08/19/08: 1 Chronicles 21
King David had a census of Israel taken, primarily to find out how many troops he had (1 Chronicles 21:1,2). Now, David already had acknowledged how God had performed great and awesome wonders to drive out nations from before His people, Israel (17:21). And the Lord was giving David victories everywhere he went (18:6). Therefore, his insistence to count his fighting men was an act of blatant pride on the part of David.
God is big on trust. For instance, God had delivered all the enemies of the Gadites into their hands: "He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him" (1 Chronicles 5:20). By counting his fighting men, David was demonstrating pride in his own triumphs in battle (even though they were God's accomplishments). Even worse, David was revealing that he did not fully trust God to protect Israel in the future, because he was depending on the manpower under his command to do this. God did not like this one bit (21:7).
God gave David three choices of punishment, to be doled out upon Israel (1 Chronicles 21:12). This shows us that, sometimes, others will have to pay the penalty for our own disobedience to God. Wisely, David chose God's, rather than man's, judgment, even though it was quite severe: seventy thousand people in Israel died from a plague (21:14). (Incidentally, this same account also is recorded in 2 Samuel 24:1-25.) We only can imagine how much worse the punishment would have been due to famine or their enemies.
The one who administered the punishment was the angel of the Lord (1 Chronicles 21:12,15,16,18,20,27). I am convinced that this individual was the pre-incarnate Jesus (see the Angel of the Lord). A sword was associated with the angel of the Lord's punishment (21:12,16,27). Interestingly, when Jesus returns on His white horse, He will have "a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations" (Revelation 19:15).
God is big on trust. For instance, God had delivered all the enemies of the Gadites into their hands: "He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him" (1 Chronicles 5:20). By counting his fighting men, David was demonstrating pride in his own triumphs in battle (even though they were God's accomplishments). Even worse, David was revealing that he did not fully trust God to protect Israel in the future, because he was depending on the manpower under his command to do this. God did not like this one bit (21:7).
God gave David three choices of punishment, to be doled out upon Israel (1 Chronicles 21:12). This shows us that, sometimes, others will have to pay the penalty for our own disobedience to God. Wisely, David chose God's, rather than man's, judgment, even though it was quite severe: seventy thousand people in Israel died from a plague (21:14). (Incidentally, this same account also is recorded in 2 Samuel 24:1-25.) We only can imagine how much worse the punishment would have been due to famine or their enemies.
The one who administered the punishment was the angel of the Lord (1 Chronicles 21:12,15,16,18,20,27). I am convinced that this individual was the pre-incarnate Jesus (see the Angel of the Lord). A sword was associated with the angel of the Lord's punishment (21:12,16,27). Interestingly, when Jesus returns on His white horse, He will have "a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations" (Revelation 19:15).
08/19/08: 1 Chronicles 17
Ted: Although David was the greatest King Israel ever had (and, I believe, will be again in the future), God told him, "You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in" (1 Chronicles 17:4). God was referring to the first temple, in the short term. But, in the long term, I believe God also was indicating the millennial Temple of the future.
The following passage, stated by God to David, has some interesting ramifications: "I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you: When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever" (1 Chronicles 17:10-14). This passage had some short-term and some long-term (Messianic) fulfillments. I will save the first part, about the Lord building a house for David, for last.
There are men in the Bible who were "types" or "foreshadowings" of the Messiah to come. Both David and Solomon were two of them. In the text, sometimes the distinction between them and the Messiah is blurred and indistinct. When David's days were over, his son Solomon succeeded him as king, and God established his kingdom (1 Chronicles 17:11). Solomon was the one who had the first temple built, as a "house" for God; however, it also says that his throne would be established forever (17:12). Obviously, Solomon eventually died and did not sit on his throne forever. However, the Messiah to come (Jesus) will do that.
Furthermore, it indicates that God would be this person's father, and this person would be God's son. Solomon sort of qualified for this, as any person who is chosen by God and who believes in Him is a "son of God." But Solomon was not set over God's "house"; the Levites, not the king, were in charge of everything that went on in the temple. However, Jesus, God's Son, not only will be set over the millennial Temple and God's kingdom, but His throne also will be established forever (1 Chronicles 17:14).
The "house" that God would build for David (1 Chronicles 17:10), I believe, has a dual meaning. In the short term, it signified the "house of David," which was a reference to the descendants and lineage of David. In the long term, I believe it also refers to the millennial Temple which Jesus Himself will construct (supernaturally and miraculously), and the resurrected David will reside there as he serves as King of Israel during the Millennial Kingdom. Note that David "went in and sat before the Lord" (17:16). Likewise, a future prince (I believe David) "is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD" (Ezekiel 44:3). More about the idea that David will be resurrected to be King of Israel again can be found in David, the king.
The following passage, stated by God to David, has some interesting ramifications: "I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you: When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever" (1 Chronicles 17:10-14). This passage had some short-term and some long-term (Messianic) fulfillments. I will save the first part, about the Lord building a house for David, for last.
There are men in the Bible who were "types" or "foreshadowings" of the Messiah to come. Both David and Solomon were two of them. In the text, sometimes the distinction between them and the Messiah is blurred and indistinct. When David's days were over, his son Solomon succeeded him as king, and God established his kingdom (1 Chronicles 17:11). Solomon was the one who had the first temple built, as a "house" for God; however, it also says that his throne would be established forever (17:12). Obviously, Solomon eventually died and did not sit on his throne forever. However, the Messiah to come (Jesus) will do that.
Furthermore, it indicates that God would be this person's father, and this person would be God's son. Solomon sort of qualified for this, as any person who is chosen by God and who believes in Him is a "son of God." But Solomon was not set over God's "house"; the Levites, not the king, were in charge of everything that went on in the temple. However, Jesus, God's Son, not only will be set over the millennial Temple and God's kingdom, but His throne also will be established forever (1 Chronicles 17:14).
The "house" that God would build for David (1 Chronicles 17:10), I believe, has a dual meaning. In the short term, it signified the "house of David," which was a reference to the descendants and lineage of David. In the long term, I believe it also refers to the millennial Temple which Jesus Himself will construct (supernaturally and miraculously), and the resurrected David will reside there as he serves as King of Israel during the Millennial Kingdom. Note that David "went in and sat before the Lord" (17:16). Likewise, a future prince (I believe David) "is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD" (Ezekiel 44:3). More about the idea that David will be resurrected to be King of Israel again can be found in David, the king.
08/19/08: 1 Chronicles 16
God wants to answer our prayers, but He also does not want to be taken for granted. When we pray, it is a good thing to thank Him and to tell Him how wonderful He is, acknowledging just Whom it is that we are talking to: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced" (1 Chronicles 16:8-12). When we think about these things, and/or say these things while praying to Him, He is more likely to respond positively to what we are seeking from Him.
