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Ecclesiastes 1-3, 11-12 A Worthy Purpose

Bill Blurb: We'll just survey the major theme of the book in this post, and look at the individual chapters when we finish Proverbs.

Psalm 71:1-13 God's Our Rock and Refuge

71:1 “In You, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed. 2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn Your ear to me, and save me. 3 Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 5 For You are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth. 6 I have relied on You from the womb. You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise You. 7 I am a marvel to many, but You are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth shall be filled with Your praise, with Your honor all the day. 9 Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails. 10 For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together, 11 saying, "God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him." 12 God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me. 13 Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me...”

Observations: 71:1-4 For being God's favored servant, David sure had his share of frightening times. It looks like God has forsaken him and his enemies are closing in. (71:9-11)

71:5 David bolsters his confidence in God by recalling that God has been his hope and help and source of praise from youth. Having a good foundation of trusting God gives him confidence to not only wait for God, but ask Him to turn the tables on his enemies (quickly please). We'll see how it turns out when we revisit the Psalm in about six months. Odds are, it will have a happy ending.

Application: We need to build an early track record of trusting God and praising Him for deliverance, so that when the stakes get higher, our hope in His salvation and deliverance also increases.

Prayer: Trustworthy God, I know that I can always rely on You to help and deliver me from those opposed to You. Be my Rock and Refuge, and give me a calm confidence in Your rescue. Thanks. Amen.

Proverbs 18:14-16 Sustained and Healed

18:14 “A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear? 15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.“

Observations: 18:14 When physically sick, one's spirit, as in emotional outlook, can sustain him/her, with hope or expectation of recovery. But, a crushed/broken spirit, doesn't sustain a person, but contributes to their demise. A crushed spirit can be due to sorrow/wound of the heart (Proverbs 15:13), or false hopes and dashed expectations. Some people view a wounded spirit as arising from bitterness due to real or perceived ill-treatment. The context is too limited to make a decisive determination of what causes the crushed spirit, but the solution is found in

Psalm 147:3 "He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds."

18:15-16 The discerning and wise weren't born that way, nor got there by accident, but purposefully sought knowledge, and continue to do so. The word for “gift” in verse 16 is usually used for an offering or present to secure favor, and not in the modern sense of talent or ability. However, having something to offer, such as knowledge, skill, wisdom, etc, does open doors, for those are things of which the great have need, and usually desire.

Application: Fixing our hope on God's providence, His help, and healing can sustain us through all kinds of difficulty.

Prayer: Great Physician, thanks for being the sustainer of my life and soul; make me whole, so I can serve You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Amen.

Ecclesiastes: Solomon is trying to figure out what's worth doing with his life during his stay on earth. It's a classic pursuit of a worthwhile purpose to give meaning and direction to his life. Both the quest and conclusion are little disappointing, especially for the world's wisest guy. The problem is that Solomon is looking under the sun, and it's not until he looks above the sun to the Creator, that life under the sun makes sense (a lot like Job). Solomon tries everything, to see what's worth doing, and concludes it's all vanity, a vapor, a meaningless chasing and grasping the wind. He should have been able to figure out what is good by understanding what God had revealed, but we know spending time in God's word wasn't Solomon's strong suit. (See posts on Dt 17 and 1Kg 11.) Then again, some folks learn best by experience; so for those who don't grasp principles easily, Solomon's pursuit yields some practical insights to spare them the folly of going down the wrong paths. For all his wisdom Solomon misses the secrets to daily and eternal delights which his father David espoused in the Psalms.

Ecclesiastes 1 What's A Worthy Purpose for Life?

1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." 3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, "Behold, this is new?" It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11 There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.

12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 15 That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. 16 I said to myself, "Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." 17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Observations: 1:1-3 Since Solomon's thesis is that all is vanity, it might be a good idea to get a firm grip on it. Problem is, vanity is an elusive vapor, a breath, nothing substantial, and therefore meaningless. What does man gain from all his labor? He expends all his energy and comes up empty. There is no enduring gain or profit.

1:4-11 The cycles of life yield a pessimistic fatalism, far different from the joyful contemplations of creation in the Psalms and other Scriptures.

1:12-18 Solomon uses his great wisdom to the wrong ends, and rather than resulting in joy and peace and gratitude, he finds himself in grief and sorrow. God and His will isn't in the picture.

Application: Find out what's worth living for, and go for it with gusto.

Prayer: Gracious God, I thank You for revealing the paths to joy, peace, and prosperity in Your word. Don't let me fall into the trap of seeking it in the world, for that is a fool's errand. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 2 Pursuit of Power, Pleasure & Possessions

2:1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure"; and behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, "It is foolishness"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" 3 I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives. 4 I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit. 6 I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where trees were reared. 7 I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem; 8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. 10 Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor. 11 Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

12 I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago. 13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all. 15 Then I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity. 16 For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!

24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? 26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Observations: 2:1-11 Solomon takes all his wisdom and wealth in the pursuit of the three innate (pre-Fall) desires of power (security/significance), pleasure, and possessions in his futile quest for happiness and joy in life. And when he evaluates what he's gotten (1:11), he concludes “goose egg” :( It isn't worth it.

2:12-16 He does conclude that wisdom is better than folly, but meaningless in death (that's because he's not considering the possibility of laying up treasure in heaven).

2:17-23 So having everything he desires, he despairs of life, and hates it. Most people are caught up in the chase, and never consider if what they are chasing after will satisfy them if they get it (like a dog chasing a car). You probably don't have Solomon's wisdom, nor wealth, so what makes you think you'd do a better job of enjoying your attainments?

2:24 Solomon reaches a conclusion that is restated throughout the book, that there is nothing better to do than please God, because He is the one who gives the ability to enjoy food and drink and satisfying labor. Poor Solomon, he never quite figured out how to enjoy God.

Application: Pleasing God and enjoying Him is the path to satisfying pleasures forevermore.

Prayer: God, at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore; You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. May my ways be pleasing in Your sight, and my highest joy be abiding in Your presence. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 3 Time and Eternity

3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven...

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. 13 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.

16 Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there. 17 I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." 18 I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals. 19 For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?" 22 Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Observations: 3:1-10 There is a time for everything. We tend to cause ourselves problems by having our own timetable, rather than embracing God's timetable. We will always have time to do God's will. If you've sought God's will, depended upon His grace and prioritized your time to do it, then at the end of the day, you've done what God expected, even if some things are undone (unless, of course, you've squandered the time God entrusted to you as a stewardship, and done your will rather than His). For help see the Time Of Your Life Seminar on Truthbase.net.

3:11-15 God gives people a sense that there must be something more, yet they can't comprehend God's purposes, apart from Revelation. So Solomon defaults to just enjoying what life has to offer, but recognizes that such a path isn't satisfying. God has eternal purposes in what He does (such as attaching blessing to obedience and cursing to disobedience), which are irrevocable, therefore men should fear Him.

3:16-22 At this point you begin to wonder if Solomon had a little too much wine, because he isn't being too smart. He knows that there is eternity, and that God's purposes are eternal, but has a very materialistic view of the future. He ignores revelation, and the spiritual aspects of both the present and the future, and concludes that men and animals share the same fate. If that's the case, then all you can do is find pleasure in your work. He misses finding pleasure in God and in the future He's promised to those who are His loyal servants. Silly Solomon.

Application: A purely temporal, material mindset misses the present and future delights of a vibrant relationship with God.

Prayer: Eternal God, thanks that You created us for a relationship with You that transcends the death and decay syndrome of our world. Thanks that I can find pleasure in You, now and forevermore, regardless of my circumstances. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 11 Following Our Desires or God's

7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity. 9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12 Fear God and Keep His Commandments

12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; 2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened 5...and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher. "All is vanity!" 9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

Observations: 11:7-10 Solomon correctly warns that life is fleeting, so gather rosebuds while ye may, but know that God will bring everything into judgment. He suggests we follow our desires (like he did) but admonishes us to remove sorrow and evil, so we can better enjoy life. Somehow he misses the emphasis in the law (oh, he didn't read it) that the blessed and prosperous life is the result of doing God's will, and not our own. He never learned to rejoice in God as David did, so His view of God is mainly that of a judge, and not a joy.

12:1-7 It is wise to remember our Creator every day, because life is short, and then we die. Solomon seems more concerned with temporal desire being jaded than the eternal delights and joy in the presence of God. He recognizes that the spirit returns to God, but doesn't seem to understand that eternal life goes on. Perhaps he was so stuffed with the temporal, he had no appetite for the eternal.

12:8-12 Despite viewing life as a fleeting vapor, Solomon still taught the people wisdom, because that's what wise people do. In verse 12 he mentions what every good student knows.

12:13-14 He sums up his perspective of life under the sun with a final look above the sun. The whole duty of humans is to fear God and keep His commandments, because God will bring everything into judgment (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). That's the duty, but delighting ourselves in God should be our wholehearted desire.

Application: Decreasing our consumption of the temporal increases our appetite for the eternal and yields present and future joy.

Prayer: God, my ambition is to be pleasing in Your sight, by obeying You and living for Your desires, because that is my greatest good and highest happiness. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

The fact that there is nothing new under the sun, means that truth (our understanding of reality) can be discovered through our senses in any time or culture. The moronic and myopic view of some “scholars” that because Ecclesiastes has elements of Epicureanism and Stoicism, it must be influenced by them is ludicrous. Historically, it would have been the other way around, since Solomon wrote a over half a millennium before Greek philosophy hit its heyday. An alternative view is that most truth, (apart from the infinite realities which must be revealed by an infinite Being to finite man), can be observed and induced by those who observe and think, and therefore would be found where such individuals are found.

God in a nutshell: God is the Creator, and Judge of us and our world. He has eternal purposes which are realized during our fleeting time on earth. (What we do on earth echoes throughout eternity.) He's designed life to be imperfect and incapable of being fully enjoyed apart from dependently pleasing Him. He gives those who please Him the ability to enjoy what they have. He will judge everything that we do, both good (with accompanying blessing) and evil (with accompanying unpleasant consequences).

Us in a nutshell: We have limited time during our stay here on earth and need to use it wisely if we are going to enjoy it, and our future. We will not be satisfied, nor find enduring joy in merely temporal, vain things like power, pleasure and possessions. Our ability to enjoy such things is dependent upon pleasing God. Living for all this world has to offer is a vain and futile pursuit. It won't satisfy. Pursuing God's pleasure and purposes is the path to happily ever after, and a joyful journey along the way.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net
Wise Lessons from the Life of Solomon

Ecclesiastes 1-3, 12 complete text

Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 2

17 So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 18 I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. 19 Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity. 24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? 26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 3

3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 What profit has he who works in that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. 13 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.

Ecclesiastes 12

12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; 2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain; 3 in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened, 4 and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 5 yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be in the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

2 Chronicles 13-16 Win By Waiting on God

Psalm 62:1-7 An Exclusive Relationship

Ps 62:1 “My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress—I will never be greatly shaken. 3 How long will you assault a man, would all of you throw him down, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? 4 They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. 5 My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. 7 With God is my salvation and my honor/glory. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God...12 Also to you, Lord, belongs hesed/loyal covenantal love, for you reward every man according to his work.

Observations: 62:3-4 David is experiencing the usual attacks and lies from those who don't walk with God.

62:1-2,5-7 His response is to completely trust in God, which means he doesn't trust or hope in anyone or anything else. To do so would be a breach of covenantal loyalty (hesed), which would not only cut David off from God's salvation, but also reward (62:12).

62:8-11 (next time round) give alternatives to fully trusting God.

Application: If you have put your trust in God as He's revealed Himself (Plan A), don't disloyally look for deliverance from Plan B. (It wouldn't be wrong to consider Plan B options, for to do so frequently reinforces Plan A. But trusting Plan B at the expense of Plan A is the foolish choice.)

Prayer: God, You are my stronghold, my salvation, and source of glory; help me wait for the fulfillment of Your perfect plan, particularly when surrounded by lying hypocrites. Amen.

Proverbs 16:10-13 Divine Righteousness of Kings

Pr 16:10-13 “Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth. 11 Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. 12 It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.“

Observations: 16:10-13 A king speaks as God's righteous servant on earth, saying what God would say, judging justly. God is the source of all justice, be it legal, civil, or commercial. It is an abomination for a king to speak or do what is unrighteous, because he rules as God's representative, doing what God would do. (It's not the other way around, where whatever the king does is what God would do; that's an abomination.) Kings interested in ruling righteously (in the fear of God), delight in and value those who speak the truth, even if it's not what they wanted to hear. Such kings usually exist only in fairy tales.

Application: Righteous rulers and leaders not only do what's right, they value hearing what's right and true.

Prayer: Righteous God, may the leaders of our country, institutions, businesses, and families value and express Your righteousness and truth in all their deliberations and decisions. Amen.

2 Chronicles 13-16 These chapters are a real bright spot in the early history of the divided kingdom. Two kings start out learning from history and do well, and then forget their lessons. Rehoboam's successor in Judah, Abijah, trusts God and gets blessed, although he doesn't continue to seek God. Superstar King Asa, motivated by God's promise of reward, revives the nation, and they wholeheartedly seek God, and find Him! Unfortunately, Asa fails to faithfully trust to the end, and experiences some unpleasant consequences, reaping both halves of God's promise in 2 Chronicles 16:9

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."

2 Chronicles 13 God Wins

13:1 In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 Abijah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: and Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valor. 4 Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel: 5 Ought you not to know that Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his lord. 7 There were gathered to him worthless men, base fellows, who strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them. 8 "Now you think to withstand the kingdom of Yahweh in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made for you as gods. 9 Haven’t you driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves after the ways of the peoples of other lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, the same may be a priest of those who are no gods. 10 "But as for us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and we have priests ministering to Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in their work: 11 and they burn to Yahweh every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense. They also set the show bread in order on the pure table; and the lampstand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening: for we keep the instruction of Yahweh our God; but you have forsaken him. 12 Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, don’t fight against Yahweh, the God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper."

13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 When Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and they cried to Yahweh, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened, that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 The children of Israel fled before Judah; and God delivered them into their hand. 17 Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. 18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on Yahweh, the God of their fathers. 19 Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its towns, and Jeshanah with its towns, and Ephron with its towns. 20 Jeroboam didn’t recover strength again in the days of Abijah. Yahweh struck him, and he died. 21 But Abijah grew mighty, and took to himself fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters. 22 The rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo.

Observations: 13:1-5 Outnumbered two to one by Jeroboam and Israel, legal heir of David, Abijah gives a history lesson (maybe he wants to bore them to death?). The Davidic covenant is referred to as a covenant of salt, since salt endured.

13:6-12 Abijah rightly portrays Jeroboam as the servant who rebelled, removed Yahweh worship and the legitimate priests, the Levites, and instituted the same pagan worship for which God judged the initial occupants of the land. Israel had forsaken God, while Judah had not. Therefore, Israel was fighting against people rightly related to God, and thus against God. They would not prosper fighting against Yahweh.

13:13-20 Ignoring the truth of history, as most do, Israel attacked, with both numerical and tactical superiority. Judah called out to God, the priests sounded the trumpets, and as the men of Judah shouted (just like Jericho, but without the marching), God struck Israel, and the majority of Jeroboam's force was wiped out. The text says Judah won because they relied on God. Had they not been worshiping properly, their call and trumpets and shouting would have been in vain. Bethel, the center of idolatrous worship was taken by Judah. Jeroboam will die a year or two later.

13:21-22 These last verses record Abijah/Abijam's prosperity, but apparently he failed to learn from his own history, because he didn't continue to obey and trust God.

1Kg 15:3 He (Abijam) walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father.

Application: Remember how God has acted in history and your own life, so you will not fail to follow Him.

Prayer: God, You are the Mighty Warrior who protects those rightly related to You; may I always obey and faithfully depend upon You in times of need. Amen.

2 Chronicles 14 Peace, Problem, Prosperity

14:1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years. 2 Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God: 3 for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, 4 and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. 6 He built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him rest. 7 For he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities, and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought Yahweh our God; we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered. 8 Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.

9 There came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million troops, and three hundred chariots; and he came to Mareshah. 11 Asa cried to Yahweh his God, and said, "Yahweh, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our God. Don’t let man prevail against you." 12 So Yahweh struck the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. 13 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before Yahweh, and before his army; and they carried away very much booty. 14 They struck all the cities around Gerar; for the fear of Yahweh came on them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them. 15 They struck also the tents of livestock, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

Observations: 14:1-8 Asa becomes one of Judah's greatest kings, doing what is right in God's sight, even removing the high places dedicated to idols (he apparently left those dedicated to Yahweh 15:17). He was wholehearted in worshiping Yahweh.

14:9-15 God responds with peace and prosperity. And then a million Ethopians show up on their doorstep. The “problem” turns out to be God's means of blessing Judah with prosperity and abundance, as God fights the battle in response to Asa's prayerful trust.

Application: When following God wholeheartedly, He allows apparent problems as a means to deepen our dependence upon Him, so He can bless us even more.

Prayer: God, thanks that You desire to bless Your faithful saints; may I not fret over the difficulties You allow in my life, but confidently look to You for Your solution and blessing. Amen.

2 Chronicles 15 God Rewards Wholehearted Seeking

15:1 The Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded: 2 and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin! Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 Now for a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. 4 But when in their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 5 In those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in; but great troubles were on all the inhabitants of the lands. 6 They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for God troubled them with all adversity. 7 But you be strong, and don’t let your hands be slack; for your work shall be rewarded."

8 When Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from the hill country of Ephraim; and he renewed the altar of Yahweh, that was before the porch of Yahweh. 9 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who lived with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they came to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that Yahweh his God was with him. 10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 They sacrificed to Yahweh in that day, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep. 12 They entered into the covenant to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul; 13 and that whoever would not seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 14 They swore to Yahweh with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. 15 All Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and Yahweh gave them rest all around. 16 Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and made dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. 18 He brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels. 19 There was no more war to the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.

Observations: 15:1-7 God sends the prophet Azariah to give a similar promise to Asa that David had given to Solomon. “1Chron 28:9 "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”

15:8-19 Motivated by God's promise of reward, Asa cleans up the land and temple, and the people make themselves holy to Yahweh again. Those from the northern tribes who feared Yahweh flooded to Judah, when they saw that Yahweh was with Asa. Everyone entered into a covenant to seek Him wholeheartedly, and eliminated those who didn't (What ever happened to freedom of religion? Oh, it hadn't been invented yet. Purging apostates is usually not a good idea, because usually the purgers are even more apostate.) God had mandated in Deuteronomy 17:2-7 that those who didn't want to be His people didn't have a reason for occupying space on the planet, and could infect others.

Application: God rewards wholehearted seeking, so what are you waiting for?

Prayer: Lord, bring into my life others who want to seek You wholeheartedly, and may we together experience Your goodness, and rejoice in Your name. Amen.

2 Chronicles 16 Asa Wins the War but Gets Defeated

16:1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of Yahweh and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, 3 "Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me." 4 Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel 5 When Baasha heard of it, he left off building Ramah, and let his work cease. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on Yahweh your God, therefore is the army of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand. 8 Weren’t the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? Yet, because you relied on Yahweh, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of Yahweh run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly; for from henceforth you shall have wars." 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time. 11 Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he didn’t seek Yahweh, but to the physicians. 13 Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. 14 They buried him in his own tombs, which he had dug out for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.

Observations: 16:1-6 Like his father Abijah, Asa failed to learn from his own history. Faced with a threat by Baasha, (who had assassinated Jeroboam's son Nadab (1Kg 15), and became the third king of Israel), Asa failed to rely on God and call out to him for protection (as he had with the larger Ethiopian threat). Instead, Asa was disloyal to God and sought help from the king of Syria. This was a breach of the father-son, Suzerain-Vassal, covenantal relationship found in many Ancient Near East treaties, in which part of the deal was that the greater power would protect the lesser power, who would rely exclusively upon the greater power.

16:7-11 God sends a messenger to review history with Asa, who gets angry and engages in another ancient custom, still practiced in our day, of shooting/imprisoning the messenger. The message ends with a great verse (16:9), only the first half of which is usually quoted. The imagery of God sitting on His throne, scanning the earth muttering under His breath “Now, who can I help? On whose behalf can I unleash My might? Any hearts out there focused wholly on Me? Anybody? Hello? Anyone?” brings great comfort to those who do seek God wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, in spite of all the good he did and God's blessings, Asa, drifted toward the end. He didn't worship other gods, but didn't wholeheartedly worship Yahweh, failing to continue to respond in trust and obedience to God's promises.

16:12-14 God responded to Asa's tantrum with a little toe trouble, which became a real defeat, but Asa was too busy being self-reliant (and mad at God) to seek Him. Too bad, he was a great guy.

Application: God is serious about having us totally trust Him; anything less is disloyalty.

Prayer: God, thanks that You want to fight my battles and show Yourself strong on my behalf. May my heart be totally focused on trusting and obeying You, so You can come to my aid. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God desires to show Himself strong on behalf of those who wholeheartedly seek and find Him, according to His invitation. He blesses obedience, and holds out the promise of reward to motivate His people to service. He allows/sends problems into our lives to bless us if we seek Him, and curse us if we don't. It's our choice of consequences.

Us in a nutshell: We can have a heart that is wholeheartedly devoted to God, and receive His corresponding blessing. We can turn from trusting Him, and reap negative consequences as well. Living in covenantal unity with fellow God-seekers necessitates exclusion of those who don't want to seek God according to His revealed will. If we forsake God, and fail to trust Him for our needs and desires, He will forsake us, and let us reap the devastating and destructive consequences of our actions (even if we've been really good saints). We tend not to learn from history, even our own.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

2Chronicles complete text

2 Chronicles 13

13:1 In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 Abijah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: and Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valour. 4 Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel: 5 Ought you not to know that Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his lord. 7 There were gathered to him worthless men, base fellows, who strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them. 8 "Now you think to withstand the kingdom of Yahweh in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods. 9 Haven’t you driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves after the ways of the peoples of other lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, the same may be a priest of those who are no gods. 10 "But as for us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and we have priests ministering to Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in their work: 11 and they burn to Yahweh every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense. They also set the show bread in order on the pure table; and the lampstand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening: for we keep the instruction of Yahweh our God; but you have forsaken him. 12 Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, don’t fight against Yahweh, the God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper."

2 Chronicles 14

9 There came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million troops, and three hundred chariots; and he came to Mareshah. 10 Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 Asa cried to Yahweh his God, and said, "Yahweh, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our God. Don’t let man prevail against you." 12 So Yahweh struck the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. 13 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before Yahweh, and before his army; and they carried away very much booty. 14 They struck all the cities around Gerar; for the fear of Yahweh came on them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them. 15 They struck also the tents of livestock, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 15

8 When Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from the hill country of Ephraim; and he renewed the altar of Yahweh, that was before the porch of Yahweh. 9 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who lived with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that Yahweh his God was with him. 10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 They sacrificed to Yahweh in that day, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep. 12 They entered into the covenant to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul; 13 and that whoever would not seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 14 They swore to Yahweh with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. 15 All Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and Yahweh gave them rest all around. 16 Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and made dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. 18 He brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels. 19 There was no more war to the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.

2 Chronicles 16

16:1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of Yahweh and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, 3 "Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me." 4 Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. 5 It happened, when Baasha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and let his work cease. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on Yahweh your God, therefore is the army of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand. 8 Weren’t the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? Yet, because you relied on Yahweh, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of Yahweh run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly; for from henceforth you shall have wars." 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time. 11 Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he didn’t seek Yahweh, but to the physicians. 13 Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. 14 They buried him in his own tombs, which he had dug out for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.

1 Chronicles 23-29 Blessing the God Who Blesses Us

Psalm 59:11-17 The God of Hesed

Ps 59:11 “(10 My God will go before me with his hesed/loyal covenantal love. God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.” 11 Don’t kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield. 12 For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, for the curses and lies which they utter. 13 Consume them in wrath. Consume them, and they will be no more. Let them know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth. Selah. 14 At evening let them return. Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city. 15 They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren’t satisfied. 16 But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your hesed/loyal covenantal love in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress. 17 To you, my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my high tower, the God of my hesed/loyal covenantal love."

Observations: 59:1-10 See post on Joshua 9 for vv 1-10, in which David calls to God for help against his enemies who are watching his house to kill him.

59:11-17 David trusts in God's hesed or the loyalty He has to those with whom He has entered into a covenant relationship. God will always keep His side of the bargain. He will never fail to watch out for those who are loyal to Him. He asks that his enemies be caught in their pride and words so they will know that God rules. He is confident that God will subdue his enemies, because of His hesed, for which David plans to praise Him. Note that God shows His hesed in protecting His servants.

Application: Trust God to be loyal to His promises (hesed) and fight your battles, particularly against the proud liars; then praise Him for being Your strong tower.

Prayer: God I praise You that You are trustworthy and loyal to Your servants. And that You not only can but will, protect me from my enemies as I follow you. Thanks. Amen.

Proverbs 16:1-4 Will Your To Do List Succeed?

Pr 16:1 “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer* of the tongue is from Yahweh. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives. 3 Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed. 4 Yahweh has made everything for its own end*— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.”

Observation: Yahweh is mentioned in every verse.

16:1 It's our job to plan. God's job is to orchestrate the results.

16:4 *this phrase and “answer” in verse 1 are the same Hebrew word. Hmmmm...

Application: We need to look at our lives and motives from God's perspective, and commit our ToDo lists to Him.

Prayer: O God who weighs my motives, may I be doing what glorifies You rather than me. Amen.

1 Chronicles 23-29 The chronicler was more interested in the religious than the civil history, detailing administrative matters in chapters 23-27 (all of which you can safely omit without negatively impacting your spiritual life), and returning to Solomon in chapters 28 and 29 (which are chapters you really should know). David's prayer in chapter 29 gives a perspective that is vital for pleasing God, as does his charge to Solomon in 28:9.

1 Chronicles 23 Morning and Evening

Observations: 23:1-2 These verses introduce the rest of the book. All the intrigue of succession to David's throne recorded in 1Kings is omitted, and summed up in 23:1. The second verse gets expanded in this, and the next four chapters.

23:5 An orchestra of 4,000 was not big enough to keep Israel focused on God.

23:30 Thanking and praising God every morning, and every evening was mandated, to keep people focused on what God was doing in their lives.

Application: (And now a word from our sponsor...) DailyTruthbase beats the Daily News and the Nightly News, morning and evening, every day, if you want to be blessed by God. You can review/finish the posts in the evenings instead of watching re-runs. Whodathunk?

1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always,17 pray without ceasing,18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Prayer: God, You are worthy of thanks and praise, morning, evening, and throughout the day. Keep me mindful of Your blessings, so I can appreciate them and You continually. Amen.

1 Chronicles 24 Priests

24:1 These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron...5 Thus were they divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were captains of the sanctuary, and princes of God... 30 These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers’ houses. 31 These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king...

1 Chronicles 25 Choir

1 Chronicles 26 Ushers

26:1 For the divisions of the doorkeepers...20 Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things. 26 This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers’ households, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated. 27 They dedicated some of the spoil won in battles to repair the house of Yahweh. 28 All that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brothers.

1 Chronicles 27 Organizational Chart

16 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel...22...These were the captains of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David didn’t take the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Yahweh had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the sky.

25 Over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth: and over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah: 26 Over those who did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri 27 and over the vineyards was Shimei and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi: 28 and over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baal Hanan: and over the cellars of oil was Joash: 29 and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat 30 and over the camels was Obil; over the donkeys was Jehdeiah: and over the flocks was Jaziz. 31 All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s. 32 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons: 33 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend: 34 and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the captain of the king’s army was Joab.

Observations: If you ever need to run a company or a small kingdom, the above chapters give some ideas on organizational structure, although staff selection by casting lots might not be the wisest.

1 Chronicles 28 A Practice to Perfect

28:1 David assembled all the princes of Israel...all the mighty men of valor, to Jerusalem. 2 Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, "Hear me, my brothers, and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building. 3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.’ 4 However Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom over Israel. 6 He said to me, ‘Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever, if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as at this day.’ 8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

9 You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it."

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the...temple...the place of the mercy seat; 12 and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit...18 and for the altar of incense...the cherubim, that spread out, and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. 19 "All this," said David, "I have been made to understand in writing from the hand of Yahweh, even all the works of this pattern." 20 David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of Yahweh is finished." 21 Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God. There shall be with you in all kinds of work every willing man who has skill, for any kind of service. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command.

Observations: 28:1-8 David reiterates the Davidic Covenant to the leadership of the nation, and charges them, with God as a witness, to observe and seek out all the commands of God, so they can enjoy the promised land and pass it on their children.

28:9-10 Verse nine should be a better known and memorized verse. We should seek to perfect it in our lives. It has five parts:

The main commands: know and serve;
The manner in which one serves: perfect heart and willing mind;
The reasons for such service: God knows and judges hearts and minds;
The result of wholehearted service: seek and find God;
The result of not serving wholeheartedly: forsake and be cast off, forever.

Even though God specifically chose David, Solomon, (Israel, and Jerusalem), they did what was wrong, and suffered consequences. When the nation abandoned Him, those individuals were cast off. However, the generation hearing these words had hope, for God had brought them back into the land to continue His program of blessing (as promised in the Abrahamic and Deuteronomic Covenants).

28:11-21 Just like God gave Moses specific instructions for the Tabernacle, so God gave instructions to David for the Temple.

Application: Study and apply 28:9 to your life. Bonus points for memorizing it in your favorite version.

Prayer: God, I want to know and serve You with all my heart and mind; prompt me to seek You whenever my thoughts and desires wander. Amen.

1 Chronicles 29 A Prayer to Ingrain

29:1 David the king said to all the assembly, "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Yahweh God." 2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God...3 In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, 4 even three thousand talents of gold...5...Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself this day to Yahweh?" 6 Then the princes...captains...rulers...offered willingly; 7 and they gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents... 8 They with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of Yahweh, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

10 Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, "You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever." 11 Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all; and in your hand is power and might; and it is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank you, and praise your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 15 For we are strangers before you, and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no remaining. 16 Yahweh our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and is all your own. 17 I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now have I seen with joy your people, that are present here, offer willingly to you. 18 Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you; 19 and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision."

Observations: 29:1-10 David gives about $6 Billion US of his own funds, on top of the $230 Billion that was dedicated from the spoil from battles. The leaders gave almost $10 Billion, not counting the precious stones and base metals. But they are only giving back to God a portion of what He had given them (see prayer below). There is great rejoicing, because people with a heart for God gave willingly to God, for His mandated purpose.

29:10-19 I still remember where I was standing in 1976 when I first read verses 10-12 and decided to memorize them (wish I remembered the verses that well). I had been reading Jim Elliott's “Shadow of the Almighty” and the quote “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” was rattling around in my brain as I read this prayer. It doubled the impact. Check out this link to see how Jim wrote the words in his journal.

David blesses God in recognizing that God owns it all; He gives some to us as a test, so that we have the opportunity to demonstrate uprightness in giving it back. This applies to more than money, but to everything God has entrusted to us. God gives to us, so we can give back to Him. (Only the first half of this paradigm applies to spouses - Genesis 3:12.) See the series on “Faithfulness: How to Hear the Words 'Well, done, good and faithful servant'” (in the back of the TOYL book on Truthbase.net) for a Biblical perspective on getting and giving money, as well as being a good steward of all the other things God has entrusted to us.

Questions: What do you have that you can't keep? How can you exchange it for something that you can't lose?

Application: Go back and pray David's prayer in you own words, and mean it.

Prayer: God, You are worthy of all we could give You. Thanks for accepting back our lives, and all we have. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God is great, and owns everything: power, glory, victory, majesty, riches, honor, power and strength. God blesses us, materially and spiritually, so we can bless Him in return. He tries our hearts, to see if we recognize and acknowledge His authorship and ownership of all we have. He takes pleasure in our uprightness. God is knowable, if we put the effort into seeking Him daily; we can have a relationship with Him, but only on His terms. He knows what we value, and what we intend, and judges incorrect values and motives. He chooses people and peoples to bless, but will forsake them if they don't obey and forsake Him.

Us in a nutshell: We can know and serve God with a perfect heart and a willing mind, and experience consequent blessing, if we put the effort into seeking and obeying Him. We have the opportunity to delight Him by recognizing that He is the one who gives us what we have; those rightly related to Him can seek and receive the power, honor, riches and strength He offers. We can forsake God, and in doing so, not only forfeit the blessings He's given us, but wind up being forsaken by Him as well.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

The Faithfulness Series at the end of the TOYL book.

1 Chronicles 23-29 complete text

1 Chronicles 23

23:1 Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel. 2 He gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites. 3 The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand. 4 David said, "Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Yahweh; six thousand were officers and judges; 5 four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Yahweh with the instruments which I made, for giving praise." 6 David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 7 Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. 8 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three. 9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan. 10 The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons; therefore they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning. 12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, forever, to burn incense before Yahweh, to minister to him, and to bless in his name, forever. 14 But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. 17 The sons of Eliezer were: Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second. 21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only: and their brothers the sons of Kish took them as wives. 23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi after their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’ houses of those who were counted individually, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and upward. 25 For David said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people; and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 Also the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service." 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Yahweh, in the courts, and in the rooms, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God; 29 for the show bread also, and for the fine flour for a meal offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all kinds of measure and size; 30 and to stand every morning to thank and praise Yahweh, and likewise in the evening; 31 and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh, on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Yahweh; 32 and that they should keep the duty of the Tent of Meeting, and the duty of the holy place, and the duty of the sons of Aaron their brothers, for the service of the house of Yahweh.

1 Chronicles 24

24:1 These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office. 3 David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service. 4 There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and they were divided like this: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight. 5 Thus were they divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. 6 Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers’ house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. 7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, 15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, 16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, 17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, 18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. 19 This was their ordering in their service, to come into the house of Yahweh according to the ordinance given to them by Aaron their father, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

20 Of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. 21 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief. 22 Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. 23 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24 The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. 25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. 26 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah: Beno. 27 The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri. 28 Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. 29 Of Kish; the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel. 30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers’ houses. 31 These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers’ households of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

1 Chronicles 25

25:1 Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with stringed instruments, and with cymbals: and the number of those who did the work according to their service was: 2 of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied after the order of the king. 3 Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh. 4 Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of Yahweh, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king. 7 The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to Yahweh, even all who were skilful, was two hundred eighty-eight.

8 They cast lots for their offices, all alike, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar. 9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah; he and his brothers and sons were twelve: 10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 14 the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 20 for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 21 for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 22 for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 23 for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 24 for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 25 for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 26 for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 27 for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 28 for the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 29 for the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 30 for the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve: 31 for the four and twentieth to Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.

1 Chronicles 26

26:1 For the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2 Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. 4 Obed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him. 6 Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born, who ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valour. 7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brothers were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah. 8 All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom: they and their sons and their brothers, able men in strength for the service; sixty-two of Obed-Edom. 9 Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, valiant men, eighteen. 10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen. 12 Of these were the divisions of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brothers, to minister in the house of Yahweh. 13 They cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to their fathers’ houses, for every gate. 14 The lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward. 15 To Obed-Edom southward; and to his sons the storehouse. 16 To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, watch against watch. 17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the storehouse two and two. 18 For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar. 19 These were the divisions of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.

20 Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things. 21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers’ households belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. 22 The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Yahweh. 23 Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites: 24 and Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasures. 25 His brothers: of Eliezer, Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son. 26 This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers’ households, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated. 27 They dedicated some of the spoil won in battles to repair the house of Yahweh. 28 All that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brothers.

29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges. 30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valour, one thousand seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Yahweh, and for the service of the king. 31 Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers’ households. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead. 32 His brothers, men of valour, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers’ households, whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.

1 Chronicles 27

27:1 Now the children of Israel after their number, the heads of fathers’ households and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king, in any matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year—of every division were twenty-four thousand. 2 Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 3 He was of the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month. 4 Over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his division; and Mikloth the ruler: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 5 The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, chief: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 6 This is that Benaiah, who was the mighty man of the thirty, and over the thirty: and of his division was Ammizabad his son. 7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 8 The fifth captain for this fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites: and in his division were Twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

16 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri the ruler: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah: 17 of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of Aaron, Zadok: 18 of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael: 19 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel: 20 of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah: 21 of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner: 22 of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David didn’t take the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Yahweh had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the sky. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but didn’t finish; and there came wrath for this on Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David. 25 Over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah: 26 Over those who did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub: 27 and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite: 28 and over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash: 29 and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai: 30 and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. 31 All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s. 32 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counsellor, a man of understanding, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons: 33 Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend: 34 and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the captain of the king’s army was Joab.

1 Chronicles 28

28:1 David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies who served the king by division, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valour, to Jerusalem. 2 Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, "Hear me, my brothers, and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building. 3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.’ 4 However Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom over Israel. 6 He said to me, ‘Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever, if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as at this day.’ 8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. 9 You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it."

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple, and of its houses, and of its treasuries, and of the upper rooms of it, and of the inner rooms of it, and of the place of the mercy seat; 12 and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of Yahweh, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things; 13 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh, and for all the vessels of service in the house of Yahweh; 14 of gold by weight for the gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service; 15 by weight also for the lampstands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps; and for the lampstands of silver, by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lampstand; 16 and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver; 17 and the forks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl; 18 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, the cherubim, that spread out, and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. 19 "All this," said David, "I have been made to understand in writing from the hand of Yahweh, even all the works of this pattern." 20 David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of Yahweh is finished." 21 Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God. There shall be with you in all kinds of work every willing man who has skill, for any kind of service. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command.

1 Chronicles 29

29:1 David the king said to all the assembly, "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Yahweh God." 2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the brass for the things of brass, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, stones for inlaid work, and of various colours, and all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 3 In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, 4 even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses; 5 of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of artisans. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself this day to Yahweh?" 6 Then the princes of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly; 7 and they gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and of iron a hundred thousand talents. 8 They with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of Yahweh, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

10 Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, "You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever." 11 Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all; and in your hand is power and might; and it is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank you, and praise your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 15 For we are strangers before you, and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no remaining. 16 Yahweh our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and is all your own. 17 I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now have I seen with joy your people, that are present here, offer willingly to you. 18 Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you; 19 and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision."

Ecclesiastes 1-3, 11-12 A Worthy Purpose

2 Chronicles 13-16 Win By Waiting on God

1 Chronicles 23-29 Blessing the God Who Blesses Us

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