the people thought it was a good idea, AND if it was what God wanted. In verses 3 & 4, the people agreed with him, BUT there's no record whatsoever that shows that David asked GOD. It's most important to remember (particularly in this election year) that national consensus does NOT equal God's will.
What else went wrong? David must not have consulted God's word, because he would have known that only the Kohathites could move the Ark, and then, only using poles carried on their shoulders, NOT by using oxen carts. God had pre-warned His people about any breach of His rules. David hadn't been reading God's word and studying it. In fact, He'd married several more wives by this time, in direct violation of God's commands in Deuteronomy!
When the cart tipped and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark, God acted according to what He had already promised. David was actually mad at God for being a promisekeeper!
All of this had a profound effect on David. Verse 12 says, "David was afraid of God that day." David had some learning to do! It was his perspective that was wrong, and he didn't even know it!
My perspective of God has been steadily changing as I've read and reread His word. I'm on about the sixth time through now, and with each reading God continues to faithfully reveal Himself and His word. The individual parts begin to make much greater sense as they are considered against the whole.
Father, thank You for continuing to urge me forward in reading and rereading Your word -- even parts we might all consider boring. It was You who inspired the writers and saw to it that we have every book and verse we need in it -- not just the whims of those who attended the Council of Nicea. It all fits. We just have to pray that we will come to know YOU well, and that our ignorance and lack of faith won't lead us down a path of misunderstanding.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
1 Chronicles 15 & 15 -- In The Window Or Out In The Streets?
They hadn't gotten it right the first time, and Uzzah had died as a result. David wouldn't make the same mistake again! After a careful search of Moses' instructions, "the ark was now carried by the right men in the right
They hadn't gotten it right the first time, and Uzzah had died as a result. David wouldn't make the same mistake again! After a careful search of Moses' instructions, "the ark was now carried by the right men in the right way ... hence, this effort met with success," my commentary said.
The ark represented in a tangible way the very presence of God. He was said to dwell between the two cherubim on the lid of the ark, on the mercy seat. Now, this symbol of God's supremacy and watchcare over Israel was being brought into the capital of Israel for the very first time. The people's hearts leapt with unrestrained joy. "They shouted, blew horns and trumpets, and played cymbals, lyres, and harps," verse 28 says.
Amidst all this joy, both this chapter and 2 Samuel 6 diligently reported something about "the other side" of the story: "As the Ark of the Agreement with the Lord entered Jerusalem, Saul's daughter Michal (David's wife) watched from a WINDOW. When she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she HATED him." In the midst of all this joy, one person couldn't stand it! Why???
Some say that it was because she was Saul's daughter, and she hated that David had done what her father had been unable to do -- bring the ark to Jerusalem. But there's no record of Saul even trying.
Others have said that she was embarrassed, much as Queen Elizabeth might be if her husband were to act in a manner unbecoming of royalty. It lacked dignity.
Although Michal did probably feel this way, that argument is only scratching the surface, I think. Michal had settled for ritual in her worship, and there is little joy in ritual. It's mundane and carries with it a sense of duty and obligation, which implies that one must give up time for it.
Michal couldn't see the forest for the trees! Her vision was blocked by a large oak called "ritual" and an equally large life-sucking, tough-as-nails mesquite called "tradition". I don't think she was angry with David for looking foolish as much as she was mad at herself for being unable to let go at the core of her being and just relish the presence of her Creator. That ability had been wrung out of her by too many years of sacrifices and properness.
God could have easily directed the chronicler and the writer of 2nd Samuel to leave out this one detail that appeared to mar an otherwise perfect day. But I believe He left it in for a reason. You see, He created us to RELISH Him! It's easy to see that Michal was wrong here. Her position in the window tells us that she wanted no part of what was happening, even though God was right in the middle of it. Thinking she was right, she was as wrong as can be. Imagine what this chapter might have sounded like if she had been in charge! All the people of Israel, dour and glum, dutifully following the ark into just another resting place.... and then all would be back to normal in her world again.
It is an affront to God to suppress joy in worship, and a sin when we despise our fellow Christians who express such joy in worship. Are we in the window looking down, or out in the streets where God is?
Father, I once was afflicted with this problem. But You showed me again and again and again the joy we all should feel as we worship You. Please do the same for others who are afraid to dance before You as David did!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
1 Chronicles 17-20 Soaring and Crashing -- An Early Warning
My heart rose as I began to read today. Imagine David hearing the prophet Nathan say, "Do whatever you want to do, because God is with you!" Yet Nathan was assuming, and he hadn't stopped to inquire of God. God correct
My heart rose as I began to read today. Imagine David hearing the prophet Nathan say, "Do whatever you want to do, because God is with you!" Yet Nathan was assuming, and he hadn't stopped to inquire of God. God corrected him overnight, and David was told, "You are not the person to build a house for Me to live in."
I imagine that David's heart sank as he heard the news. But God wasn't gone. He first reminded David of how active He'd been in David's life: "I took you from the pasture... and made you king .... I have been with you everywhere .... I defeated your enemies for you. I will make you....famous... I will defeat all your enemies."
That was enough for any man to hear from God, but then God made the promises about David's future "sons", Solomon and Jesus, and the promise that his family would rule forever.
David's prayer in response reflected his humility and his trust in God, and I often find myself feeling the very same way and praying those very same words: "Lord God, who am I?? What is my family? Why did You bring me to this point? But that was not enough for You, God. You have also made promises about my future family... What more can I say to You .... You know me so well. Lord, You have done this wonderful thing for my sake and because You wanted to .... There is no one like You, Lord!"
You could see God at work, keeping His promises to David in the next two chapters. Then my heart sank as I heard those familiar words of chapter 20: "In the spring, the time of year when kings normally went out to battle .... David stayed in Jerusalem." The chronicler doesn't record it here, but this is when David's crash occurred, when he committed adultery with Bathsheba.
I've heard it said that it's when we are feeling the closest to God that we can be tempted to let our guard down, giving Satan just the opening he needs to tempt us into sinning. I don't know what that is, but I've witnessed it in my own life as well, and I hate it. WHY, when God has been so good to me, do I stupidly end up disappointing Him?
Father, I can almost feel Your timing in this right now, because You have been so good to me the last two days. Thank You for this solemn warning to watch carefully over the next few days, lest I repeat what so often happens. I don't want to disappoint You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
1 Chronicles 21 & 22 -- What We Can EXPECT God To Do With What We're Too Proud Of
God allowed Satan to tempt David by inserting into his mind the temptation to count the number of his subjects. That in itself was not a sin, so long as each person over 20 years of age paid a "census tax" of one fifth an ounce of sil
God allowed Satan to tempt David by inserting into his mind the temptation to count the number of his subjects. That in itself was not a sin, so long as each person over 20 years of age paid a "census tax" of one fifth an ounce of silver, buying back their lives (Exodus 30). However, it sounds as if David had plenty of money and must not have wanted the people to have to pay for his ego booster (which they eventually did in a much greater way). When he directed Joab to perform the census, Joab knew it was wrong and tried to dissuade him, but David insisted. He went against the urgings of his God-given accountability partner.
God didn't wait long to act. Before the census was finalized, He'd already called David's hand on it. David was offered a choice of 3 punishments:
-- 3 years of famine
-- 3 months of running from his enemies
-- 3 days of pestilence (sickness and disease)
Because the whole nation was counted, the punishment would be on the whole nation. David chose 3 days of pestilence and 70,000 men died as a result! He chose it not because it was the shortest period, but because Israelite would battle Israelite as food became scarce during the 3 years of famine; and an enemy invasion might come from a particularly cruel adversary. David knew that the pestilence would come from God, and even though God was angry with him, David knew that God was also merciful, and he threw his lot in with God.
My commentary contained Matthew Henry's summary of how David bore his correction:
First, he made a very penitent confession and prayed earnestly for the pardon of it. He wanted his iniquity removed.
Secondly, he accepted the punishment of his iniquity ("mine is the guilty head").
Thirdly, he cast himself on the mercy of God, even though he KNEW God was ANGRY with him, and he didn't entertain any hard thoughts against Him.
Finally, he expressed a very tender concern for the people hurt by his actions, and it broke his heart that they had suffered for his sin.
David's pride at the numbers had led him to sin, and "divine justice took a course to make them fewer," Matthew Henry said. But here's his biggest point: "Justly is that taken from us, weakened, or embittered to us, which we are PROUD of."
Stated in modern English, God has every right to take away from us, or weaken, or make us absolutely sick of anything that causes us to be sinfully proud. "All of us have weaknesses and besetting sins," my commentary says, and where pride is involved, we can expect God to remove, weaken or even make us sick of whatever is the root of it; and we, like David, should not harbor a grudge against God for doing that.
Father, I want to react to sin in my life as David did. I trust You in Your mercy, and, as Russ told our youth group last night, Your discipline is for our good. In Your mercy, please work in my life to remove and help me to not pick back up again what causes me to sin.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
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