1 Chronicles 22

David has prepared the way for Solomon to build the temple.  But before he turns him loose on that task, he has some direction for his leadership.  He tells asks that God will give him “discernment and understanding….so that you will rule in reverent obedience”.  What a great prayer and a clear direction.  Seek God for discernment and understanding and then use that to lead with reverent obedience.  David goes on to say: “that’s what will make you successful, following the directions and doing the things that God commanded”.  Guys – here is the formula for success as a leader.  Follow what God says – be obedient.  It is not magic, it is pretty darn straightforward.  David tells Solomon four specific things that make up obedience:

1. Courage

2. Take charge

3. Don’t be timid

4. Don’t hold back

What a great set of guidelines to follow.  If we just lead this way, if we learn to lead like Jesus did, we can be fantastic leaders that will make a mark on history.  But the great ones did it God’s way.  It wasn’t about Jeff, or Phil, or Zach, or Dave, or even Arlin.  It is about God and his way.  It is how David ends this chapter – telling Solomon the key is to do it “in honor of God”.  It is all about Him and serving Him guys.  We can’t lose sight of our task.  Along the way we have to make sure our heart lines up with that.  Now go do the right thing!

1 Chronicles 22

David is getting ready to pass the torch to Solomon as the next leader.  David has spent most of his life fighting the enemies of Israel.  But now he moves to more strategic planning.  Check this out: “I’ll get the construction materials together”.  Guys – David is moving from being on the battle front to making sure he passes leadership to Solomon and sets him up for success.  David has been prevented from constructing the temple he so desperately wanted to build.  God told him no.  It was to be built by his son.  So “David prepared a huge stockpile of building materials before he died”.  That is leadership.  This wasn’t his task.  It wasn’t his responsibility.  But he took it upon himself to make sure that Solomon would not only succeed but build an unbelievable temple to honor God.  He is investing in the future to make sure that his son will be successful in his future.  What an example guys.   Do you think about the next leader that will come behind you?  At home as your kids leave the nest, or at work as you either step down or empower others to step up?  How about at church or community responsibilities?  Are you focused on putting the building blocks in place for their success?  That is the mark of a real leader.  They are not focused only on the present and their responsibilities for the here and now, but also on the success of whatever they are leading for the future.  David sets the example and a pretty high bar for us to attain guys.  We have to really be thinking ahead to make sure that those who follow are set up to succeed.  What a legacy to leave behind – helping the future succeed…..

1 Chronicles 21

 Remember that in the first half of 1 Chronicles 21 – David was seduced by Satan and sins.  God gave him three choices as punishment for his sin.  David chooses now – he wants to be hit by an “epidemic” which kills “70,000 Israelites”.  As the angel of death approaches Jerusalem to continue the punishment, God intervenes and halts things.  Sort of seems like a time out to me – to see what David would do based on the pain so far.  Here is David’s response: “Punish me, not them, me and my family; don’t take it out on them”.  Guys – here is what intercession looks like along with taking responsibility for one’s actions.  David knew he screwed up and this killing was a result.  He also did not pass the buck – he steps up and says to punish him.  Intercession is when we are willing to step in the middle and become the responsible party.  We see it in scripture over and over.  Moses did it when he interceded for the people offering his life if God would spare them.  Jesus did it for us and paid the ultimate price.  David shows leadership here.  He owns up to his mistake and offers to pay the price rather than let it flow down any longer to his people.  That is real leadership.  No finger pointing, no excuses.  God stops the killing and tells David to build an altar – check out his response: “David did what Gad told him in obedience to GOD’s command”.  Immediate and complete obedience.  Here is the essence of it – and why David was one of the beloved in scripture – not because of his perfection – but because of his willingness to obey when he was clear on what to do.  Not only did he build it like instructed – he also was unwilling to compromise in the process.  Araunuh was trying to be a faithful man in the kingdom and offered to give David what he needed to be obedient.  But David didn’t make that mistake: “I’m not going to offer GOD sacrifices that are no sacrifice”.  David pays full price and makes sure that his obedience was complete – that he offered God true sacrifice and made things right.  The temptation would have been to cut corners and sort of obey.  David learned from his mistake and went all the way to obedience God’s way.  Leadership is a big deal guys.  70,000 people died because their leader made a mistake and was deceived by the enemy.  The decision to take a census seems pretty innocent except that underneath it all was a lack of faith and in effect, disobedience to God.  How we live matters!

1 Chronicles 21

In 1 Chronicles 21, things start off badly.  I could tell after the first few words it was gonna be a bad day for David.  It starts like this: “Now Satan entered the scene”.  Guys – this takes place over and over every day.  He is in our scenes.  He is out to do the same to you and me that he did to David – catch this: “Satan…seduced David”.  He didn’t come blaring in and pick a fight.  He came quietly and seductively and got David to fall.  What was the sin?  “David gave orders…I want to know the number”.  He wanted to have a census taken of how many were in the kingdom.  Why?  Pride.  No real need for it.  No value to be gained – David wanted to know just because – because it would make him feel powerful to know.  Poor decision but a key to Satan’s approach in our lives.  He wants to seduce us in these seemingly harmless ways.   But “God, offended by the whole thing, punished Israel”.  So David’s poor judgement really caused a big problem.  “The David prayed, I have sinned badly….substituting statistics for trust, forgive my sin, I’ve been really stupid”.  It didn’t take long for David to get it, but it was too late.  The sin was committed and the cost already in motion.  David screwed up and there was a price to pay, not by him, but by all of Israel.  That is the responsibility we carry as leaders guys.  We are accountable for what we do and it impacts those we lead.  Sin always is a bigger issue than it appears on the surface.  It always goes deeper than we want it to go and affects way more people than we want it to.  There is a cost to sin and it is huge.  David found out.  God told him to pick one of three punishments:

1. three years of famine

2. three months of running from enemies

3. three days of the sword of God

How would you like that decision on your plate?  David has to choose one.  Tomorrow we will find out which, but remember how it all started?  “Satan entered the scene”.  How do we prevent that?  By walking moment by moment with the Father.  Darkness can not enter where there is light.  If we will discipline ourselves to walk with our God moment by moment, day by day, we can keep the enemy at bay.  We also need to stay prayed up and be praying for each other.  Satan wants to enter your scene right now.  Will you resist him?  We have the victory and the power over him.  But we have to be plugged in to the source.  That is the key.  Stay connected – to God and each other!

1 Chronicles 20

 1 Chronicles 20 is a very short book.  Only 8 verses and all of it about war.  David’s men went after the Ammonites and the Philistines multiple times in those short verses, and each time they annilated the enemy.  It wasn’t just a little victory – scripture tells us they “ravaged” the Ammonites.  These are the folks who ticked David off previously when they humiliated his attempt to be nice to them.  Three examples are shown in the last four verses of their conquest with the Philistines.  Three more giants were slain.  Listen to what scripture says about this one: “a hulking giant who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six on each hand and foot”.  Now that is a really big giant.  I also had not know that this one was killed by Jonathan – David’s brother.  Scripture tells us that one of the giants killed was “Goliath’s brother” who carried a “spear like a ship’s boom”.  Another big dude to bring down.  Where are the “giants” in your life?  What needs to be defeated?  God is in the business of bringing down giants.  He is all about removing things that keep us from living victoriously.  We don’t have to do it alone.  But we do need to be willing to face them.  We do need to be willing to get out of the easy chair and stand up to them – to be God’s instrument  to victory.  Are you doing that?  Are you willing to go to battle with the giants in your life.  Not alone, but with God.  That is how victory occurs guys.  When we step out of our comfort zone with God’s power and win!

1 Chronicles 19

David reaches out to Hanun, son of Nahash – the king of Ammon who just died.  As Hanun took the throne David “sent condolences about his father’s death” but Hanun’s advisors told him it was a plot and they humiliate the messengers and send them packing.  The Ammonites hire a bunch of people to go to war with them against Israel.  Twice they muster up a lot of fighters only to retreat and run high tail when David’s army approaches.  David’s men killed 47,000 of them in one battle – a massacre to say the least.  The impressive thing to me was the way Joab – commander of David’s army – prepared his men for battle.  Check out what he says: “GOD will do whatever he sees needs doing”!  There was not a detailed plan of attack – pretty much one half takes on one group and the rest the other group of enemies.  But Joab left the details to God.  He went into battle with God as the commander.  There is much wisdom here guys.  We need to go into every day with that same attitude.  God will do whatever he sees needs doing – but he does it through us.  We need to line up with His plan and His direction for our life.  Had Joab said that and then sat the army down to watch what God would do – the outcome would likely have been much different on who died that day.  Sure God could have still given them victory, but I think God usually works through His people to make things happen from my experience.  And we are His people – the ones He wants to work through are US!  Follow Him.  Watch Him work!

1 Chronicles 18

 1 Chronicles 18 reveals God’s faithfulness to the promise He made to David of overcoming his enemies.  Scripture tells us he “plundered from other nations: Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek”.  He was on a roll.  He did not lose a battle, because scripture tells us “GOD gave victory to David wherever he marched”.  What was the key to this?  David walked with God.  He was tuned in to what God was up to.  He was blessed because of his relationship with the Father.  God wants us to experience the same guys.  He wants us to live victoriously.  Jesus went to the cross for that very reason – that we might “have life in abundance” as scripture tells us.  David is a stellar example of that kind of living.  He brought back all kinds of plunder from the nations he conquered, and it was later used by Solomon to rebuild the temple.  Tens of thousands fell at God’s hand through David’s march. 

But it didn’t go to David’s head – check out what scripture tells us about his rule: “He ruled well, fair and evenhanded in all his duties and relationships”.  Three descriptive words that tell us an awful lot about David.  He ruled:

1.      Well

2.      Fair

3.      Evenhanded

David did not allow the thrill of victory to cloud his leadership.  He was consistent in all his duties and relationships.  He led all the people of Israel as well as all those whom were conquered.  Victory comes with responsibility.  It is one thing, perhaps the easy thing, to win.  The hard part is the ongoing leadership and responsibility that follows.  We need to learn much from David’s life.  We need to lead through victory to responsibility.  I long to hear the same about my life someday – “well done, good and faithful servant”.  How about you?  

1 Chronicles 17

David gets a lesson from Nathan on the past, present and future in the first half of 1 Chronicles 17, and in the last half, David responds to that truth.  Scripture tells us “David went in, took his place before God, and prayed”.  Here we go again men.  We have seen it with all of the great men of faith – they pray.  They know their rightful place before God.  They know who is in control.  David starts his prayer like this: “Who am I”.  Here we have the king of Israel approaching the God of the universe in the right way – with humility and understanding that God is God, not him.  It just reminds me of the truth from the Purpose Driven Life book – it’s not about me.  It is about God.  David also is greatful: “you’ve…given me a glimpse into tomorrow and looked on me….as somebody….even though you know me, just as I am”.  Isn’t it wonderful that God can see beyond the issue of the moment and know who we are down deep.  He is not influenced by the present alone – He knows the past, present and future and knows most of all how He created us.  David continues by praying “there’s none like you, God”.  Guys – here is the essence of our relationship with God.  He loves us beyond our ability to understand because He knows us beyond our ability to comprehend.  There is none like Him.  He is awesome and worthy to be praised.  We need to approach Him just like David – through prayer and understanding not only who He is, but who we are in Him. 

 David also gives a couple statements that I hope we all can work toward in our walk as well.  “the house of your servant David will remain rock solid under your watchful presence”.  Are you committed to keeping your house “rock solid” for our Lord?  What does that mean to you?  David also says “you’ve blessed my family so that it will continue in your presence always”.  God has blessed each of us beyond our ability to understand, which is enough to give us the same reason to stay connected as David had.  Are you focused on staying “in His presence” every day?  Not just yourself, but leading your family there as well?  It is our role guys – we are the spiritual leaders God has called for our homes.  If we don’t do it, who will?  I encourage you to consider how to lead your “house” into God’s presence daily and how to “remain rock solid” in serving Him and walking with Him as a family.  That is what God desires.  David showed us how – through PRAYER.  Let’s get after it!

1 Chronicles 17

David talks with Nathan in 1 Chronicles 17 about building a house for the Chest of the Convenant to reside in.  But Nathan gets a vision from God and comes to David with some truth from God Himself.  God does not want David to build a house of cedar for the Chest.  Listen carefully to what God says to David through Nathan:

 

1.      I took you from the pasture….and made you prince

2.      I was with you everywhere….and mowed your enemies down before you

3.      I’m about to make you famous

4.      I’m going to set aside a place for my people

5.      I’m going to conquer all your enemies

6.      I’ll raise up your child to succeed you

7.      I will guarantee his kingdom’s rule forever

8.      I’ll be a father to him

9.      I will never remove my gracious love from him

10.  I will set him over my house and kingdom forever

 What a list of promises that Nathan delivers to David.  Talk about a great top 10 list to have.  God reviews the past, the present and the future.  He has a plan like this for you and me too.  Scripture is clear that God has thought of it all before we were even born.  David could have missed all this had he not been willing to listen.  Will we have a “Nathan” to come spell it out this clearly?  Maybe not, but that doesn’t change the reality that God’s plan is equally detailed for our life.  We need to be seeking Him to get a handle on just what that plan is.  We need to be listening to all the people God uses to speak truth into our life.  We mostly need to expect that God wants us to know and is making it plain for us.  He isn’t in the business of keeping us in the dark and unaware.  We do that ourselves when we don’t take the time and energy to seek Him.  We need to approach the throne seeking.  “If you seek, you will find, when you seek with all your heart”.  Are you seeking?

1 Chronicles 16

The last half of 1 Chronicles 16 captures a list of “why” God is worth praising.  David calls out these specifics which we would be well to consider:

1.      God made the cosmos

2.      Splendor and majesty flow out of him

3.      Strength and joy fill his place

4.      Robes of holiness

5.      Put the earth in place

6.      God reigns

7.      He is good

8.      His love never quits

What a list of characteristics of our God.  He is the king of kings and Lord of Lords.   Ponder on this list – do you recognize these anywhere other than in God?  He alone is worthy of our praise.  He alone is the One who we need to be connected with.

 

The other thing that jumped out at me today was David’s comment in verse 30: “God is serious business, take him seriously”.  Sometimes I tend to see God as just out there somewhere, and not always as seriously as I should.  God is intimately aware of what I do and who I am, and life is serious business.  We are playing for keeps guys.  God cares how we live.  We may be able to convince ourselves that we can slide by and get away with living outside His plan, but that won’t last.  Judgment day is coming and we better be ready for it.  One of the ways we can take God seriously is by worshipping Him like David did.  We need to make a habit out of praising Him each day – of putting Him in His rightful place in our lives and never forgetting that He, not we, are in fact God.  Is He on the throne of your life?  Is He the center of your universe?  That is where He has to be.  Praise Him with this list and meditate on His greatness.  He is an awesome God!