Daily Bible Devotionals

“And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. He said to them, ‘You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.  For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.’ So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.”  1 Chronicles 15:11-15 (NKJV)

Today’s passage contains some information that is usually passed over whenever pastors teach the story of the Ark’s return.  Typically, the emphasis & application revolve around whether the ark was to be carried or carted.  Then, we become somewhat distracted by David’s scandalous, near-naked worship dancing.  (As would I if my pastor were to attempt a reenactment!)  But in chapter 15, we notice David rebuked the Levites, who either 1) rebelled against moving the ark away from the Tabernacle or 2) were ignorant of God’s requirements.  First, let’s consider God’s command for the Levites to bear the ark, literally to “shoulder” the burden.   No Levite should have been unaware of this most simple responsibility.

“At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day.”  Deuteronomy 10:8 (NKJV)

While we cannot be certain that the Levites were on board with the idea of David’s kingship or whether the ark should be moved, 1 Chronicles 13 gives us a clue as to the Levites’ potential ignorance concerning how to interface with the ark.

“And David said to all the assembly of Israel, ‘If it seems good to you, and if it is of the Lord our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.’” 1 Chronicles 13:2-3 (NKJV)

At some point during Saul’s reign, the Levites stopped inquiring of the Lord at the ark.  Most likely, they quit when God withdrew His counsel from Saul.  

“But Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.’” 1 Samuel 15:26 (NKJV)

We, too, have a responsibility to “shoulder  .”And it seems that many believers in our generation have lost what it means to “take up your cross, daily.” (Luke 9:23)

“Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house.  So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.  Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters. And these are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.”  1 Chronicles 14:1-7 (NKJV)

On a fly-over, today’s chapter looks very positive.  Tyre’s king, Hiram, is building David a moth-proof (cedar) castle while the Lord guides David to victory over his most bitter enemies, the Philistines.  But check out the titles of chapters 13 & 15: The Ark Brought From Kirjath Jearim; The Ark Brought To Jerusalem.  All of the action from today’s chapter occurs when God’s ark is not in close proximity.  King Hiram promises to build David a house during a season when David is not regularly seeking the Lord.  Sure, when he needs to fight a battle, David seeks God, but allowing a foreign king (along with multiple marriages and children born to foreign women) to establish his “house” (dynasty)?  Not the type of thing we like to hear from the man “after God’s own heart.”  Eventually, in chapter 15, the ark returns.  Perhaps some guilt wells up in David as he gazes upon God’s tent.

“Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.’ Then Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.’ But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, ‘Go and tell My servant David, “Thus says the Lord: Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?”’” 2 Samuel 7:1-5 (NKJV)

Today, we have a stern reminder that our hope, security, and, dare we say, “dynasty” will never be firmly established through worldly channels.  And by no means will we establish God’s kingdom through worldly methods or strategic relationships with non-believers!  God does not need us to build His house; we need Him to build ours, through the One whose title is “Son of David,” Messiah Jesus.  (Matthew 1:1)

“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son.  If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you.  Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (NKJV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 1 Chronicles 13. Click the links below to watch or listen now

“Other Benjamites and men from Judah also went to David at the stronghold.  David went out to meet them and said to them, ‘If you have come in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you, but if you have come to betray me to my enemies even though my hands have done no wrong, may the God of our ancestors look on it and judge.’  Then the Spirit took control of Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: ‘We are yours, David, we are with you, son of Jesse!  Peace, peace to you, and peace to him who helps you, for your God helps you.  So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.” 1 Chronicles 12:16-18 (HCSB)

David was in a sticky situation.  He was running for his life, hiding in a cave (aka the stronghold), and he had no idea whom he could trust.  Then, people started showing up, ringing the doorbell, and asking if they could see David, the fugitive!  Think about it for a moment.  How secure was David’s stronghold if 400 strangers could find it?  For that matter, how stupid was Saul that he and his army could not find it?  Only the Lord can supply the friends you need while keeping your enemies at bay.   But I digress… The narrative (of the same instance in today’s passage) in 1 Samuel 22 helps us understand what a complicated situation David was dealing with.

“David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam.  So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him.  So he became captain over them.  And there were about four hundred men with him.  Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, ‘Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.’ So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.” 1 Samuel 22:1-4 (NKJV)

When we combine the two instances (1 Chronicles 6 and 1 Samuel 22), we see that 400 men showed up, and David chose 30 to be captains over them.  Of what did David’s interview process consist?  One question with a caveat: “Do you come in peace, to help me?  If so, I will be united with you; if not, the Lord will be against you.” (Isaiah 48:22; Ezekiel 13:9-11)

I like how the Bible notes the response of Amasai came when, “the Spirit took control” of him.  The original language translates as “the Spirit clothed Himself with Amasai  .”Once Amasai had determined in his heart to follow David and fully immerse himself in that subordinate role, the Spirit-filled him as he uttered the words of allegiance.  Likewise, when we faithfully choose in our hearts to repent and follow the “Son of David,” Jesus (Matt 1:1), we receive the Holy Spirit, Who dwells inside us.

“Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 (HCSB)

“All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, ‘Here we are, your own flesh and blood. Even when Saul was king, you led us out to battle and brought us back.  The Lord your God also said to you, “You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over My people Israel.”’ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron.  David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the Lord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with the Lord’s word through Samuel.”  1 Chronicles 11:1-3 (HCSB)

In contrast to chapter 10, where Saul perished because He abandoned God’s Word, David’s kingdom is miraculously established.  God’s favor is on David, and He is going before him in battle.  Not just militarily, God is also turning the hearts of the people toward David.  After a season where the best fighting men from throughout Israel were drafted into the army to hunt down David and his men, we have this statement of allegiance, “We are your own flesh and blood. ”Only God can do that!  David, the “man after God’s own heart,” lives within the blessing set apart for those who pursue God rightly.  

But we know David’s story, don’t we?  We know David will not remain faithful in certain situations.  And we see God’s favor lift off of him.  Nathan, the prophet, had the difficult job of pronouncing the Lord’s rebuke to his friend (and king), David.

“Nathan replied to David, ‘You are the man!  This is what the Lord God of Israel says: “I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.  Why, then have you despised the command of the Lord by doing what I consider evil?  You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife—you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword. Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife.” This is what the Lord says, “I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them publicly. You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.”’” 2 Samuel 12:7-12 (HCSB)

So, at this point, we ask ourselves, “If David, God’s anointed, cannot maintain a righteous relationship with God, how can ANY man stand before Him?”  Perhaps it helps to keep reading.  Because salvation (throughout the Bible) has always been by God’s Grace, through faith in Him.  Instead of asking how we can maintain righteousness before God, we should ask what He requires for us to return to Him whenever we fall.  We confess our sin and turn from it.  And He forgives us.  (1 John 1:9)

“David responded to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Then Nathan replied to David, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die.’” 2 Samuel 12:13 (HCSB)

“Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the Lord because he did not keep the Lord’s word. He even consulted a medium for guidance, but he did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 (HCSB)

In my years of ministry, I have served at many funerals. And funerals can bring out the worst of people. I recall one hot summer afternoon at a national cemetery in Riverside, California, when family members got into a fistfight over who owned dad’s Lincoln Continental.  On another occasion, I watched a falcon shoot out of a tree and attack one of the doves released at the memorial of an Air Force fighter pilot.  Somewhat fitting, I suppose. The dove owner screamed, “NO!” but the old pilot’s kids laughed and said, “That’s so like our dad!  He would have hated doves.”  

One afternoon, I was summoned to the office of a pastor who wanted to discuss the music for an upcoming funeral of a lady who had passed away in her mid-50s. “That is really young,” I noted. He replied, “Yeah. Lung cancer. Cigarettes killed her.” The same could be said of Saul. Saul’s own sword did him in, and Philistine arrows brought him to the point of suicide. But it was the idolatry that killed him.  

How did Saul, the Lord’s anointed king for Israel, fall out of the Lord’s protection and provision? He simply began disregarding God’s Word. Ignoring God’s Word led to Saul’s seeking wicked counsel, literally a witch! Then, he became the ultimate mocker of God’s Word when he began pursuing David, who was so steeped in God’s Word (at that season of his life) to the point that he would not even fight back against Saul. Perhaps that is why David wrote song #1 in Israel’s hymnal because it mentions the same downward pattern for anyone who departs from the Bible.

“How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers!  Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (HCSB)

With that in mind, consider Messiah Jesus’ description of how His followers should equate Bible pursuit (and its faithful application to their lives) with loving Him.

“Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.  My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”  John 14:23 (HCSB)

Jesus isn’t saying that we are saved by obeying His Word. We are saved by Grace through Faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). In essence, He is saying, “If you are truly saved, you should pursue My Word with the intent to know it, live according to it, and share it with others.” If rejecting the Word led to Saul’s death, consider Ezra’s life.

“Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Ezra 7:10 (HCSB)

“These are the singers, heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night.  These heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites were heads throughout their generations.  They dwelt in Jerusalem.” 1 Chronicles 9:33-34 (NKJV)

No doubt, today’s passage is a nugget of Scripture that every worship leader would like mentioned at their annual job review.  The words “free from other duties” are convenient whenever the pastor calls for staff members to “up their game” and volunteer during their off hours!  But before any music staffers claim 1 Chronicles 9:33 as their life verse, perhaps they should take notice that music was required day and night, every day and night.

In 1796, a cabinet-maker named C.F. Martin founded the Martin Guitar Company in New York City.  Guitar making was a craft he had learned from his violin-making father, Johann Georg Martin, in Germany.  These days, Martin Guitar Company is run by Chris Martin IV, the great-great-great-grandson of the company’s founder.  It is safe to say that before a “Martin” child is born, their career in guitar manufacturing has already been determined!

In today’s chapter, notice the term “throughout their generations.” The Lord reminds the Levites that their duties/careers had been pre-assigned before they were even born!  Specific tasks were assigned to each specific family among the Levites.  And they were to teach their children how to do the family ministry task perpetually.  There was no discussion, “But I want to be a dentist!” If your family carried the poles to the tabernacle, that would be your job.  In our post-modern culture, the idea of a pre-determined occupation is like a pie-in-the-face of individual liberty.  But take a step back and consider that the God of all creation has given you a role to play in His kingdom.  And that role is so vital that He personally chose for you to be born into your specific family with its specific task so that you can be trained to both execute and revere your calling to His glory.

Before you laugh off this notion that the Lord pre-assigned work for specific people in ancient days, remember that He has also selected specific work for YOU!

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)

The Levites had no real estate inheritance in the Promised Land.  Their inheritance was to serve the Lord; hence, their dwelling places had to be allocated from among the other tribes’ land.  But when Israel was eventually driven from the land because of their rampant idolatry, the Levites were the only tribe to retain their inheritance.  Likewise, there is no “Christian homeland.”  Our inheritance is to serve the Lord!

“Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal. 1 Chronicles 8:33 (NKJV)

Today’s chapter is devoted entirely to the family tree of “King Saul of Benjamin.”  It’s interesting how the author of 1 Chronicles (Ezra, who taught the exiles returning from Babylonian captivity how to fear the Lord rightly and who most likely compiled the Old Testament) wanted to stress how the values of the tribe of Benjamin led to Saul’s wicked reign and continued beyond him to his son, Esh-Baal.

Esh-Baal is known as “Ishbosheth” in 2 Samuel 2:8.  After the death of Saul and his sons Jonathan, Malchishua, and Abinadab (1 Samuel 31), Abner, commander of Saul’s army, attempted to establish Esh-Baal (Ishbosheth) as king, in place of David.

“David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, The Lord bless you, because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord when buried him. Now, may the Lord show kindness and faithfulness to you, and I will also show the same goodness to you because you have done this deed. Therefore, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.’  Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and moved him to Mahanaim.  He made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin – over all Israel.” 2 Samuel 2:5-9 (HCSB)

There are times in the Bible when the Lord commands the army of Israel to “completely destroy” an enemy.  And there are times when He directs a more merciful approach.  Skeptics may suggest that God is merciless when He declares total war, but we must never put the character of God on trial.  We must simply trust that He knows who will repent and follow Him and who will not.  Today, God has allowed us to peer into His wisdom so that we may trust Him, regardless of whether He chooses to extend mercy or levy judgment.  Just the mention of Esh-Baal should strike loathing in the reader.  Frankly, the mention of the tribe of Benjamin itself (harkening to its historically dubious value system) should make us bristle.

“So all the men of Israel gathered united against the city. Then the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, ‘What is this outrage that has occurred among you? Hand over the perverted men in Gibeah so we can put them to death and eradicate evil from Israel.’  But the Benjaminites would not obey their fellow Israelites.  Instead, the Benjaminites gathered together from their cities to Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites.” Judges 20:11-14 (HCSB)

Lest we be prejudiced toward all Benjaminites, today’s chapter also mentions Merib-Baal (aka Mephibosheth,  2 Samuel 21:7), reminding us of God’s grace to the meek.

“The sons of Ephraim were Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eladah his son, Tahath his son, Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead.  The men of Gath who were born in that land killed them because they came down to take away their cattle. Then Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.  And when he went in to his wife, she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house. Now his daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah; and Rephah was his son, as well as Resheph, and Telah his son, Tahan his son, Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, Nun his son, and Joshua his son.  1 Chronicles 7:20-27 (NKJV)

When I was a boy, my father used to drive slowly through neighborhoods, peering intently into backyards and garages.  No, my dad wasn’t a criminal; he was looking for cars to buy.  He was crazy about sports cars.  How crazy?  He has owned over 100 Corvettes!  He has also owned over 100 MG’s, alongside a myriad of British and American muscle and racing cars…and even today, he shows no signs of stopping.  Crazy?  Indeed.  So, you can imagine how boring it was for a grade school boy riding shotgun while his father knocked on the doors of strangers and chatted with them about their automobiles.  It was about as boring as reading genealogies in the Bible!  But, quite often, my dad would skip back to the car with a huge smile on his face and say, “Let’s go!” and the next thing I’d know, we would be riding home in an exotic new ride.  Score!

When we read the story of Ephraim’s genealogy, and the name of a city called Gath is mentioned, we are intended to stop, like my father when he spied some chrome peeking out from under a tarp in a stranger’s garage.  We put our Bibles in park and ponder, “Where have I seen that name?  It sounds familiar….”  That process is called meditating on Scripture.

“And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.” 1 Samuel 17:4 (NKJV)

So, what is a man from Gath, the city of giants, doing in Egypt at a time when Joseph’s (aka Prince of Egypt) son was still alive, yet hundreds of years before Moses led the people out during the Exodus?  We must only assume the same famine that drove Jacob and Co. to Egypt (Genesis 41:54) also forced other peoples from the land of Canaan to seek provision.  It is interesting how the memory of murderers from Gath (during the days of Ephraim) was passed down throughout the generations.  Perhaps, even more intriguing is how Ephraim’s descendant, Joshua (son of Nun), is also mentioned in today’s genealogy.  Furthermore, it was Joshua’s (along with Caleb’s) courage despite the report of “giants in the land” in Numbers 13 and 18 that earned him the right to eventually lead Israel into the promised land by God’s grace when he placed his faith in God’s promise instead of clinging to the fears of past defeat.  (Numbers 14:6-9; Joshua 24:15)