In 28:1, we see the gathering of a huge group of leaders. We’re talking about a major news event. All the big wigs, in one city, at one gathering. The occasion: plans for the new temple, a charge to remember the Lord’s commandments, and the passing of the torch to David’s son, Solomon.

Solomon is not chosen or appointed by David. David had many other sons he could have chosen. But Solomon was chosen by God (see 1 Chronicles 22:9, 28:6, 29:1). This choosing of leaders by God makes you think of 1 Samuel 2:7, Psalm 75:7, and Daniel 2:21–the Lord determines kings, their rising and their falling.

As David passes the torch to his son, the new, God-appointed king, he charges Solomon: “Know the God of your father, serve him with an undivided heart and a willing mind; Be strong and set to work; Be strong, stand firm; be fearless, be dauntless, because Yahweh God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you before you have finished all the work to be done for the house of Yahweh.” He then adds something to the effect, “and just in case you’re still worried, the people have your back too.” Now that, is a charge. Be strong, stand firm, be fearless, be dauntless!

Shifting gears to the freewill offerings, both of David and of the people, it must be recognized that Jehiel, Shelemoth, Zetham, and Joel must be men of utmost integrity. They are receiving offerings of great magnitude, all kinds of precious treasures, and not once do we hear mention of greed, envy, misuse, or abuse of these materials. These men are the type of men I would want on my staff–be it for a church, a business, a team, or as friends. Lord, give us more men like this.

And finally, shifting one more time, to the words of praise by David, we see this king, even in his old age, breaking out in spontaneous worship, still humble, still excited, still in love with his God. Just read 29:10-19. Read it again. And again. Such a good ending to this first half of the book of Chronicles.

Pretty straightforward information in these three chapters.

In chapter 25, we cover the liturgical duties and those who performed them. In chapter 26, we learn who serves as gate keepers, treasury overseers, scribes, judges, and border patrol. In chapter 27, we see how the rest of the military and civil society were organized.

Two things that stuck out to me:

1) Obed-Edom is specially noted as being blessed by God because he had eight sons. When you think about it, that is quite a blessing, and quite a rarity. Likewise these men, his sons and grandsons, “were well fitted for their task.” I hope I’m well fitted for my task. I hope you are well-fitted for yours.

2) These chapters show us that government and the organization of civil society is a necessary thing. It is as old as man himself. And society will always need order and leaders. Let’s just pray that our current leaders come to know the Lord…and that those who know the Lord will be made leaders, as God sees fit.

Stark differences between David and Solomon:

David vs. Solomon

• War vs. Peace
• Old vs. Young
• Restless vs. Restful
• Experienced vs. Green
• Conqueror vs. Facilitator

23:30-31: They give praise and thanksgiving to the Lord every morning and every evening. May we do the same. Also, I think there’s something to be said for a pattern in life: rest 1 of every 7 days, an extra 1 day for every 30 days, and a week every fourth month. I think God set it up this way because He knows it’s good for our souls.

If you haven’t noticed yet, this Chronicler loves names and he loves numbers.

Insight #1: David sends a delegation to show sympathy for a deceased Ammonite king. The envoy is treated harshly by the Ammonites, so David says, “It’s on!”

He sends Joab, his commander out, and Joab puts a masterful battle strategy in place. Then he speaks these words, “Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.” Which reminds me of Proverbs…a book that, ironically, was written after this account in Chronicles.The Proverb states, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.”

So, in essence, you make the wisest plans you can make. Then God will do His thing.

Insight #2: Chapter 20 gives an account of David’s men killing giants. Everyone knows David killed a giant, but not everyone knows his followers/army could too. Tough dudes.

Insight #3: In chapter 21, God plays the role of genie…sort of. David screws up and calls for a census, which is against the rules established in the law. God tells David He will punish him, but he is allowed to choose the punishment. Three years, three months, or three days. Punishment will come from the hand of men; or it will come from the hand of God. David wisely chooses the punishment of shortest duration, the option that comes from the hand of God. Why? Because he knows the Lord is merciful. “Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

A good principle of Bible study is to correlate passages. Here’s what I mean:

1 Chronicles 16:7-22   === Psalm 105:1-15

1 Chronicles 16:23-33 === Psalm 96:1-13

1 Chronicles 16:34-36 === Psalm 106:1,47,48

David has quite the song of thanksgiving in chapter 16, as seen above. He also has quite the prayer in chapter 17. From these two chapters, it’s easy to see why God calls him a man after his own heart. He’s grateful, and he’s humble, even after all his military victories and years of leadership.

I must say I love 17:16. “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” I ask that same question…quite often. It blows me away when I sit before the Lord and reflect on my life, just how far He’s brought me, just how much He’s blessed me. And He doesn’t have to. That’s the crazy part. He is not a debtor to me in any way. But I am totally indebted to Him. Yet, He blesses.

I guess I’ll close with this. I hope when my life is said and done, that people will say of me what they said of David: “The Lord gave victory to David/Omer wherever he went.”

These three chapters revolve around one thing, the return of the ark of God to Jerusalem.

The backstory goes like this: The Philistines and Israelites had been fighting. The Philistines were winning, wiping out about 4,000 men in one particular battle. So, the Israelites go back to base, regroup, and in their own wisdom, decide they need the ark of the covenant. That will surely bring victory. So, the ark is delivered to them at their base camp, and they go into battle again. This time, they suffer even greater casualities, such that 30,000 Israelites were killed in battle. The ark was captured and taken into Philistine territory.  Around that time, people started saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” “There’s no glory,” “Where’s God?”

The Philistines have some trouble with the ark being in their territory. Instead of bringing blessing, it brings curses, in the form of tumors. So, seven months later, they send the ark away from their territory, back to Israel. The place where it returns is called Beth-shemesh. When it arrives, some men look upon the ark and are struck dead. This causes more grieving, and they start asking, “Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God?”

The people move the ark to the house of Abinadab and consecrate someone to watch over the ark, Eleazar. The ark remains there throughout the rest of Samuel’s life and throughout Saul’s life. It’s basically ignored.

So David, upon becoming king and moving into Jerusalem, decides to bring the ark back to the golden city. This is where the Chronicles account picks up, and if you read through it, you come to find out that the transportation of this ark was no small thing. In fact, another person is struck dead for transporting it the wrong way. This puts fear in David’s heart, thus he leaves the ark at a man’s house for three months. In the meantime, he learns how to transport it the right way. He also has two battles with the Philistines, in which he seeks God’s instruction, God tells him what to do, and he is granted victory. Thus his fame spreads, he builds houses, he prepares a place for the ark of God, and now, he feels ready to move the ark since he knows how to do it the right way. This time, the move is a success.

The moral of the story should be obvious by now: You approach God on His terms, not on yours. And you seek Him for direction, no one else.

In chapter 10, we see the event of Saul’s death, then the interpretation of Saul’s death. Or you may argue, we see reality, then ultimate reality. Our reality, then God’s reality.

In chapter 11, God tells David what he’ll become. The next verse, that comes to pass.

Now we know, if we read the rest of the Bible, it didn’t happen so quickly, nor so conveniently. And it’s the same way in life today. God tells us something and we want it now, but God takes his sweet time. He acts like He has all the time in the world or something.

On our end, we’re wanting Everest in a day. If it takes two, we lose interest. So somewhere, in all that waiting, toiling, and being faithful in the days of small things, God teaches us what we need to know so we can become who He says we’re supposed to become. Our reality, God’s reality.

And maybe, just maybe, if we keep at it long enough, we can become mighty men like those in chapter 11 & 12.