1 Chronicles 14-16 -- What They MISS

David learned something important in the last chapter, and these chapters show that he put it to good use.  Before, he’d consulted with his army officers, commanders, and even the people of the nation, but he hadn’t thought to ask God.  These chapters echo again and again with the benefits of doing just that:  “David asked God … and The Lord answered him.”

David summed up what he’d learned:

Give thanks to the Lord

Pray to Him

Tell the nations what He has done

Sing to Him

Sing praises to Him

Tell all about His miracles

Be glad that you are His

Be happy

Depend on the Lord and His strength

Always go to Him for help

Remember the miracles He has done

Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord’s glory and power

Praise the glory of the Lord’s name

Bring an offering and come to Him

Worship the Lord because He is holy

Tremble before Him

Thank the Lord because He is good

Say to Him, “Save us, God our Savior, and bring us back”

Those are great instructions for our part of our relationship with Him. 

I noticed what it didn’t say to do:

Attend church religiously

Sit quietly and reverently

Insure that everyone else does that, too

Judge what they’re wearing for appropriateness

Decide that the singing part of the service is going on too long

Judge the song selection for its reflection of your tastes

Worry that the rest of the community will be wondering what’s wrong that the Baptists are meeting longer today than usual

About now, someone is probably wondering where in the world it said anything like that.  It’s in 15:29 –

“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.”

I wonder if she wasn’t approving his method of worship, or if she hated him because she felt unable to worship that way herself.

Father, I thank You for the joy I felt while worshiping You during Disciple Now.  I was feeling what David felt here.  The words we sang kept touching my heart, speaking of Your love for me and how little I deserve it.  What a privilege we have to be overjoyed for what You’ve done for us!  What a shame that all too often that privilege is squandered by those like Michal.  Help them to see, Father.  Help them to see.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford