anitasanecdotes

We continue the chronicles of the history of the people of Israel.

2 Chronicles 1 opens with Solomon worshiping at the tent of meeting. He offers 1000 sacrifices to God. This certainly seems excessive. The term 1000 is often used to indicate simply a large number. Whether Solomon really offered 1000 sacrifices or not is irrelevant, what is important is that he was exceedingly grateful to God. That night God appears to Solomon and asks him what he wants. Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge in his dealings with the people. Solomon could have asked for anything and yet he desired to be a good ruler over God’s people. God grants him his request but also gives him riches and wealth. The rest of the chapter describes some of that wealth.

In 2 Chronicles 2 Solomon decides to build a temple for God and a palace for himself. He asks King Huram of Tyre for supplies and workers to add to those from Judah and Israel. Solomon takes a census of the aliens who live in the land of Israel and makes them laborers.

Solomon knows the task of building the temple is an awesome responsibility. He says “But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?” He knows that he is not worthy of the task. We are often called by God to do more than we are qualified or feel capable of doing. We know that we are not worthy of God’s trust in us. All we can do, as Solomon did, is make our task an offering to the Lord. He will bless it.

In Galatians 4 Paul addresses that fact that even though the Galatians have been freed from the law by God through Christ they are resorting to their old ways as though they are still in slavery to the law. We are no longer slaves but have been made children of God. We call him “Abba!” which actually means “Daddy.” We are God’s heirs and no longer enslaved by the law. He encourages them to drive out the slave and live in freedom.

We have been freed by Christ. Even so, we often fall back into our old lives, as though we are still slaves to that behavior. But the reality is that we are free. We no longer have to feel that we are helpless. We can change. We can be victorious over those temptations that lead us away from God. God is always with us. Lean on Him and he will lead you on the right path.

In 1 Chronicles 28 and 29 David assembles all the officials in Israel. He tells them of God’s promise to have his son build the temple. He encourages them to follow God’s commandments. He commissions Solomon with the task of building the house of God. David tells Solomon to serve God with a single mind and willing heart. God had given David instructions regarding the building of the temple and he gives those instructions to those present.

David has provided for the temple from his wealth and those present are asked to give freewill offerings that go into the temple treasury. David then prays a prayer of blessing to the Lord.  They make sacrifices and worship together.

Solomon takes the throne. God exalts Solomon in the sight of all Israel.

Psalm 70 is a brief impassioned prayer for help to God.

Psalm 71 is likely a continuation of Psalm 70. It affirms that God is a rock of refuge. The writer has trusted in God in the past and continues to do so. It asks that God deliver him from his enemies. It blesses the Lord for His wondrous deeds.

Psalm 71 could be the prayer of a younger David continuing to put faith in God and promising it into his old age. Our chronicles chapters prove that promise to be true.

1 Chronicles 24-27 contain lists of those who serve the house of God as well as those who serve David in other ways.

In Galatians 3 Paul addresses the fact that the Galatians have fallen into the believe that Gentile must follow the law. He says that Christ redeems us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. The promised covenant with Abraham for both Jews and Gentiles came 400+ years before the law was ever written. How can the law nullify the promise? The law was our disciplinarian until Christ came. Now we clothe ourselves with Christ at baptism and are heirs of the promise.

So often we want to make our salvation (justification) about keeping the rules…about being good enough. Our salvation is not about us it is about Jesus and what he did for us. He is the one who paid the price. We belong to him. He deserves all the credit and all our gratitude.

In 1 Chronicles 22 and 23 David decides to build the house of God at this threshing floor. He makes preparations so that his son Solomon may build the house of God. David arranges for the stone and wood and workers to be ready. He also makes arrangements for the Levites and sons of Aaron to be the priests in the sanctuary. David tells Solomon about God’s word to him and encourages him to keep the faith. David commands the leaders of Israel to help Solomon in this task. David makes Solomon king over Israel.

This is a different story than the one in 1 Kings. David cannot help himself. He wants to provide a place of worship to the God who has shown him so much favor.

In Galatians 2 Paul continues to speak about his journey as an apostle. He relays an ongoing conversation he has been having with Jewish followers who believe that Gentiles must be circumcised in order to follow Christ. Paul claims that we are justified by faith in Christ not by doing works of the law. If justification can come only through the law then it nullifies the grace of God and Christ died for nothing. On the other hand he states that we have been crucified with Christ and now He lives in us. That life in Christ is not dependent upon the law.

1 Chronicles 19 recounts an episode with the king of the Ammonites. David decides to approach the Ammonite king after his father dies. He had good dealings with the father and wants to continue it with the son. David sends consolers to the new king. The king’s advisors make him suspicious of David’ s intentions and they humiliate the consolers. Instead of being grateful for the support the king shows his disregard for David. He mounts a battle against David along with the Arameans. Joab and Abishai lead the troops against both forces and the Arameans and Ammonites flee. God has been with them in the battle. The Arameans make peace with David and are unwilling to support the Ammonites in the future.

In 1 Chronicles 20 David fights battles against the Ammonites and the Philistines. David wins the battles.

1 Chronicles 21 begins with a contradiction of the account in 2 Samuel. In that account God had David make a count of the people. In this account Satan incites David to count the people. Since later in the passage David admits his sin in counting the people, it is possible that the later writers of the chronicle struggled with God inciting sin. In this account, also, Joab questions David’s command. Joab doesn’t come off as favorably in the other account of David’s life. David confesses his sin to God who gives David a choice of punishments. David chooses pestilence and the angel of the Lord coming to destroy throughout Israel.

The angel comes to Jerusalem but God stops him from killing anyone there. David sees the angel with a sword drawn at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David takes responsibility for the sin and asks God to punish him alone. David wants to buy the threshing floor to build an altar to God. Ornan offers it and animals for the sacrifice for free but David says he will not offer offerings that cost him nothing.  David presented his offerings on the altar. God answered with fire from heaven and stayed the hand of the angel.

David would not offer to God something that cost him nothing. This is an interesting concept. When we do things for God it should involve some measure of sacrifice. Giving to God things that do not cost us cheapens the offering. It requires no commitment. God desires commitment.

In Psalm 69 the writer is feeling overwhelmed by his circumstance. He feels as though he is drowning in his troubles. Everything and everyone is turning against him. He asks that God deliver him from those who would hurt him. He acknowledges that God hears the needy and does not despise his own.

1 Chronicles 17 recounts David’s desire to build a house for God.  As in 2 Samuel God states that he doesn’t want a house. God tells David that he will be great and that his line will raise up a ruler whose kingdom will be established by God to last forever. This humbles David that God would honor him in such a way. He recognizes God’s greatness and power and is awed that God would choose him and the people of Israel for redemption and honor. David prays that God’s name will be established and magnified forever through this promised kingdom.

In 1 Chronicles 18 David wins many battles. He takes large amounts of bounty and receives many tributes. All of this he dedicates to the Lord. God gave him victory wherever he went. David ruled with equity and justice.

God’s blessings should humble us. Who are we that God should think about us? God has chosen us to be his people. He redeems us to walk in His ways. He blesses us with all that we have. The only suitable response to God’s great expression of love is gratitude and humility.

Galatians 1 a new letter we are starting today is short but is jammed-packed with challenges to live a life worthy of God’s calling. This is another strong letter form Paul. The people of Galatia are leaving the gospel they received from him and accepting another gospel.

Paul gives an account of his testimony, how he persecuted the church until he was called by God. The gospel he brings is not his own but that of God. He has been traveling throughout the Gentile world proclaiming the gospel.

We are constantly being presented with gospels that are not true to the one proclaimed in the Bible. We need to check the credentials of those presenting it to be certain that they are truly speaking God’s word and not just their own. They may be popular and successful but they are also leading the faithful astray.

In 1 Chronicles 15 David arranges for a place for the ark and for the Levites only to carry it and prepares for a second attempt at bringing the ark to Jerusalem. David makes certain that all involved sanctify themselves before the endeavor. Because God helps the Levites carry the ark and no one dies they sacrifice 7 bulls and 7 rams. In this account David is clothed in a robe of fine linen and an ephod. All of Israel brought the ark into Jerusalem with shouting, loud music and dancing. Michal, Saul’s daughter and David’s wife sees David leaping and dancing and despises him in her heart.

1 Chronicles 16 recounts the time of worship when the ark is set in the tent. Burnt offerings and offerings of well-being are made. Then David gives every person there a loaf of bread, a portion of meat and a cake of raisins. David appointed musicians to sing praises to God and to blow the trumpet continually before the ark. The first song recounts God’s covenant with Abraham and how God delivered his people. It tells of the greatness of our Lord.  Then all the people said “Amen!” and praised the Lord.

In 2 Corinthians 13 Paul reminds the Corinthians that this is the third time he is coming to them. He promises to be stern with the punishments of those who have been disobedient. He tells them to examine their faith and see if they are living in it. Because they have Christ in them they should be able to resist the temptation to sin. He wants to spend his time with them to build them up not to be severe with them as they continue in sin. Paul closes his letter appealing them to put things in order, agree with one another, and live in peace. The last sentence has become a commonly used benediction in worship.

We all need to remember that Christ is in us giving us the ability to resist sin. We are no longer slaves to doing what is wrong but now can choose what is right in God’s sight.

1 Chronicles 11 recounts how the people make David their king. He leads them to Jerusalem and conquers the city. David has three chief warriors Jashobeam, Joab and Eleazar. They are referred to by the name the Three. With David they win many victories. Once during a battle David becomes thirsty. The Three break into the Philistine camp and draw water from the well. David doesn’t drink it though because they risked their lives to get it. David also has an elite team called the Thirty who do many mighty deeds.

In 1 Chronicles 12 David rebuilds alliances with those who followed Saul. They become a mighty army.

1 Chronicles 13 David gathers all the people of Israel together along with the priests and Levites. They retrieve the ark of God and begin to bring it to Jerusalem. When Uzzah is killed by God for touching the ark David leaves the ark with Obed-edom for three months. God blesses him during this time.

1 Chronicles 14 describes King Hiram of Tyre’s gift of supplies and workers to build David’s house. David’s reign is established. David and the Philistines engage in battle again. David ultimately wins the battle with God’s help. His fame spreads to all the lands around Israel and they fear God.

In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul continues to boast of how God has worked in his life so the Corinthians will listen to him. He describes an out of body experience where he went to Paradise (what we call heaven). He does not say that he specifically was the person but intimates it strongly.

Paul implies that he has experienced many powerful revelations of the Lord. He says he would rather boast of his weaknesses though. He speaks of a thorn in his flesh Satan uses to torment him. Even though he has asked God to remove it God has refused, saying, “My grace is sufficient for you.” He encourages us to be content with our weaknesses and struggles because it is in our weakness that Christ can be revealed.

He again, compares his weakness with the “strength” of the super apostles saying that he will not burden the Corinthian church. He is willing to be spent for them. Everything he and Titus have done is for the building up of the church. Paul also expresses his concern about how he will find the church, that they have not remained strong in the faith since he has been away.

There is a lot of sarcasm expressed in this part of the letter. Paul is clearly angry and disappointed by the church at Corinth. It must have been very disappointing to go into a place to bring the gospel and yet see that the people return to their old ways in his absence. Paul has stated that he is strong in his letters so that he can be gentle in person. Certainly we are seeing very strong opinions being expressed here.

1 Chronicles 7 continues with the genealogies. There is a description of a battle between Gath and the household of Ephraim. The people of Gath killed Ephraim’s sons. After a period of mourning Ephraim had another son Beriah. Of particular note is that Ephraim’s daughter Sheerah built the cities of Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah.

1 Chronicles 8 lists the family of Benjamin. It is to be noted that King Saul is a descendant of Benjamin.

1 Chronicles 9 opens with a account of the fact that Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. It lists some of the lines of the priests, Levites and gatekeepers. The gatekeepers were established by King David and Samuel. They kept watch over the tent of meeting and its contents.

Also mentioned are the singers who lived in the chambers of the temple and remained on duty day and night.

1 Chronicles 10 recalls the battle between the Philistines and Israel when Saul’s sons: Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua are killed. Saul is so bereft he kills himself. The Philistines take Saul’s body and put it in the temple of Dagon. The people of Jabesh-gilead of Israel retrieve Saul’s body and those of his sons and bury them under the oak of Jabesh, where Saul often sat. The chronicle notes that Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the Lord by not keeping God’s command, consulting a medium and not seeking guidance from God. God turned the kingdom over to David.

The chronicles are showing the results of both faithfulness and unfaithfulness. They are a reminder to those who are now the people of God to be faithful.

Psalm 68 is a battle cry to God. God protects orphans, widows, the desolate and prisoners. But God scatters his enemies like smoke and they perish like wax in a fire. The psalm recounts how God has provided in the past as an encouragement to the tribes of Israel who now enter into battle. God’s armies join them to lead them to victory.

I Chronicles 4 includes a list of the sons of Judah other than David’s line. Included in this list is Jabez who follows the Lord. He asks God to bless him and increase his lands. God grants him his request. The list also describes the occupations taken up by the family lines.

Also included in this chapter is the line of Simeon. It describes the cities inhabited by their descendants until David becomes king. During the time of Hezekiah some of the Simeonites expanded their territory to pasture their flocks and Mount Seir.

1 Chronicles 5 includes the sons of Reuben. The chronicle explains that although Reuben was the firstborn of Jacob, because of his sin, his birthright is given to Joseph. It notes that even though Judah’s line bears a ruler the birthright is Joseph’s. The Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh were great warriors. They cried out to God who allowed them to claim lands, livestock and bounty. They lived in this part of Israel. Later the lines sinned against God and were taken into Assyria.

1 Chronicles 6 includes the sons of Levi. Some of them are put into the service in the house of the Lord after the Ark of the Covenant is brought into Jerusalem. Aaron’s sons, though, are responsible for making offerings on the altar.  They are listed here as well. They are given the cities of refuge. The Levites are given cities in each of the twelve tribes’ lands.

In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul is concerned that they may be tempted to follow a gospel which is false brought by so called super apostles. The Corinthians are captivated by what these folks have gone through. Paul apologizes for not telling the Corinthians of all the sacrifices he went through in bringing them the gospel. He boasts now of the tribulations he has gone through in order that they will know what his apostolic journey has been.

We seem to be enticed by dramatic stories of faith, thinking them more powerful or truer than those who have day by day walked in the ways of the Lord. Don’t be fooled. Test everyone’s message with the gospel. Only then will we know if it is true.