May 25 - 1 Chronicles 23-25: David Commissions the Levites for Worship

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 23-25

The Message

English Standard Version

Today's reading has a lot of name and technical details. Read the first six verses, then skip down to verse 24 and read to the end of chapter 23. The rest consists of each father and his family being given each task.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Notice how important worship is taken.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

David, now an old man, transitioned power to Solomon. David called all of the Levite men thirty and older for assignment in service to God: worship in the sanctuary, officials and judges, security, and musicians.
Since Israel was at peace in their own land, the Levites no longer needed to carry the Tabernacle. They could fully dedicate themselves to God's House. They became in charge of everything related to worship.
When the individual tasks were given out, all men were treated equally: young, old, teacher, student. Each task was chosen by lot.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

David wants to set everything right for his son before he takes over.

David knows his life will end soon. In a nice gesture, he wants to make sure everything is set for Solomon to transition easily. Help leaders of the next generation begin their jobs with ease.

Israel takes worshiping God seriously.

The Levites were chosen by God to be Israel's priests. David wants to make sure worship is done properly and done well. So he takes the 38,000 men and sorts them into every aspect of worship. Even the music of worship has an orchestra of 4,000 people. These were not Toms, Dicks, or Harrys asked to pick out a few songs ten minutes before worship began. They were masters at their art commissioned to perform before Israel and God. Worship of God should be done with foresight and led by those who have mastered their art, not last minute frantic searches for who's here.

Each job in worship was chosen based on chance, not according to age.

"The families of the oldest and youngest brothers were treated the same (24:31, The Message)." Even the musicians were chosen by chance.

They were well-trained in the sacred music, all of them masters. There were 288 of them. They drew names at random to see who would do what. Nobody, whether young or old, teacher or student, was given preference or advantage over another. (25:7-8)

If we had this type of delegation in churches today much of the culture wars would be mitigated. Notice, though, they did not ask the security guards come and play music. Each was a master at their own task. Each person should be included in worship as they are gifted—then chosen by chance to do what they are gifted to do.

Do you purposefully arrange worship?

May 24: Psalms 108-110: David in Battle with a Bitter Enemy

Today’s Reading: Psalms 108-110

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Today's reading takes us through a battle: before, during, and after.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 108

David is ready to sing God's praises. God, full of joy, makes use of Israel for His purposes. David wants to know when he will get to fight again—with God nothing is impossible.

Psalm 109

David is in the middle of a huge problem—he asks that God not ignore his cries for help. He wants God to punish his enemies with curses or death. David is almost unable to continue. He wants God to help him through these issues so He can praise God!

Psalm 110

God asks David's Lord to sit while God destroys His enemies. God's People join Him in His Quest. David's Lord is a permanent priest. God makes His King rule with confidence.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

When God's People serve Him, they become His instruments.

Israel becomes God's way of punishing those who do not obey Him—Moab, Edom, Philistia. Each tribe plays a different role but they all contribute to God setting things right on earth. God can use His People to set things right on this earth when they obey Him.

David is very angry at his enemy.

Psalm 109 is disturbing. You leave wondering how an enemy could be so hated. However, even when David is this disturbed with his enemy he will not exact revenge. He calls on God to do that for him. Never let a person drive you to seek your own revenge.

Remember Psalm 110.

It will be quoted at an important place in the New Testament. Whether David understands all of what he is saying or not is interesting but digresses from the main point. What is important is what he said.

Lord, make us instruments for you to set things right!

May 23 - 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalm 30: David's Census Gone Bad; Preparations for the Temple

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalm 30

The Message

English Standard Version

After a month of skipping around between three books, you have finished 2 Samuel! That makes 11 books read. Only 55 to go.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Consider how David's responds when he sees God's punishment.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

David wanted a census of fighting men. Joab and his officials obeyed under protest.
God, angered by David, spoke through Gad and forced David to choose his punishment: three years of famine, three months of fleeing before his enemies, or three days of an epidemic. David chose the epidemic. Seventy thousand people died. God protected Jerusalem. David cried out in repentance.
God's angel told David to build an altar at Araunah's threshing floor. David insisted on buying it when Araunah offered it for free.
In order to facilitate Solomon's building of the temple, David collected all of the raw materials.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 30

David gives God credit for getting him through his mess. David called out and warned God that he would be very difficult to sell if destroyed first. So God saved David and because of it he cannot stop thanking God.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

David wanted a census because he wants to know his strength apart from God.

This section is difficult to read for several reasons, the first being that David is punished for doing something God required Israel to do twice. Why would God punish David for doing a census? The reason is simple—God wanted Israel to realize God alone could protect Israel from their enemies whereas David's census was intended to help him see what king(s) he could defeat apart from God's help. Joab understood this when he told David,

May your God multiply people by the hundreds right before the eyes of my master the king, but why on earth would you do a thing like this? 2 Samuel 24:3, The Message

This is why David is punished—he thought he could do everything alone.
Today, we should caution against participating in church censuses or discussing church sizes. **Note: State censuses are different than church censuses.** A census automatically puts people in the mindset of "look what we built" or "look what is falling apart—what can we do to save it." Discussing church sizes is widely known among pastors and preachers as a topic of much consternation and anxiety. If our goal is to have God grow a community through which he can set all things right, censuses and church sizes are tangential at best and counterproductive at worst. You didn't build that! Don't do a census! (Or spend time looking at blog statistics.) If people see God setting things right through you, they will want to join and God will bring them to you.

The people of Israel are punished because David sinned.

I believe this is why David cries when he sees the angel of God outside the city. He realizes his people have been punished because of his sin and his unwilling to run from his enemies. When God's Chosen Leaders sin, the people perish.
At the same time, this episode shows David's love for his people. I love his prayer to God,

Please! I’m the one who sinned; I’m the one at fault. But these sheep, what did they do wrong? Punish me, not them, me and my family; don’t take it out on them. (1 Chronicles 21:17, The Message)

Leaders, love your people enough to ask God to punish you instead.

David wants to set things right by sacrificing to God—not going through the motions of an offering.

Araunah understands what is going on and trusts that David's offering would set things right. To facilitate it and honor David, Araunah wants to give him everything. However, David understands that blood is not what God wants. God wants our sacrifices to show our humility before Him. David could not offer a free sacrifice on free wood set on an altar erected on free ground. He had to pay for all of it—not even at a discount.

David finishes well.

In leadership studies, "finishing well" means that you not only finish your own work strong but you set your predecessor up to succeed. David does just this when he arranges to have all of the materials to make the Temple quarried and set aside for his son. Leaders, set your predecessors up to succeed. Challenge everyone to follow their lead.

God gets angry once in a while, but across / a lifetime there is only love (Psalm 30:5).

What an interesting way of putting it. God does get angry from time to time but even his anger is couched in love. God gets angry because He loves us and does not want to see us punished!

Has God turned your mourning into dancing?

May 22 - Psalms 95, 97-99: Psalms in Times of Peace

Today’s Reading: Psalms 95, 97-99

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

These psalms are peaceful psalms.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 95

Come, let us praise God through worship and bowing down because He made us and called us His Chosen People! He tells Israel not to make the same mistakes they made in the wilderness.

Psalm 97

God reigns! The entire earth shows God's power and majesty. All other gods must bow to Him. So His Chosen People should praise God!

Psalm 98

Sing to God because He sets things right! He remembers His Chosen People. They praise him with orchestras and bands—a great tribute to the one who sets things right!

Psalm 99

God rules from heaven! God's great beauty is evident. He is holy! He loves justice and sets a firm foundation for His Chosen People. He is holy! He spoke to us through His priests. He is holy!

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God reigns!

What a refreshing thought after the emotional week last week!

God sets everything right!

David learned this from his trials during his life. God loves justice. All who follow God know this. God sets everything right! Praise God!

God is holy!

May 21 - 2 Samuel 22-23; Psalm 57: David's Final Words of Praise

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 22-23; Psalm 57

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Read 2 Samuel 22 with the mindset of a polytheist learning about Israel's god.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

David finally had peace from all of his enemies. He praised God for being his rock, his refuge, his salvation. God protected him from his enemies through awe-inspiring, grand spectacles of power. He reached down and pulled David out of his troubles.
David's last words gave honor to God as the impetus behind his psalms. He warns to stay away from evil ones for they will seek to destroy God's People.
David's top men included three elites—Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah—and thirty second-tier fighters, all capable of great deeds on the battlefield.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 57

David, hiding in a cave from Saul, calls out to God to shelter him from the hurricane and protect him from the lions and trappers. David is ready to sing praises to God for his salvation. David begins his praise!

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

David's praises would resonate with polytheist of his day.

We read through some of these lines and think they are uncommon—at least not the way we speak of God today. However, we must see David's words in light of their cultural surroundings. Israel's neighbors on all sides were polytheists. Their gods had impressive stories of great power. However, no matter how great their stories may have been, David's god was greater than any god. This is why he uses such vivid language:

Earth wobbled and lurched;
   the very heavens shook like leaves,
Quaked like aspen leaves
   because of his rage.
His nostrils flared, billowing smoke;
   his mouth spit fire.
Tongues of fire darted in and out;
   he lowered the sky. (22:8-9, The Message)

We might consider this a missionary psalm for David. He is calling to people who live elsewhere to consider the God of Israel. Sing God's praises to people who do not know God as their god with hopes that they come to know Him.

David's praises also show the timelessness of his other psalms.

As antiquated as this version of David's words may be, it highlights how well his other psalms have aged. Consider the 23^rd Psalm's imagery of a lamb protected by a shepherd. Although most Americans do not own sheep, we still understand what a shepherd does. How wonderful that God passed down such a great number of poems that help describe the life of a person dedicated to setting things right for God.

All of David's psalms were written through God's Spirit.

At the end of his life, David gives honor and credit to God for all he has done. His words were from God. He uses his last words to warn against those who are "the devil's henchmen" (23:6, The Message).

May we use our final words to give honor to God for all we have done in our lives!

May 20 - Psalms 5, 38, 41-42: God Heals the God-Seekers

Today’s Reading: Psalms 5, 38, 41-42

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God lifts us up when we are down.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 5

David wants God to listen to his groanings for help. God has nothing to do with evil and David is humbled to be in His House. Evil people breathe poison gas but God welcomes with open arms.

Psalm 38

David asks God to slow down his punishment. He is flesh and bones because of his sin. David longs to be with God but he is blind, alone, betrayed, and unable to communicate. He is about to go over the edge and calls for God to help quickly.

Psalm 41

David knows God will nurse him back to health. He asks God to put him together again. David has a bad reputation. He knows God is on his side because God knows him intimately. Blessed is God always! Yes!

Psalm 42

The sons of Korah are like a deer drinking in God. They were once at the head of worship line. Now they are in the dumps. To help they review all God is and what God has promised. When they feel down, they fix their eyes on God. Soon things will look up again.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God is famous for welcoming God-seekers.

David has repeatedly mentioned the idea that God does not want us to be "religious." God wants us to seek after Him. He wants us to set things right, as He does. That is why he welcomes God-seekers. God welcomes anyone who will seek after him—and set things right.

God dignifies those who are down on their luck.

Being a Chosen Person of God does not mean we will always have things go our way. In fact, it may be the exact opposite. Yet what makes God significant and worthy of our praise is that He is willing to lift us up when we are down. God nurses us back to health. Praise God for setting us right when we are down and out!

Fix your eyes on God—He will lift you up!

May 19 - 2 Samuel 19-21: The Fallout of Absalom's Fall

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 19-21

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Today's reading is the aftermath of Absalom's reign.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

David wept over Absalom's death so much that his soldiers felt unimportant to him. David reconciled with Shimei and Mephibosheth, who declined Ziba's land. Barzillai insisted his servant Kimham be given David's offer to move to Jerusalem.
Sheba defected; Israel followed.
David sent his concubines who stayed in Jerusalem to a separate home.
Amasa failed to muster soldiers for David and paid for it with his life.
Sheba was killed in Able Beth Maacah.
God told David to repay the Gibeonites for Saul's sin: seven sons of Saul. He took Saul's, Jonathan's, and the seven sons' bones and buried them.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

David's love for Absalom blinded him to those who actually cared for him.

Joab acted as a bucket of cold water to David. He helped him see how his mourning over Absalom, a traitor who had treated him badly, hurt his relationship with the very people who protected David with their lives,

What is this - loving those who hate you and hating those who love you? Your actions give a clear message: officers and soldiers mean nothing to you. You know that if Absalom were alive right now, we'd all be dead - would that make you happy?" (19:6, The Message)

Do not let your disappointment for those who you loved spoil your love for those who love you.

Israel continues to be wishy-washy.

Israel cannot decide who they want to serve. Here is David, the one with God's Spirit, chosen by God to lead them to great victories, and brought peace to their land. Instead, they choose Absalom, the usurper, and Sheba, the feckless. In the end, this story should help give us comfort. The masses have never been able to stay loyal to one side or another. Leaders, do not expect a congregation to be behind you at all times. If they did not stay loyal to David—a man after God's own heart—what chance do you—a normal human—have?

David forgives Shimei.

Shimei shows the fruit of his forgiveness. He could have run away and never faced David again. However, he does not. He comes and risks his life by apologizing. David realizes this and forgives him. Set things right with those who persecute you—especially when they ask for forgiveness.

The people in Abel Beth Maacah set things right for David.

They are worried that Joab and his army are going to sully God's name within Israel and among the nations by destroying an ancient town. When they learn of Sheba's doings they set things right for David by cutting off Sheba's head. All Joab needed to do was ask. Before barging into a place demanding justice, have a conversation. It might get you further.

Starting in chapter 21, these stories may not be in chronological order.

I do not normally discuss technical details about the Bible; however, I believe this tidbit is important before moving through the rest of the book. Hebrew narratives were passed on orally so the stories were thematic. When the books were codified, the oral stories were brought together—under the auspices of the Holy Spirit. The reason these snippet-stories may have been added at the end of 2 Samuel could be that they did not fit the narrative at the time. Or they were added later after the rest of the book was put together. Either way the stories are equally important. One reason it is significant to write about this is because these sections may fill in holes left by the other stories. Another is that they may not fit together well. For example, why would God wait so many years to punish Israel for Saul's genocide of the Gibeonites? If the book is thematic instead of chronological, the story was added at the end either because it did not fit well in its place or was added too late to get placed in the correct position.

As David aged, his ability to fight waned.

I mention this because it could set up what happened in 2 Samuel 11.

Are you wishy-washy?