WHEN WE ARE NOT WHERE WE SHOULD BE

PROCLAMATION

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces. … but David remained in Jerusalem. …”  1 Chronicles 20:1 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

This was the time of year when the kings of the various countries led their armies into battle.  This time King David chose not to lead his army into battle.  He chose to remain in Jerusalem and let Joab lead the army.  Although it is not recorded here in First Chronicles, it is recorded in The Bible Book of Second Samuel that this is the time when David sinned by sleeping with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hittite. (2 Samuel 11:1-5)  First Chronicles records the history of the Israelites but it is written from a different perspective and does not focus on David’s sin.  It does note that at this time King David was not with his army where he should have been.

APPLICATION

It is often noted that bad things happen to us when we are in the wrong place at the wrong time.  When we are not where we are supposed to be, we frequently get into trouble.  It is easier for the devil to tempt us to sin when we are in the wrong place, with the wrong crowd, or with the wrong person.  We should carry our Bible with us wherever we go, or have The Bible app on our cell phone, so that when we have some “down time” we can read God’s Holy Word.  We are less likely to sin if we spend more time reading and studying The Bible.  We should also pray before we go anywhere or hang out with our friends.  We are less likely to be in the wrong place if we follow God’s guidance and direction.

GOOD INTENTIONS CAN BE MISUNDERSTOOD

PROCLAMATION

“The Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, ‘Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy?  Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?’  So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.”  1 Chronicles 19:3-4 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

When Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, died, his son Hanun succeeded him.  King David heard that Nahash had died he wanted to show kindness to his son because Nahash had been kind to him. (1 Chronicles 19:1-2)   So King David sent a delegation to Hanun to express his sympathy regarding his father’s death.  But King Hanun listened to the commanders of his army and treated King David’s envoy as if they were spies.  He humiliated them, shaved off half of their hair and beards, and then sent them away naked from the waist down. (1 Chronicles 19:3-4)  Then he formed an allegiance with the Syrians, with the Maakahites, and with the Tobites to prepare for war because he felt that he had offended David. (1 Chronicles 19:6-7)  These events are also recorded in the tenth chapter of The Bible Book of Second Samuel.  

APPLICATION

Our good intentions and our efforts to be kind to someone can be misunderstood.  Sometimes something as simple as a smile, or a kind word, or a random act of kindness can be completely misunderstood.  Even when we clearly state our intentions, our words may not be accepted or believed.  That may be caused by the person’s own suspicions, lack of trust, or paranoia and not by anything that we have done or said.  The misunderstanding may also be the result of some misinformation or bad advice received from others.  Their personal opinions are not a problem for us unless they choose to take actions against us because of them.  Then we need to pray and ask The Lord God for protection, guidance, and directions.  If we are left to our own devices, we will probably make an emotional response and commit a sin. (Proverbs 3:5-6)  This should also teach us to be very careful whom we listen to and take advice from.

DO THAT WHICH IS JUST AND RIGHT

PROCLAMATION

“David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.”  1 Chronicles 18:14 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
The eighteenth chapter of Chronicles is almost a verbatim repeat of the eighth chapter of The Bible Book of Second Samuel. (2 Samuel 8:1-18)  After David had the ark of God brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:1) and the prophet Nathan had told him that he would not be the one to build a house for God, (1 Chronicles 17:1-14) The Lord God was with him and He allowed him to defeat all of his enemies. (1 Chronicles 18:1-13)  The Lord God gave David the victory wherever he went. (1 Chronicles 18:13)  As the king of Israel David did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord and that which was right for the people of Israel.

APPLICATION

We say that we love The Lord but all to often our actions are not consistent with our words.  The best way for us to show that we love The Lord is to live our lives by His Holy Word.  When we live by His Holy Word, we not only “talk the talk” but we also “walk the walk.”  We need to remember that to most of the people in the world, our actions speak louder than our words.

THANK GOD FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE IS DOING AND WILL DO

PROCLAMATION

“And as if this were not enough in Your sight, my God, You have spoken about the future of the house of Your servant.  You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.”  1 Chronicles 17:17 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

This seventeenth chapter of First Chronicles is almost a verbatim repeat of the seventh chapter of The Book of Second Samuel. (2 Samuel 7:1-29)  King David was venting to the prophet Nathan that he was living in a cedar lined palace while the ark of the covenant was in a tent. (1 Chronicles 17:1)  Initially Nathan told him to do whatever he had in mind because God was with him. (1 Chronicles 17:2)  Later that night The Lord God spoke to Nathan and told him to tell David that he would not build Him a house, but his son would, and that He would establish his kingdom forever. (1 Chronicles 17:3-14)  When Nathan told David what thus saith The Lord, David prayed. (1 Chronicles 17:16-27)  During this prayer he basically thanked God for what He had done for him and his people, and for what He was going to do.

APPLICATION

We are all special in the eyes of The Lord.  We were all uniquely and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and each of us is precious in His sight. (Psalms 116:15)  We may not have been blessed with all that David received but we have all been abundantly blessed.  He has brought us from a mighty long way and kept us through a host of storms, trials, and tribulations.  He is blessing us right now, and no man can imagine what things He has in store for us in the future. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

BLESS THE PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION

“After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of The Lord.”  1 Chronicles 16:2 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

When the Israelites brought the ark of God to Jerusalem, they placed it in the place that David had prepared for it inside the tent. (1 Chronicles 16:1)  David gave thanks unto The Lord and worshiped Him with burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.  Then King David blessed the people in the name of The Lord.  This is a repeat of the events which is recorded earlier in The Bible Book of Second Samuel. (2 Samuel 6:17-18)  Afterwards he gave the people something to eat and then he appointed the Levites to various roles to minister before the ark of God.  The majority of the chapter records the roles he assigned to the various individuals. (1 Chronicles 16:4-43)

APPLICATION

As followers of Christ we are to tell people about Him and show them the way to Him.  We are to live our lives in such a way that they can see Christ in us, see our good works, and give God glory. (Matthew 5:16)  We are to bless the people.  We can pray that God will bless them and help them.  We can also be a blessing to them as we help them.  This is more than just giving them money.  People have many other needs that we can help them with.  As we bless others, we will also be blessed. (Proverbs 11:25) 

NOT EVERYONE WILL SHARE IN OUR JOY

PROCLAMATION

“As the ark of the covenant of The Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window.  And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.”  1 Chronicles 15:29 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After David had completed building the palace for himself, he prepared place for the ark of God.  Unlike the first time when he did it his way, this time when he went to retrieve the ark of God, he followed the instructions which The Lord God had given him regarding transporting it. (1 Chronicles 15:1-2 and 12-15)  This fifteenth chapter of First Chronicles is a repeat of the events presented in The Bible Book of Second Samuel but in a different perspective and with more details provided. (2 Samuel 6:12-18)  As the Israelites entered the city, King David was rejoicing, dancing and singing, as they brought the ark of God from Obed-Edom to Jerusalem.  However, his first wife Michal, who was watching the events from a distance, did not share in his joy.  In fact, she despised him because of it.

APPLICATION

When The Lord God blesses us and allows good things to happen to us, one would expect that our family and friends would be happy for us.  However, not everyone wants to share in our joy.  In fact, if the truth be told, some of our family members and “so-called friends” are not happy for us, and some of them even hate us for it.  Our blessings and good fortune can cause envy, jealousy, and resentment in others.  Some people may become “back stabbers” if our good fortune is not also a blessing for them.  We should be very careful with whom we share the specifics of our good fortune.

THE LORD GOD WILL MAKE OUR ENEMIES FEAR US

PROCLAMATION

“So David’s fame spread throughout every land, and The Lord made all the nations fear him.”  1 Chronicles 14:17 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
After David had amassed a great army and had established himself as the king over all of Israel, (1 Chronicles 12:22-38) he began to build himself a palace. (1 Chronicles 14:1-2)  When the Philistines heard that David was king, they marched against Israel, but they were defeated. (1 Chronicles 14:8-12)  After losing that battle, the Philistines regrouped, and they attacked Israel again.  David’s army again struck down the Philistine army. (1 Chronicles 14:13-16)  David went to The Lord before each of these battles.  He followed the plan which The Lord had revealed to him both times and he was victorious.  This is a repeat of the events recorded in The Bible Book of Second Samuel. (2 Samuel 5:17-25)  By winning these two battles David’s fame spread throughout the land and The Lord caused all the surrounding nations feared him.
 
APPLICATION

If we obey The Word of God and follow His plan, we will be victorious. (1 Corinthians 15:57)  He will fight our battles for us, (2 Chronicles 32:8) and He will cause our enemies to fear us.  If God is for us, no one can stand against us. (Romans 8:31)  We just need to make sure that we are on The Lord’s side before we claim that He is with us.  Not everyone who claims to be a Man of God is actually one.  There are many false prophets among us. (Matthew 7:15 and 24:11)  That is why we need to read and study The Word of God so that we can rightly divide the truth and discern false prophets.  That way we know that we are following and obeying The True and Living God, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.