Bible Reading Reflection from 1 Chronicles 21-29

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟙:𝟙𝟛

"Then David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.’"

When there's a crime happening, people rally for justice. And they even would give mob justice. But when they are the perpetrators, they want mercy.

Human justice, even at its best is corrupt. Humans are cruel when they are angry, they are uncontrollable and insane. Certainly, there's a God in heaven, who is just. Not only is He just but is He merciful. When we are the victims, and even when we are the perpetrators, God is the best Judge we can entrust our souls upon. And be relaxed in Him!

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟚:𝟠

"But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth.’"

David is a man after God's own heart, but he is disqualified to build a house for God. Not because of his sins or who he was but because of his responsibility.

He was a king, who fought the enemies to protect God's people. What he did was right and good. Building a house for God is right and good too. But he was disqualified for being good at killing. Think through that one when you don't receive something you ask. Maybe not because of your sins or who you are, but because of the plan and way of God.

Suppose you see a beautiful girl who likes you and has an impeccable reputation and character. She shares your dream and plans for life. And God could say, "Don't marry her because she is not a Christian."

Or she may be even a Christian, and God could say, "Don't because she will prosper in a city and you will in a village" Or whatever😅

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟛:𝟛𝟘

"And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the LORD, and likewise at evening."

Praise and Worship Team in our modern-day fellowships and churches is a joke.

They are young, immature, unsound in doctrine, etc. They are supposed to encourage people to praise God, but what they really do is people to praise them!

Look at the Bible, the biblical team of singers and musicians. They weren’t anybody who sings well or plays the music well! Only the Levites. And they were tasked to encourage people to praise God in the morning and in the evening!

Does your church worship team encourage you to do that? They themselves don't sing, only on Sunday! 😬

#Chosen people. #Qualified people. #Faithful people.

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟜:𝟚

"But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests."

The writer skips telling us why they died, but we remember how they died! Not all the facts of the matter are equally important. And so, the other two sons of Aaron and their descendants become the leaders in the temple.

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟝:𝟙

"David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was"

Not only the preachers, matter to God, musicians as well. See the list of musicians. Everything matters to God. Every profession matters to God. Of course, some sinful professions like an assassin, trafficking, and robbery are not!

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟡

"These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari."

At face value, the books of Chronicles are pointless, meaningless, and boring because they are the names of dead people whom we never know!

But it reminds us that they lived serving God, and their names are written by God. And we, too, are insignificant even in our community, but God knows everything about us. And as He knew the gatekeepers of Israel so he knows you and me and our services very well. That’s the interesting nature of our God of the books of Chronicles.

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟟:𝟛𝟛

"Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend."

Two interesting advisors of David. They were very influential and definitely wise. The former betrayed David in taking the side of Absalom. The latter stuck with David and engineered the downfall of Absalom. No wonder he was recognized as the king's friend.

We are not just to counsel but also to be loyal to our fellow Christians.

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟠:𝟡

"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever."

David was very clear in his instruction: Exhortation and Warning. Do you hear parents instructing like this to their children?

Parents want their children to be educated. Their exhortation to be successful in exams are great. Their warnings against failures are heavy. Their prayers [for successful exams] are also much. But when it comes to following God, most parents fail...

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟡:𝟡

"Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly."

Look at the words: rejoiced, willingly, whole heart, freely, rejoiced greatly. Wow! What a description in one sentence with those beautiful words!