Category: 1 Chronicles

1 Chron 29:14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand.”
Lord, when I take time to count my blessings, they are abundant, and they are Your gift and provision to me, Your beloved child. All that I have is from You, and I have indeed been richly blessed. Help me to never lose sight of You, Your blessings and provisions, in my life.
1 Chron 29:15 “We are foreigners and strangers in Your sight, as were our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.”
Lord, You are my light and my life. Without You, there is no hope. Even on dark days, help me to cling to You and the hope that can only come from You. Help me to shine Your light so that others can understand the hope that can only be found in You.
1 Chron 29:16 “LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building You a temple for Your Holy Name comes from Your hand, and all of it belongs to You.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Help me to always be mindful of Your blessings in my life. Help me to always shine Your light. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Chron 29:18 “LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of Your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to You.”
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 28:9a “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind….”
Lord, This advice, passed from David towards the end of his reign to Solomon as the torch of leadership is being passed, is good advice for us, too. We need a single minded focus on You and You alone.
1 Chron 28:9b “…for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought….”
Lord, this world is not content for us to focus on You. The number of things that try to claim my attention just while I’m doing my prayer and devotional each morning is absolutely insane. Help me to always keep You front and center in my mind and heart.
1 Chron 28:9c “…If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder to keep myself centered in You and on You. Help me to be strong and courageous and to do the work You have for me. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Chron 28:29 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you….”
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 25:8 Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties. (NIV)
Today’s scripture is much like yesterday’s in talking about approaching things differently. My reaction, interestingly, is completely different. I found myself thinking, “How is that fair? The teachers have worked and practiced for years. Now they have the same chances as the students? It’s all luck? Not cool.” A very earthly reaction.
1 Chron 25:8 The musicians were appointed to their term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student. (NLT)
David would say it’s not luck, it’s God. By putting everyone in the running, God can choose the best person for each position. And isn’t that what we want? To be exactly where God wants and needs us? So why is my sense of injustice at the whole thing so front and center in my thinking? Jesus, Help me!
1 Chron 25:8 David assigned them their duties by asking the LORD what He wanted. Everyone was responsible for something, whether young or old, teacher or student. (CEV)
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for this reminder that You have a place and a purpose for me, something I was uniquely created to do. Help me to seek Your will for me and not my own. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Chron 25:8 To determine the assignment of duties they all drew lots, whether they were young or old, experts or beginners. (GNT)
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 24:5a They divided them impartially by casting lots….
I always read these chapters with an eye toward discerning what God is trying to tell me or show me. Today’s verses seems to be about doing things differently, in a way that doesn’t just follow tradition. In these unprecedented times, I’d say that’s really good advice.
1 Chron 24:5b …for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazer and Ithamar.
I am fortunate enough to be on several committees in my church that have allowed me to be in on conversations where we are trying to discern how to move forward differently. I’m sure we will make some mistakes, but we are meeting frequently (and virtually) to try to be sure we are moving forward in His will. I’m trying to take the same approach in the classroom as well, forgoing “what I’ve always done” and looking for ways to make my content as personally relevant to students as possible. 
1 Chron 24:31a They also cast lots, just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites….
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that “the way it’s always been” isn’t necessarily according to Your will. Help me to seek Your will always, adjusting when I discern my errors, shining Your light for others. Guide my steps. Amen.
1 Chron 24:31b … The families of the older brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 22:13 “Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
David is laying the foundation for Solomon to build God’s temple. He has amassed materials and money. He has secured the location. This is the final pep talk. “Keep your eyes on God. Seek Him. Obey Him. Stay in His will, and He will bless you and your work.” Easy peasy, right?
1 Chron 22:14 “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.“
Of course we make it harder than it needs to be. I sit in my recliner every morning with coffee and my bible and my Savior, and the world still manages to wrench my focus away from Him before long. Even with my determination to keep my eyes on Him, I’m often fully turned away before I realize I’ve shifted my gaze. 
1 Chron 22:16 “…Now begin the work, and the LORD be with you.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that I must keep my eyes on You, my heart, my soul, my mind on You. Thank You for the reminder that the world is not going to make that easy, but with Your strength, Your help, it can be done. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.
1 Chron 22:19 “Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God….”
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 21:22 David said to [Araunah], “Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an alter to the LORD….Sell it to me at full price.”
David has sinned against God, and he is trying to atone for his sins. Araunah, is trying to be generous to his king. But David knows his sacrifice must cost him something. He cannot sacrifice out of Araunah’s generosity.
1 Chron 21:23 Araunah said to David, “Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this.”
Commentary says that David’s being a man after God’s own heart doesn’t mean he is sinless. It means he is sensitive to his sin, he feels it deeply, and he understands the path back to God. He must sacrifice. It must cost him something.
1 Chron 21:24 But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that cost me nothing.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for David’s heart, that he understands when he has strayed from You, that he understands the sacrifice involved in making amends. I want to be sinless, Lord, but I know that is not possible, so help me to be sensitive and understanding in how to restore my bond with You. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Chron 21:25 So David paid Araunah six hundred shekels of gold for the site.
Have a blessed day.