Read 1
Chronicles 20-22 & John
10:22-42
To discover:
As you read consider why the
events surrounding the census are recorded.
To ponder:
Joab’s attack on the Ammonites is
the context for David’s sin of adultery and murder (20v1, see 2 Sam 11), but it
is not mentioned here. Despite the hint that David should have been “at war” we
simply read of two further victories through his men. The extension of his rule
is stressed in his wearing the Ammonite king’s crown and “subjugating” the
Philistines by defeating their mighty men. Christ wins his victories through
his people too, as we overcome by the “testimony of Jesus” and not even
shrinking from death (Rev 12v11).
21v1
portrays “Satan” (lit. “adversary”) as God’s means of inciting David to take
his census (compare 2 Sam 24v1 and notes). David’s sin is not to trust God to
fight for him. What is added to 2 Samuel 24 is his decision that “the house of
the LORD” be built on the site where the angel ceased his judgement (22v1).
What is particularly striking is that this was on a site owned by a God-fearing
Canaanite (21v18), again, showing God’s concern with the nations coming to
worship him. Indeed, both Araunah and his four sons were priveledged with
seeing the angel.
David built an
altar on Araunah’s threshing floor according to God’s word through Gad, and
sacrificed burnt and fellowship offerings (stressing devotion and peace with
God). In calling on the LORD, David may have just sought mercy. However, God
displayed his acceptance of the burnt offerings by sending fire from heaven to
consume them (see also 2 Chr 7v1, 1 Kgs 18v38). The LORD then told the angel to
sheath his sword (of judgement), the plague stopped, and in response David
offered more sacrifices. His subsequent fear of going to enquire of God at the
tabernacle is ironic as the events actually show how necessary the tabernacle
and temple were, and how appropriate the site for the latter: There priests would
act as mediators specifically so that people could approach the holy presence
of God. We should be thankful that because Christ embraced the sword of
judgement and acts as our mediator, we no longer need to fear approaching God
(Heb 10v22).
Although
David was not permitted to build the temple, his heart was so taken up with
honouring God (22v5) and seeing his promise fulfilled (22v9-10) that he then devoted
himself to making preparations, considering Solomon too young and inexperienced
to do the job properly. So David appointed stonecutters, provided materials,
and charged Solomon to do the building as God had said he would. David explains
God had forbidden him from building because he had “shed much blood.” We’ve
seen David was not wrong to fight his wars, so this may refer to the fact that
just as contact with dead bodies made Israelites unclean and so unfit for
worship, contact with so much death made it inappropriate for David to
construct the place of worship. Alternatively, the prohibition may have been to
stress that the temple was a sign of Israel
entering a time of “peace and rest” and so had to be constructed by a king of
that period (22v9). God may not fulfil our desires in Christian service. Nevertheless,
we are to be so caught up with his honour and promises that we seek to further
his purposes to whatever degree we can.
David's speech to Solomon prays God would give
him “discretion” and “understanding” as he abundantly did. Like Moses handing
over to Joshua for a new phase in Israel’s history, David prays this would mean
that Solomon keeps God’s law so that he has “success,” urging him to be strong
and courageous (Jos 1v6-9). David then tells Solomon to add to what he provided
and begin the work on the temple, ordering the leaders to help him. His point
is that now the land is “subject” to the LORD and people, they are to “devote”
themselves to seeking the LORD and begin to build the temple so the ark and
sacred items can be brought into it. The kingdom will then be fully
established. No longer having to lead Israel
to the land or into battle, God’s presence will have settled amongst them.
Praying it home:
Thank God for making full atonement
for sin so that we can draw close to him. Pray that you would devote yourself
to doing whatever you can to honour him and see his purposes furthered.
Thinking further: Numbers in 1
and 2 Chronicles
The perceptive reader will note
that the statistics in 1 and 2 Chronicles often differ from the equivalent
records in Samuel and Kings. Many of the discrepencies can be reconciled. A few
may be due to copying errors since the inspired orginals were written. But we
should also remember the authors didn’t have the same concern with absolute numerical
accuracy that we often do in the twenty first century. So large miltary units
were classed “thousands” without this necessarily meaning they contained
literally a thousand men. Given all this, and having noted the care with which
the author has researched and ordered his account, we can be confident that
where we may not be able to reconcile differences, there is an explanation that
may well have been apparent to the original readers.
If you receive this post by
email, visit bible2014.blogspot.co.uk
and make a comment.
0 comments:
Post a Comment