Day 355

1 Chronicles 15:

David prepares himself to achieve his greatest quest – to bring the presence of the Lord (in the form of the Ark of the Covenant) into his city.  This time he challenges the priests and Levites to sanctify themselves in readiness because this was lacking the first time.  David prepares singers and musicians so that the road will be paved with worship.  He prepares sacrifice and offering so that every few paces connection with and appeasement of God takes place.  It is a wonderful spectacle and David is found in the midst of it worshipping and dancing before the Lord with all of his might.  His openness of worship was not missed by the Lord and it was pleasing to Him but not everyone shared the Lord’s satisfaction with David’s exuberant worship.

Hebrews 5:

To be a High Priest you have to be qualified – to be a High Priest you have to be called – the role of the High Priest was to be the mediator between God and Man.  To bring sacrifice and offering to the Lord.  Not just anyone could approach the throne.  Only the appropriate individual was welcome.  Christ has become our High Priest.  The Priesthood is an ‘Order’ (Specialised Group) – an ‘Order’ follows the influence of the individual who was first in the role.  Christ is called High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.  Melchizedek was the Priest who Abraham sacrificed to in Genesis 14:18.  Melchizedek comes out of nowhere, has no genealogy and no heirs, receives the sacrifice and departs.  The writer of Hebrews says this is difficult to understand!  Christ takes this role and stands in the gap for us and because of this we are able to approach the Lord freely!

Day 354

1 Chronicles 14:

After the disappointment of the outbreak of the Lord against Uzzah came a time of blessing.  Hiram (King of Tyre) sent materials and tradesmen to help David prepare to build a house for the Lord.  David spends much of his time marrying wives and having sons…it would appear that this was to strengthen his hand and have assurance for the future.  However, when the enemies arise against him he does not trust in his own strength but relies wholly upon the Lord and because of this he wins the victory.  It is good to have natural strength and practical resources but they are no match for being in clear communication with the Lord when times of trouble emerge!

Hebrews 4:

The Children of Israel missed out on receiving their promises and so we need to be careful that we do not miss out on ours. The Word of God is capable of ‘cutting through’ any barriers or obstacles that are remaining in us, if we allow the Word to do its work then we will be ready and will receive all that the Lord has for us.  We do not have to live in condemnation because we have a sympathetic high priest who understands our weaknesses and calls us to boldly approach Him…that is where we will find the help we need and the healing we so desperately cry out for.

Day 353

1 Chronicles 13:

Once David had the power and authority in Israel, the first thing that he wanted to do was to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. This was a righteous and honorable thing to do but problems arose with the method which was employed.  The Ark was placed on a cart and oxen were used to carry it.  During the procession the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark.  This led to an outbreak of judgement because only a consecrated priest was allowed to touch the ark, not the stockman whose hands were dirty from leading the animals.  The Ark was designed for priests’ shoulders and to be approached and ministered to with reverence.  This outbreak stopped David in his tracks…he would have to re-think his methods and we wait for his response.

Hebrews 3:

Jesus is our ultimate template to follow.  He was faithfulness personified, He fulfilled all of the will of the Father and nothing was left undone.  This was not easy for Jesus, it was not comfortable and it was not convenient and yet He fulfilled all righteousness.  As our template we are called to faithfulness and the writer of Hebrews challenges us to remember that it was lack of faithfulness which caused the Children of Israel to miss out on entering the promised land.  We do not want to miss one item of what the Lord has for us and we will not if we remain faithful!   What a challenge and what a promise!

Day 352

1 Chronicles 12:

The recount of the army of King David is both a time of success and of joy for the people of Israel.  One of the strongest attributes of the army was the attitude of commitment and submission which was present in the warriors.  These were not ‘free agents’ and they were not just doing their ‘own thing’…they were committed to seeing David succeed and as they drew together their influence grew exponentially and this led to further and further increases as more and more people heard about their fame.  Success breeds success and when we operate in right order the Lord is able to bless us and bring others to us who will help us along the way.  Unity has always been, and will always be, a place of blessing!

Hebrews 2:

Much of Hebrews reads like the unfolding of a mathematical argument.  Firstly we are told of the nature of Christ, the fact that He is equal with God and yet willingly made Himself lower than the Angels… then we are introduced to the concept of substitution and the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice for all of our sins… finally it is revealed how many will benefit from this powerful action instigated by the will of the Father.  Hebrews unfolds in a systematic way and layers truth upon us line upon line.  It is worth reading and re-reading in order to capture the power and the import of all that it has to say.

Day 351

1 Chronicles 11:

David’s rise to the Kingdom is narrated from the time of the death of King Saul.  We have already visited his early life and his rise to prominence with Saul, Goliath and the Philistines.  As David ‘takes the reins’ he starts with Jerusalem and deals with the last resistance:  the blind and the lame who had refused to accept him as king.  His rise to prominence is accompanied by the rise of his ‘mighty men’.  Men of great prowess and courage, men who were fiercely loyal to David and men who can transform a situation against great odds.  Their abilities and escapades are the stuff of legend and David’s commitment to them is a strong bond which appears unbreakable – until the matter of Uriah the Hittite.  David’s reign is portrayed as a glorious time for the nation and a pleasing life in the eyes of the Lord.

Hebrews 1:

No-one knows for sure who wrote the book of Hebrews, but within its chapters we find a powerful and important scaffolding of truth which helps us understand the full plan and purpose of the Lord.  Hebrews is written for the Jew – it addresses the central issues of the transference of the Old Covenant to the New and of the purpose and plan of God to bring Salvation to the earth through His Son Jesus.  Hebrews 1 starts by shining light on the truth that the Son of God is more than the Angels, more than a ministering Spirit and far more than a man.  From this point His right to rule, His power and majesty, His supreme rulership is established and the miracle of Salvation is assured for all who will believe.  Hebrews is a book to equip you with all you need to explore and understand the fullness of the plan of almighty God!

Day 350

1 Chronicles 10:

We have here a quick reminder regarding the life and death of King Saul.  He was Israel’s first King and although he started well, he finished badly and became the illustration which many of the Kings chose to follow.  Saul’s death was gruesome and disappointingly humiliating (falling on his own sword) but we are left in no doubt as to the reason for his failure.  Saul died because he was unfaithful, because he didn’t keep the word of the LORD and because he consulted a medium for guidance. The Lord wanted a King who would seek Him and who would lead His people where He wanted them to go.  So the Lord prepared His next choice – David.

Acts 28:

As the book of Acts concludes we see Paul’s ministry on the Island of Malta and then in Rome.  We need to remember that the plan was to go directly to Rome and yet the storms hijacked the plans that were set and this was merely a diversion.  This shows us the reality of the fact that “all things work together for good for those who are called”, the Lord has the ability to work through circumstances even when the circumstances are turned against us.  Paul finally arrives in Rome and begins his ministry there…the truth is that in the natural he is limited and imprisoned but in the Spirit and in Ministry he is free.  He is filled with confidence and no one forbids him…this is a great template for us to embrace and expect for ourselves.  When we are in the hand of the Lord – we can be filled with confidence and no-one can forbid what the Lord has commanded.

Day 349

1 Chronicles 9:

One of the reasons for the lengthy genealogies is described in the opening of this passage.  It mentions the captivity of Judah in Babylon and their eventual return to the land.  These lists were fundamentally important in helping the leaders trace the history and ownership of the land according to families.  If the individual was not able to trace their lineage then they had no claim but if you could trace your family and prove who you were then your inheritance was guaranteed.  The rest of the passage is given over to the responsibilities of the Levites including the Priests, Gatekeepers and all those who were to offer service in the Temple.  These roles were their right and heritage, issues of great significance and influence which were usually greatly treasured by those who held them.

Acts 27:

As Paul travels to Rome by ship we encounter storms, challenges and a powerful lesson in decision making.  The Centurion who was placed in charge is given the difficult task of planning departure dates and the route for this important journey.  Everyone seems to be talking at once and so which voice is he going to listen to?  He ends up being more convinced by the helmsman and the owner of the ship rather than Paul. This shows us that it is always easier to listen to the voice of natural wisdom and the voice of the majority rather than the still small voice of God.  The question for us is this…whose voice are we listening too the most?  And are our ears open to the one voice who can really make a difference?

Day 348

1 Chronicles 8:

As you look at the genealogy of Saul you begin to recognise that he came from a long line of warriors and fighting men.  He became the King of the people’s choice – The Lord appointed him but He chose a man who fitted the criterion that the people desired.  This proved to be a failure as Saul’s character did not stand up to the rigours of the task.  All a genealogy can do is put you in a position of influence, it cannot guarantee that you will be able to fulfil the position in which you find yourself.   We need to be thankful for the family heritage we have but we also need to be aware that were are not guaranteed or limited by the power, influence and significance of others.

Acts 26:

This is both one of the most exciting passages in the Book of Acts and the most disappointing as well.  Paul has the opportunity to share the Gospel with King Agrippa.  He gives a clear, concise and powerful defense of his faith and recounts his testimony holding nothing back.  He is not received at all by Festus (The Governor) and is discounted out of hand by him but the response of the King is different.  Paul presses the point with pin-point accuracy and Agrippa makes the startling claim that “you almost persuade me to become a Christian”.  The sadness of this passage is in the fact that Agrippa stops at ‘almost’ (as so many in our world do as well).  Imagine the influence that he could have commanded if he had turned to the Lord with all his heart!  Paul’s boldness had brought him this far and before such men of influence but the best is yet to come – Paul is headed to Rome!

Day 347

1 Chronicles 7:

Each tribe and family had different attributes and different strengths and weaknesses.  It is interesting to note that these verses contain a summary of generation after generation and the complexity of their lives is summed up in a few short words.  This offers us a challenge because it is quite a thought to have such a summary written about us.  If you were to take a step backward and to have an objective look at your life what do you think the summary would be?  Are you happy with the summary or would you like something different written?  If there is a gap between where we are and where we want to be, the answer is in what you decide to do today.  The Bible is filled with people who make a choice and make a difference with their lives. So what will finally be written about you?

Acts 25:

Paul seems to be trapped in a quasi-political minefield and for a while it seems as if his effectiveness has been cut off but it is interesting to see how the Lord works in this situation.  Paul, even though he is in chains, grows in influence just like Joseph when he was in prison in Egypt.  He is able to present the Gospel to the Governor, the magistrates and the leaders of the land.  They do not respond openly but Paul’s influence cannot be doubted.   Beyond this Paul’s chains actually bring him before King Agrippa and he will have an opportunity to speak the Gospel to him as well!  This is a wonderful demonstration of a powerful truth – we should never be concerned regarding where we are or how limited our situation may be.  If we maintain our faith and our connection with the Lord then we will be perfect candidates when the time is right and when the Lord moves His hand.

Day 346

1 Chronicles 6:

The next family to be detailed are the Levites from who, of course, came the priests.  The importance of their role within the nation should never be overlooked and special mention is made of them and their history,  We then are immediately introduced to those who were set aside as musicians and singers by David and the families who followed and maintained the worship of the Temple.  The fact that they are included demonstrates the importance of their role and the pivotal nature worship held and should still hold today.  We are not merely singing songs and making pleasant melody, we are doing warfare, breaking bondages and transforming lives around us.  The Lord wants a nation of worshippers and we should thank Him for those He provides with skill to lead!

Acts 24:

In Paul’s later writings he speaks of the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ and the fact that against this “there is no law”.  Paul finds himself accused of crimes he did not commit and the Jews use all of their political influence in order to trap him and keep him in chains.  The Governor does not understand the nuances of the Jewish law and is disinclined to really care.  His procrastination keeps Paul in prison and it looks as though Paul is on the losing side but we always need to be careful how we judge.  We tend to look at the immediate and weigh only the current circumstances but the Lord has a greater plan and Paul’s incarceration will yet have benefits.  This is the nature of faith…we have to see it through to the very end!