Tag Archives: David

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 19

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Crowd. But when David’s servants arrived in Ammonite country and came to Hanun to bring condolences, the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun, “Do you for a minute suppose that David is honoring your father by sending you comforters? Don’t you know that he’s sent these men to snoop around the city and size it up so that he can capture it?” 1 Chronicles 19:2-3 (MSG)

When my daughters were entering their teen years, I told both of them that I would trust them until they did something to lose my trust. Then I warned them that they did NOT want to lose my trust. I found it interesting that both of my daughters came to appreciate and value my trust. While both girls were not without their teenager mistakes, I know that both of them came to value that trust, especially in contrast to the irrational mistrust they saw other parents placing on their friends.

Along the journey, I’ve tended to believe the best in people and their motives, and it’s served me well. I figure it’s best to treat people the way you want to be treated, and I always want people to believe the best in me. I can count precious few times in my life that a person took advantage of that trust. They were isolated cases that taught me a lot about the individual involved. They were exceptional situations and I don’t think a few exceptions justifies dismantling the golden rule.

How different Hanun’s outcome would have been if he’d simply taken David’s condolences as they were meant. Accepting David’s token of friendship could have meant abundant blessings and a meaningful alliance. Instead, Hanun found himself with a very powerful enemy.

Today, I’m choosing to believe the best in people.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and jp_42

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 18

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Leadership Thus David ruled over all of Israel. He ruled well, fair and evenhanded in all his duties and relationships. 1 Chronicles 18:14 (MSG)

This past weekend my dad and I were road tripping down to the lake with my wife. In the process of our conversation, my dad mentioned that he’d run into my Junior High school Principal who had asked about me. When I was younger, I had positions of student leadership in school. But, I wasn’t the greatest leader in the world. I thought that being in a position of leadership meant lording it over others, getting what you want, and doing what was in your best interest. Even though it was part of the journey that led to my relationship with Christ, I look back on those years with a sense of shame for my motivations and actions.

“If you see him again,” I told my dad, “Tell him I’m sorry for being such an obnoxious little twerp.”

I thought about that when I read the description of David’s leadership in today’s chapter. What a great description to have recorded through history of your leadership. What a great benchmark to strive for in my leadership positions in family, church, community and business: “To rule well, fair and evenhanded in all my duties and relationships.”

Today, I’m thinking about my current positions of leadership, and doing some evaluation.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and lumaxart

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 17

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Paving the way. “And now I’m telling you this: God himself will build you a house! When your life is complete and you’re buried with your ancestors, then I’ll raise up your child to succeed you, a child from your own body, and I’ll firmly establish his rule. He will build a house to honor me, and I will guarantee his kingdom’s rule forever.” 1 Chronicles 17:10b-12 (MSG)

I sat in the high school gym with my daughter’s Geography teacher. It was parent-teacher conferences and I was there to get a snapshot of how my daughter was doing in class. Her teacher looked at me and chuckled.

“You daughter has seen more of the world than I have. In some ways, she knows more about Geography than I do!” he said.

I got his point. My eldest daughter is barely 20, and both of my daughters have been around the world to share the love of Christ with others. Thailand, India, Romania, Costa Rica, Panama, Morocco, and Mexico to be exact. When I was their age, I could not have fathomed having the breadth of experiences and opportunities that they have had to make a difference in other people’s lives.

As I have supported their journies, prayed for them, and watched them grow, my mind has often wandered back to this chapter in 1 Chronicles. I watch my children give themselves to the work and I’m proud of them. In many ways, they have already seen more and experienced more in their 20 years than I have in all of my 40 (plus a few). God willing, my road will take me many places before my journey is through. Nevertheless, I accept that they will experience things and accomplish things of which I never dreamed.

David was a warrior and his road led through wilderness and battle. His road paved the way for his son, Solomon, who would enjoy a road that led through peace and knowledge. David’s road made the way for Solomon’s. My parents road paved the way for me. My road paves the way for my children. There is a subtle and holy order in that.

My job is to walk the path I’m given, and to prepare and support my children for the path God has for them.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and edwinylee

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 12

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Whodunnit. When David went out to meet them, this is what he said: “If you have come in peace and to help me, you are most welcome to join this company; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies, innocent as I am, the God of our ancestors will see through you and bring judgment on you.” 1 Chronicles 12:17 (MSG)


My wife is great at guessing what’s coming next in a movie or television program. Within the first few minutes of a program like “The Mentalist” or “Law & Order,” she’ll be saying, “I think he did it.” By three quarters the way through the program she’ll usually have announced who did it along with the means, motive and opportunity. Most of the time, she’s right. Perhaps it’s from hanging out on the couch with her, but I find myself doing the same thing now. I’m not as good as she is, but I’ve gotten better at it.


That’s why the verse from today’s chapter caught me off guard.


When I read David’s opening words, “but if you come to betray me to my enemies…” my mind conjured up a host of likely conclusions that would come from a red-blooded male warrior:

  • I’ll kill you ’til you’re dead.
  • I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse.
  • I will personally cut off your head and feed your body to the lions.

What I didn’t expect was “God will see through you and bring judgment upon you.” That’s what I love about David and his story. In so many ways he is a flawed many like any other, like me. But, you constantly catch glimpses of why God called him “a man after my own heart.” David does not presume, like most ego-centric, paranoid warrior kings, to be judge, jury and executioner. He reserves judgement for God and trusts God enough to reveal his betrayer.


How often am I quick to judge? How often do I jump to conclusions and make snap judgements about my children? My family? My co-workers? My friends? Today, I take my lesson from David’s example. Reserve judgement. Stop being so paranoid or jumping to conclusions about who did what. Let God reveal what is true when it’s necessary and in His good time.


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Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 11

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Wilderness These are the chiefs of David's Mighty Men, the ones who linked arms with him as he took up his kingship, with all Israel joining in, helping him become king in just the way God had spoken regarding Israel. 1 Chronicles 11:10 (MSG)

Great leaders aren't great leaders without great followers.
Great followers are made when a leader earns their devotion.

The prophet, Samuel, anointed David as God's choice for king when David was just a young boy. David did not ascend the throne of Israel until he was 40. Between his being anointed king and his ascension to the throne, an epic story unfolds. After his initial headline grabbing defeat of Goliath, David's rise to fortune and fame was short lived. King Saul, jealous of David's popularity and God's favor on him, puts a price on David's head. David spends the better part of 20 years on the run living in caves in the desert with a rag-tag band of warriors and mercenaries.

It was in the Judean desert that God prepared David for the throne. It was in the wilderness that David became a great leader. As he and his men scratched out a living and hid from Saul's army, David earned the respect and devotion of his men. A select group of highly gifted warriors rose from the ranks. Like comic book heroes, the Mighty Men became legendary and helped David inherit the promise God made to him in his youth.

Life's journey has its share of stretches through the desert and wanderings through the wilderness. They are difficult paths to walk and they often seem endless. Nevertheless, they acheive God's purposes for us. They prepare us for what God has in store down the road. They prove us and refine us. They develop maturity and wholeness. King David would never have been King David unless he'd spent half of his life in the desert earning the respect of the men who were single-heartedly devoted to him.

Press on. There's a reason you find yourself in a difficult place.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 5

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And even though Judah became the strongest of his brothers and King David eventually came from that family, the firstborn rights stayed with Joseph. 1 Chronicles 5:2 (MSG)

To this point in the book, the author of Chronicles has focused his genealogical listings on the tribe of Judah and particularly the house of David. We see it yet again in the verse above as the writer appears to explain to his readers why first born rights among the tribes of Israel were not with the first born Reuben, nor with his favorite team: Judah. He does, however, bring up an interesting connection.

Joseph and David were both the youngest among their brothers and were derided as such. God raised both of them to prominence over their brothers and gave them both positions of power, authority, and blessing. Both David and Joseph are constant reminders that God is a God of the underdog. God raises the lowest, most humble. When we are at our weakest, God tends to performs His greatest works in our lives.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 3

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"These are the sons that David had while he lived at Hebron…." 1 Chronicles 3:1 (MSG)

I'm currently reading a trilogy of novels. The first book felt a bit scattered and I struggled with parts of it. Only now, as I get into the middle of the second book, are the pieces coming together. Many of the things that confused me in the beginning are making sense, and I'm gaining an appreciation for the larger story told by the author.

In a similar way, the Old Testament can feel incredibly boring and confusing until you start connecting the dots and see how the whole of the story fits together.

When reading the Old Testament books of history, it's important to remember that David is a key figure. Not only is he key in understanding the Old Testament, but he is a key figure in the story of Jesus and beyond. God promised David that his throne would be established forever. When the Kingdom of Israel split after Solomon, the southern kindgom (referred to thereafter as the Kingdom of Judah) remained loyal to the line of David. All of their kings were descendents of David. The northern kingdom (continuing to be called the Kingdom of Israel) became a free-for-all in which the throne went to the most powerful (or treacherous) person who could ascend to the throne.

Because of God's promise to David, the prophets knew that the Messiah would be born of David's line. The family trees of Jesus listed in Matthew and Luke (one is the line through his mother and the other is through his earthly father Joseph) were critical in establishing that Jesus was descended of David through both.

The more you understand of the larger story, the more interesting the individual stories and chapters become.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Kings 2

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It's not personal. It's strictly business. The king then gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he went out and struck Shimei dead. The kingdom was now securely in Solomon's grasp. 1 Kings 2:46 (MSG)

All great stories are a reflection of God's great story. That's what my wife consistently reminds me, and she is correct. That's why, when I read the Old Testament historical books, like Kings and Chronicles, I'm constantly reminded of stories, plays and movies that reflect the same biblical themes wrapped in the language of the present culture.

We read in today's chapter about Solomon, the youngest son, and his succession to his father's throne. We read about his "settling accounts" with the enemies of his father and the contract killings of Joab and Shimei. We read of the killing of his own brother who betrayed him. 

How could I not help but think of Michael Corleone, the youngest son, and his succession in the family business, his bloody settling of accounts, and the killing of his own brother who betrayed him?

All great stories are reflections of the Great Story.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Kings 1

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Empty nest.  At this time Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, puffed himself up saying, "I'm the next king!" He made quite a splash, with chariots and riders and fifty men to run ahead of him. His father had spoiled him rotten as a child, never once reprimanding him. Besides that, he was very good-looking and the next in line after Absalom. 1 Kings 1:5-6 (MSG)

It's humbling to watch your children grow into adulthood. No matter how hard you try to be the perfect parent, that silly sin nature thing gets in the way for both the parent and the child. If there is one thing I have learned in raising my girls it is that mistakes will be made. Pain will be part of the process. It's a natural part of the journey for every generation.

They say that hindsight is 20-20, and there is no doubt that your shortcomings as a parent come into focus in the lives of your children as they come into adulthood and start making their own life choices. I should have spent more time teaching her that. I didn't provide enough instruction about this. How could a child grow up in my home and not pick up that principle? Lord, help us.

King David, despite being God's man, had plenty of shortcomings as a parent. The consequences were disastrous. Rape, murder and rebellion were the big consequences, but we see in today's chapter that little things like anger, bitterness, pride, scheming, gossip appear to have been commonplace in David's household.

They also say that you never stop parenting. My elders have told me that the "empty nest" is somewhat of a myth since the birds always return home. That gives me hope. I have a chance to keep growing as a parent and to keep teaching my children in word and deed.

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Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Psalm 144

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The Playhouse. Blessed be God, my mountain, who trains me to fight fair and well. He's the bedrock on which I stand, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight, The high crag where I run for dear life, while he lays my enemies low. (Psalm 144:1-2, The Message)

I just returned from spending the weekend at the lake with a friend. It was a guys weekend, and I had the blessed experience of watching my friend melt before my eyes as he slowly decompressed. The tightness and intensity of his daily battle gave way to the peaceful effects of water, wind and wave. His eyelids grew heavy with weariness. His body relaxed. Stress yielded to healing slumber.

Our family's playhouse at the lake has always been a place of refuge. A quiet waystation, well behind the battle line of daily life, where weary individuals can find safety, rest and healing. I get to experience it regularly myself, and it's cool to share it with others in need.

As I read the lyrics to David's song, I was struck by his line "the high crag where I run for dear life." I thanked God for a place of retreat to which I, my family, and my friends, can run. A place to feel God's healing presence away from life's daily battle.

 

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