Category: 1 Chronicles

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

David and the Levites do things according to God’s Word and they successfully bring the Ark into Jerusalem. David hearkened to his greater Son – the Word of God become flesh! The message is: do things God’s way!

SJA Notes

* Dear lord God, those who trust in You are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

“So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps with lyres.”

The ark was brought in with sounds of joy!

The horn and trumpets, cymbals and harps and lyres – LOUD MUSIC.

Back in Joshua ch 6 we read, of the marching around Jericho,

“… Blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them.”

And,

“As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout,”

The ark of the LORD, the word of the Lord contained inside it, was accompanied by much music, trumpets, shouting.

We read in the new testament, in Matthew ch 21 as Jesus enters Jerusalem a final time before His death,

“And the crows that went before him and that followed him were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

We see more joy and shouting in the presence of God’s word (become flesh).

So then today – How full of awe we can be, of the hope we have, as we think of Jesus’ return.

Revelation ch 19 tells us,

“After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,”

And,

“Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;”

How good it is that God gives us this hope!

That we, His people, are the bride of the Lamb, Jesus.

That we have this wonderful hope in glory, the new heavens and the new earth.

As with David, for us to know the importance of God’s word – To see Jesus, God become flesh, His word become man – As we see Him more and more throughout all of scripture.

* God Above,

Thank You for the joy that can be found in You, within this broken world, even as we go through the hardest of times.

Even though we may be ripped asunder, by heresies distressed, Your bride dirty and frail – Even though, You give us joy in our sadness, hope in our tears – That one day we will be presented perfect to the Lamb.

O Lord, hasten that day!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Immediately the kingdom is secure, David seeks to bring back the Ark. David looks for the wisdom of God in his dealings with his enemies and friends. David’s worldly success arose after years of faithfulness to the Lord, a faithfulness that stood firm when for those many years it looked like it was a waste of time. Be encouraged to continue faithful with God, even though it has brought you no worldly success to this point.

SJA Notes

* God of Righteousness, our help is in Your Name, You are the Maker of heaven and earth.

“And they left their gods there, and David gave command, and they were burned.”

What a king David was!

Unlike Saul before him and most of the kings after him, David had a zero-tolerance policy with the gods of the other nations.

We have seen the destruction idolatry causes. We know the first command from our God – Have no other gods but ME!

How wonderful it is then that God Himself is our forever King that we follow.

We do not have to worry about our king straying to other idols. He is GOD – There is no other!

We can be encouraged with these words from Paul in 1 Corinthians 10,

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Because God is faithful, we are called to flee from idolatry.

Because God provides a way of escape from temptation, we are called to flee from idolatry.

We can follow David’s example today, to be singular in our devotion to the Lord, fierce in our rebuttal and rejection of anything not-God.

Let our hearts be after God’s our heart!

* Father God,

Thank You for the example of David.

Thank You for the better example of Jesus, who David points us to.

Thank You that You have saved us Lord God.

Thank You that You provide for us escape when we are tempted.

Please help us, encourage and exhort, rebuke, strengthen us to flee from idolatry.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Kinsmen of Saul joined David even while he was at Ziklag serving with Achish King of Gath. National leaders began to flock to David in his exile. Some of those serving with the Philistines returned with David. Look again at the list of Jesus’ 12 disciples. You will find similar men.

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, to You we lift up our eyes, You who are enthroned in the heavens!

“… For there was joy in Israel.”

The exiles, a handful of Israelites, had returned to a broken Jerusalem, a temple destroyed and needing to be rebuilt.

What does the Holy Spirit have for them in this passage?

God reminds them of David.

Israelites reading this were no doubt struggling with sorrow, with lamentations. They had spent seventy years weeping by the rivers of Babylon!

Here God points them to joy.

As God raised up David and gave to him a great army, so the foretold Messiah would bring about joy in Israel (see the woman and Jesus in John 4, at the well of Jacob), amongst God’s people – In a deeper and far better way than even David brought.

These passages helped the exiles, and they help us today to look forward!

For us, it is looking forward to that glorious day in the new heavens and new earth – When our God will dwell with us in all fulfilment, we with Him, His people. No more crying, no more weeping and lamentations. The final building of God’s kingdom in truth!

* Father God,

Thank You for pointing us back to David.

You are the one who then and now builds Your kingdom.

Please teach us today, a little more of You.

Amen.