Bible study Daily, explanation and encouragement - 1 Chronicles
When you face a challenge, do you depend on your own wisdom to succeed, or do you seek advice from others? For all his strength and power, David knew the value of reliable advice. Look for people who can give you straight and reliable advice, and take advantage of the wisdom they have to offer.
In this time of crisis, we simply accept what is presented to us. Or do we investigate on the Internet what other doctors tell us?
With the arrival of the chip in the hand in Sweden, for which one can register VOLUNTARY and governments wish to oblige vaccinations, or else one is denied access (supermarket), the arrival of the Great Tribulation is getting closer.
Are you ready for the Rapture of the Church? Is your spiritual life in order with the Lord Jesus Christ and your neighbor?
There are days when we do not see it anymore. Everything is going wrong, the problems are rising above our heads. The powers of darkness are coming towards us in ALL force. All problems of Covid-19 and financial consequences.
How did David react when he learned that ALL the Philistines were coming? Anxious, in a panic? No, after the first shock David turned to God. He prayed and brought his huge problem to God. The Philistines had a much larger army than King David's. David asked: Shall I go up and will You give me victory? God replied after David sought God: Yes, I give them into your hand. And they were completely defeated.
The powers of darkness, satan and demons, they are no match for us. Their power is gigantic. Yet the Christian who lives under the control of the Holy Spirit need not be afraid. The Lord Jesus Christ has defeated the powers of darkness on the Cross. However, the condition is that the believer will pray FIRST and ask whether he or she will go up and whether Jesus will give the victory. With a YES, the believer can go up. Can he or she proclaim the gospel. Can go to the mission field.
In this age of Covid-19, the Christian need not fear, provided he or she keeps the precautions. Jesus says that we should obey the authorities. Today we must think about our neighbors, but we must not risk recklessly (contamination) if Jesus has not sent us.
1 Chronicles 16:8 through 36 helps us to understand the value and necessity of thanksgiving. What are the things you are most grateful for? Be sure to give thanks to God every day. Like David, remember to give thanks for his wonderful works, for his eternal mercy, for the good news of his salvation, for his beauty and holiness, and for his goodness. Keep your tank full of gratitude and, like David, you will marvel at the greatness of God.
To be at the center of God's Will and to have His blessings, three elements are needed on our part:
- We must do the right thing. David's attitude in wanting to build a temple was correct. Sometimes we want to achieve "things" in our lives and go to illegal, use outlawed means. Sometimes people want to do things for God in the wrong way too, outside of what the Bible teaches. So you have to do what is right, not what is easier and faster, but legal, moral, etc.
- At the right time - David's purpose was correct, but the occasion was not appropriate. Perhaps if they had prayed before, they would also have understood the appropriate occasion. David was not allowed to build the temple, because he was a man of blood and war, but his son would be able to fulfill this desire to build a house for the Lord. It is also like that in our lives, we ask: God, why did not it change to move to another city, why did not I get that job? Why did not I marry such a person? Calm down, everything has the right time.
- For certain reasons and intentions 2 Chronicles 6:8. If any of these elements are missing, it is impossible to serve God in an acceptable way. David did not qualify in the second, but he met more than two-thirds of the requirements.
In these verses, there are elements of true worship:
- Acceptance of God's will- As David's attitude was correct, he was able to respond with praise and gratitude, even in the face of God's refusal to accept his offer.
- Gratitude for God's promise- He understood that the Lord, who had made a covenant with Abraham and will speak through Moses, would continue to bless Israel through the seed of David to the Messiah.
- Recognition of God's divinity- David reaches the peak of his prayer in verse 20: O LORD, and there is no God besides thee.
- Request for the blessing of God.
- Concern with the glory of God- (v23-24) ... and do as thou hast spoken; and thy name will be established and magnified for ever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel's God,' and the house of thy servant David will be established before thee.
The choice was God's. Solomon could decide whether he would obey or not, but he could not choose the consequences. There was acceptance if he obeyed; rejection if he did not fulfill the Lord's mandate. David exhorted Solomon: Strive and do the work (v 10). This exhortation echoes and cries out in the ears of all the servants of God in their own generations.
Verses 6-10 suggest "the conditions for settling down". These include:
- The search and fulfillment of God's commandments.
- A personal knowledge of God.
- A perfect heart.
- A willing mind.
- The strength to obey.
God bless you!