Category: 1 Chronicles

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Notice how much space is given to these lists of priests, Levites and musicians. The chronicler reminds us that worship was at the centre of the life of David’s kingdom. What is it that is so important about these three – the Levites did all the work around the place, the priests officiated in sacrifices and worship, the musicians provided the music during worship. Such groups are important in our church’s life too.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, let Your ears be attentive to our cry for mercy.

“They were all under the direction of their father in the music in the house with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God.”

Music is such a powerful and wonderful part of creation – We see God’s creativity and His grace toward us, that music itself can cause such movement and yearning within us.

God created sound. Song. Notes. Melody. And He gave us the ability to create music. To play it. To listen and be moved.

“… For the service of the house of God.”

God’s word here is clear. Music is for the service of the house of God.

For us, the heart of music – It’s beat, the song and melody, notes, creating, singing and listening – This is all about something bigger than ourselves. And our response, our song, is about service.

Psalm 89 and 100 speak of making a joyful noise to the Lord.

Let us make a joyful noise to our creator God who has brought us from darkness into light!

* God Above,

Thank You for Your providence in giving us music.

Please help us to be people who praise You, who thank You, who point to You – With a joyful noise.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Chronicles was written to encourage the returned exiles to rebuild. David prepared for building the Temple of the Lord. This was the responsibility of the returnees too. Corporate worship of the Lord is not peripheral to spiritual growth and strength. It is our responsibility to provide for the worship of God!

SJA Notes

* Father God in Heaven, if You should mark iniquities, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.

“… And the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands.”

How clearly David saw the need for God’s house, and for God Himself, to be magnified throughout all the lands.

This is a concept and a thought for us today.

To be careful with our motivations and thoughts regarding God’s house. The house that is found in our Lord Jesus and us as living stones.

We can think about the impact God the Son as man born to woman has had on history.

Fame and glory throughout all lands.

God’s people today are from all tribes, all nations (the promise to Abraham).

We are all as little tabernacles, carrying about with us the presence of God (Him the Spirit abiding within us).

Our actions are to magnify the Lord and His house, as with our thoughts and deeds.

Will we bring honour and glory to God and His house today?

* God Above, merciful Father, Holy One of Israel,

You alone deserve our praise, You are without equal!

Thank You for Jesus, our great High Priest who has made it possible for us to enter into Your presence, His righteousness ours, His blood shed the sacrifice that pays the penalty for our sins.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

It is not wrong for governments to gather statistical information. Moses is told to take a census of the people of Israel. The sin or wrong lay in David, in his pride, and with Satan. The Chronicler relays that Satan tempted or tested David and that David fell. Jesus was tempted three times and did not sin! Hallelujah!

SJA Notes

* Loving God, You are righteous, You have cut the cords of the wicked.

“No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

There is a cost to true worship. David knew it.

There is a seriousness to true worship. David was not flippant about it.

Paul knew the cost of true worship, as we read in Romans 12,

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

And,

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

IT is not easy to walk the narrow ay.

David, the man with a heart after God’s own heart, who loved the Lord God all of his days – What we read in this passage is that his sinful pride had such terrible consequences.

But what a clear picture of Jesus we see here.

The cost to David was gold to buy the site from Araunah (Ornan) to offer sacrifice, which God accepted.

The cost that God paid for His people to escape the just penalty for their sin was that He Himself, God in the Person of the Son, went to death on a cross, bearing the weight of the sin of God’s people, taking that penalty.

This is the sacrifice that David could not make. No earthly king or priest could make it, before or after.

It is good to remember the cost of what God did, as we work to bring our lives as living sacrifices.

It is good to be reminded of the weight and price of what was done for us, as we are transformed and renewed.

* Great God Above,

You are holy.

We are weak vessels – But we are Your people.

Thank You for seeking us lost sheep and bringing each of us home into Your people, Your family!

Thank You Lord!

Amen.