Through the Bible - 1 Chronicles

God, open our hearts and our minds right now. Speak to us by Your Spirit. You promised that You would give us the Spirit of truth that would guide us in all truth and teach us all things. And so, Lord, we ask that You would, by Your Spirit right now, teach us. Give us application from this passage here. Help us to glean from it what You would have us receive. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

Now, the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles really cover the same historical passage that we've already seen back in Samuel and in Kings. We are going to be going through some material that we've already covered. How many of you actually read through the book of 1 Chronicles over the last couple of weeks? A few of you. How many of you read word for word the first nine chapters? It's a tough one. It's one of those things that we often find easy to skip over or go through quickly because the first nine chapters of the book are a genealogy—a long list of names that are extremely hard to pronounce. You read them and think, "What in the world? Who would name their child such a thing?" Sometimes, it's really helpful to have the audio Bible or something similar to actually hear someone pronounce those names so you understand what they are all about.

It's interesting when you start this book and begin at verse 1 of chapter 1, reading through this genealogy. You start to see something that I think is important. Genealogies in the Bible are always significant. God put them there for a reason, and there is something He can teach us from the genealogies. Mixed throughout these verses and names in the first nine chapters, there are a few verses that speak of something other than names and genealogies. However, even in the names, there is something important. One of the things we see as we go through these genealogies begins all the way back at Adam, the first man. That is the first word of the first book or the first chapter here: Adam. When you read the genealogy from Adam in the book of Genesis, who is the first son that they brought forth?

Cain and Abel are well-known figures, but here in chapter 1 of 1 Chronicles, we see Adam and then Seth. It doesn't mention anything about Cain and Abel. One of the key observations as you read through these nine chapters of 1 Chronicles is that some names are excluded from this genealogy. This raises the question: why are these names excluded?

There is a very important truth and principle reflected in this genealogy, particularly the principle of inclusion or exclusion. It begins with Adam and continues through Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mehalalel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, eventually leading down to Noah. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The writer of 1 Chronicles lists a few descendants of Ham and Japheth, but then he focuses on one individual, Shem, who is likely the middle son of Noah. Shem is the one who takes the limelight; he is the focal point of the book. In contrast, there is not much said about Ham and Japheth.

The genealogy continues from Shem to Abraham. Abraham had more than one son; his first son by Hagar was named Ishmael, but Ishmael is excluded. Instead, we read about Isaac. Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob, but Esau is also excluded, and the focus shifts to Jacob. God changed Jacob's name to Israel, who had twelve sons. The genealogy then mentions these twelve sons of Israel, who became the twelve heads of the tribes of Israel.

However, the book narrows its focus even further down to just two tribes: the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Levi. Why was the tribe of Levi important? Their task was to serve as the priests. And what was significant about the tribe of Judah? It was the line of Christ; King David came from this tribe, and the son of David would also come through King David.

In this book, it starts with Adam and goes down through Seth. It continues following Seth down through Shem, then through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, it primarily focuses on two tribes because this book is all about the king and the priesthood. The king and the priesthood, or really the king and the temple, is what you can kind of boil the book of 1 Chronicles down to: the king and the temple.

We already know that we looked at 1 and 2 Kings a couple of weeks ago, where it discussed the kings—not just one king, but many kings. The nation of Israel was divided into ten northern tribes and two southern tribes. There were the tribes in Judah and the tribes of Ephraim to the north, or Samaria to the north. This division among the children of Israel resulted in many kings, and almost every single one of them was wicked. There were only five good kings among all the kings that came in Israel.

When we come to the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles, it only looks at one king: the true king, King David. The book of 1 Chronicles focuses solely on David himself, while the book of 2 Chronicles will focus on David's line—the line of David and the kings that come from him. Ultimately, the king of kings would come from David, as we will see as we continue to go through these books. The book focuses on this man, David, the king after God's own heart, and the tribe of Levi, which were the priests. Thus, the king and the temple are the primary focus of the book of 1 Chronicles.

But why is there this exclusion and inclusion in the Bible? What is this all about? I think the answer to that question is found in the book of 2 Chronicles. Flip over to 2 Chronicles chapter 16. I believe this is probably a verse that you've heard before; in fact, many of you have probably memorized it. In 2 Chronicles chapter 16, verse 9, we are told that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect or loyal towards Him. God tells us there that His eyes look around the entire earth to find a man, a woman, or anyone whose heart is loyal towards Him—completely given to Him. We are told in the book of Acts that David was a man after God's own heart.

He was a man of a perfect heart. The reason an individual would be included in the work and plan of God is that they have an obedient heart, a heart that is given to the Lord. The inverse is also true. Why is a man excluded from the work and plan of God? There are certain people, when you read the genealogies listed in 1 Chronicles chapters 1 through 9, who are completely dropped.

For example, when you look at Ham, the son of Noah, and Japheth, the son of Noah, they are mentioned, and we are given a list of a few people that come from them. However, after that list, you never really think about them or hear about them anymore. The primary example, the one that is a good illustration of this principle of being excluded from the work and plan of God, is the first king of the nation of Israel, whose name was King Saul.

This passage, the first division of the book of 1 Chronicles, ends with King Saul. If you turn over to 1 Chronicles chapter 10, you can observe this principle of exclusion very clearly. In 1 Chronicles chapter 10, the entire book of 1 Samuel is basically dedicated to Saul's life. If you want to know about King Saul and what he was all about, just read the book of 1 Samuel. From 1 Samuel chapter 9 until the end of the book, it is almost entirely about King Saul. There is a lot of information about David in there, but you really get to see the life of King Saul.

Yet here in the book of 1 Chronicles, it only gives us 14 verses to talk about King Saul. Notice how it ends in 1 Chronicles chapter 10, verse 13: "So Saul died, why? For his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not. He also asked counsel of one that had a familiar spirit to inquire of it. He inquired not of the Lord; therefore, he..." Notice that. Circle that word "he." Therefore, God slew him and turned the kingdom unto David, the son of Jesse.

You see, the principle of exclusion is seen very clearly. God chooses individuals that He is going to use. He chooses individuals that He is going to pour His Spirit upon and exalt. He includes them in His work, even in the genealogy of His Son. However, He does not choose and exclude just because He rolls the dice and decides.

You know what? I like Scott, and so I'm going to choose him. No, that's not the way that God chooses. There has been a lot of talk in the church today, and it has been ongoing since about the 1500s when the Reformation of the church began. There is much discussion about election—those that are elected of God, chosen of God, predestined before the foundation of the world. This has caused a great split in the church.

Some in the church today say that God has elected people to go to hell, that He has chosen certain individuals to be condemned. They argue that He has chosen another group of people whom He will include in His work and use. Sometimes, they point to passages like the story of Jacob and Esau, where God says, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."

Yet, the only reason that God excludes a man like Esau or a man like Saul is because, I want you to see this, turn over to your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 17. The reason God excludes an individual from His work has everything to do with the heart. Jeremiah 17 talks about the heart of man, and we've looked at this verse dozens of times.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" Notice that question at the end. The heart is so depraved, so desperately wicked. Who can know it? But notice what the next verse says, verse 10: "I, the Lord, search the heart. I try the reins, even give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings."

I want you to notice that. God chooses men and women whose hearts are loyal to Him. The eyes of the Lord look to and fro throughout the whole earth, looking for someone that He can show Himself strong on their behalf. He is looking for a person who has a heart towards God. Yes, it's still a desperately wicked heart.

We saw back in 1 Samuel or 2 Samuel that David was a man after God's own heart, and yet he committed murder and adultery. This was not a perfect man, was he? No, but he was a man who had a heart that was perfect towards God. It was completely dedicated to God.

So, what is the difference between a man whom God chooses and a man whom God excludes? Look at King David, a man after God's own heart. God chose him, as we saw in 1 Chronicles 10:14: "The kingdom of Israel was turned over unto David the son of Jesse." Why? God excluded King Saul because Saul was a man filled with transgression. He committed transgression against the Lord and did not keep the word of God.

He was a man whose heart was not given to the Lord. Esau, another great character in Scripture, was excluded from God's work, even though Jacob, his brother, was a deceiver. Remember, Jacob, as we read about him in the book of Genesis, was not a good guy. He stole his brother's birthright, lied to his father, and fled when his brother was angry with him. He even lied to his uncle. This man was not perfect at all, but he was a man whose heart was given over to the Lord. He dedicated his heart and his way to the Lord.

There at Bethel that night, Jacob laid his head upon a rock and had a vision—a dream of a ladder that went up into heaven, with the angels of God ascending and descending upon it. He called the name of that place Bethel, meaning the house of God. He committed himself to the Lord, not fully understanding what that meant, but he committed himself nonetheless.

The Lord would exclude Esau because, as we read in the New Testament, he was a wicked and vile man. He was filled with the passions of this world. Even though he desired the blessing and sought it bitterly with tears, he found no place for something very important: repentance. He would not turn to the Lord; his heart was against the Lord. Therefore, God said, "I'm excluding this guy here because of his heart. His heart's not given to me."

It's similar to setting out a bowl of cherries or a bowl of grapes. At the end of the night, after people have picked through, there are probably five or six grapes still left on the bunch. Why are there still a few grapes in that bowl? They kind of look gross, don't they? You can see something about them. So you chose the good ones, didn't you? You chose the ones you knew would be bountiful and fruitful, but you left the ones behind—the ones you excluded—because you knew their heart.

God searches the heart of man, as we see in Jeremiah 17:10. He knows who will follow Him and who will reject Him. He knew that Saul would reject Him, yet God still reached out to him through the hand of Samuel constantly. We see the patience of God throughout the life of Saul and the life of Esau. God even blessed Esau in an abundant, powerful way. Yet, this was a man who was hard towards God and refused to accept Him. As a result, the Lord excluded him from the work that God was going to do.

What determines whether a man or a woman will be included in the work of God?

It has everything to do with the heart. The eyes of the Lord look to and fro throughout the whole earth, looking for one whose heart is toward the Lord, one who is given to the Lord. He will show Himself faithful on their behalf.

It's also interesting, and we have talked about this several weeks ago, that even though there may be inherent inabilities and weaknesses within a person, God overlooks such weaknesses when their heart is given to Him. Consider King David. King David was a man who definitely had weaknesses. We see his weaknesses clearly reported in the Bible. None of us would ever want our weaknesses published in a book that is going to be the bestseller throughout all eternity. Yet, here we read about David's weaknesses.

I want you to notice something very interesting. When you read through the book of 1 Chronicles, did you ever see anything about David's sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah? It is interesting that it is not spoken of. This book is all about the king; it is all about David being a man after God's own heart, the one that God had chosen to work through to include in His work of bringing the Messiah ultimately. That horrible sin, that wicked sin of David, is not even mentioned.

The timing of it is noted as you go through the book of 1 Chronicles. It talks about the time that Joab went out to battle and David stayed home, but it does not mention anything in chapters 18 or 19 about his sin with Bathsheba or taking the life of Uriah the Hittite. It is interesting that it is not mentioned. I take comfort in that because there are many things that you and I have done, and there are many things that you and I will do. Yet, the Lord knows our heart. He searches our heart.

You know when you've sinned, that conviction that comes in your heart, and you desire to confess it, repent, and turn to the Lord. We see that confession and repentance in King David in Psalm 51. You can identify with Psalm 51. If you can identify with Psalm 51, then I know for certain, based on what I see in the Scripture, that all those sins, all those things that you and I have committed, the Lord removes those as far as the east is from the west. Why? Because He has dealt with our sin there on the cross.

However, if we are like Esau, as the Scripture talks about in the book of Romans, then we abide under judgment because we refuse to repent.

He sought the blessing bitterly with tears. He cried so that he could receive the blessing, and yet he found no place for repentance. As a result, he died as a wicked man. I don't think that we'll see Esau in heaven because of what we see in the Scripture about him.

David was a man who committed wicked sin, and yet the Scripture here in 1 Chronicles doesn't even talk about it. Why? Because David was a man after God's own heart. From chapter 11, the focus of 1 Chronicles shifts entirely to King David, his ministry, and his life. We previously noted back in 2 Samuel that David's first act as king was significant. After Saul was gone, what was the very first thing that David set out to do when he became king over all of Israel?

You'll remember that he was king for a period of time over just the tribe of Judah for seven years. After those seven years, he came to the throne and became the king of all Israel. But what was the very first thing that he set out to do? He reestablished worship. He brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord back to Jerusalem. We see that here in this passage. After he ascends to the throne, he calls out to the nation of Israel to come together so that they can bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord back to Jerusalem.

There is something so important in that. We've talked about this, but I think we should look at it a little more fully. Turn over in your Bibles to Revelation chapter 2. In Revelation chapter 2, we see a letter to the church at Ephesus. It's not Paul's letter to the Ephesians; it's Jesus' letter to the Ephesians. It's a very short letter, much shorter than Paul's.

In Revelation chapter 2, starting at verse 1, Jesus speaks to the church at Ephesus. You'll remember that this was a church that looked great on the outside, but they had left their first love. In verse 4, Jesus addresses a church that had departed from its first love. It looked really good on the outside; they had everything going on, but they had departed from their first love, from God.

Repent and do the first works. Notice that. When David became king over all of Israel, the first thing he did was have the nation, in a sense, repent because they had left their first love. He said, "Let's go back to the beginning, back to basics, back to worship." He reestablished worship in the nation. Under King Saul, Israel had turned away from God. They forgot about the ark, which for years sat in a small town on the outskirts of the nation, right near the Philistines, surrounded by Philistine cities. Nobody really thought about it until David, the man after God's own heart, ascended to the throne. He said, "We have to bring the ark back."

However, remember that he didn't do it quite right at the beginning. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Chronicles chapter 13. I want to examine why he disobeyed. That is really what happened; David disobeyed. He knew full well the law of God and that there was a very specific way the ark of God was to be handled and carried. Yet, he disobeyed the Lord.

In 1 Chronicles chapter 13, I believe the reason for his disobedience is found in verse 1. David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds and with every leader, but he didn't consult with the Lord. He gathered all the big leaders in Israel and said, "Listen, we need to bring the ark of the covenant of God back to us," as noted in verse 3. He talked with them about how they were going to do this.

As they went to retrieve the ark, they decided to carry it the same way the Philistines did. In 1 Samuel chapters 4 and 5, the Philistines, when they decided they didn't want to deal with the ark anymore, simply put it on a cart and sent a couple of cattle in front of it to take it back to Israel. They didn't know how to handle the ark, but David, the king of Israel, the man after God's own heart, should have known better. Instead of following the proper procedure, he said, "Let's just get a cart and put the ark on it."

So they began to carry the ark back to Jerusalem. For some reason, it seems that as they were moving, the cart hit a bump in the road. At that moment, a man named Uzzah, who was standing right next to it, saw the ark totter a little bit.

Uzzah put forth his hand to try and stop the ark from falling. We read in verse 10 that the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark. There he died before God.

What was David's response when he saw that? Notice verse 11: David was displeased with the Lord because of this. David was angry at God, thinking, "How dare You do this, God?" Yet, he hadn't even considered for a moment that maybe he wasn't quite doing what the Lord wanted him to do.

Have you ever been in that place before, where you're trying to do things right, but they aren't working out the way you thought they would? It's not being blessed as you expected, and you start to get upset with God, asking, "What is it that You're doing?" Well, that's exactly what David did here. He saw that one of his friends, one of his men, died after touching the ark, which he ought not to have done. The anger of the Lord went out, smiting him, and he died. David was displeased and angry with the Lord.

But notice verse 12: David was afraid of God that day, saying, "How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? How am I going to bring the ark back to where I want it to be in Jerusalem?" He was afraid because of the Lord.

You know what? That's the attitude and the question he should have had from the beginning. He should have approached the whole matter of the ark of the covenant of the Lord with reverence and fear, asking the Lord, "How shall I bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto me at Jerusalem?" If he had started in verse 1 of chapter 13 as he ended in verse 12, then Uzzah probably would have been alive at the end of that day.

David was afraid of God that day and asked, "How shall I bring the ark of the Lord unto me?" This reminds me of that passage in Luke chapter 11, as well as Matthew chapter 6, where Jesus' disciples came to Him and said, "Teach us to pray." Jesus responded, "When you pray, pray, 'Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.'"

We approach God first with a reverence for His holiness, with a reverential fear of His power and who He is. He is not like us; He is separate from sinners, perfect, holy, just, and good. We, too, need to approach God in the same way that David should have approached Him. Yet, because he sought counsel from others instead of seeking the Lord, he missed the mark.

Of those that were around him, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, he just went to the polls, basically, and said, "What do you guys think?" There is a scripture in Proverbs that talks about how in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. The scripture also says that by the multitude of counsel, we wage war.

I think it's important to consult the officers, so to speak, and find out what those who are older in the Lord think about the decision you're about to make. However, if you don't inquire of the Lord first and foremost, you're going to be in trouble. David inquired of all the elders and all the officers, the captains, asking, "How shall we deal with this?" But he didn't inquire of the Lord.

David doesn't really attempt to mess with the Ark of God until chapter 15 again. I want you to notice how things change. Notice the difference in the way he deals with this in 1 Chronicles 15, verse 4. David assembled the children of Aaron. Aaron was the priest, right? He was from the tribe of Levi. David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites, the sons of Kohath, and Uriel, the chief, and so on. He also gathered the sons of Merari, as mentioned in verse 6, and the sons of Gershom in verse 7.

He assembles all the priests together. The last time he assembled the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, but now he assembles Aaron and the chief priests and the sons of Levi, the people of the tribe of Levi. Down in verse 11, it says that David called Zadok and Abathar, the priests, and for the Levites, Uriel, Isaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. He said to them, "You are the chief of the fathers of the Levites, not the chief of all the fathers of tens of thousands and hundreds."

He instructed them to sanctify themselves, both they and their brethren, so that they may bring up the Ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place that he had prepared for it. Why? Because they did not seek the Lord at first, and the Lord our God made a breach upon them for that reason. Notice that David is now getting it right after he was afraid because of what the Lord had done. He inquires, "How am I supposed to bring the Ark up to Jerusalem?" He begins to go through and look through the scriptures, which he had. As he does, he recognizes and realizes that they didn't seek the Lord; they didn't ask the Lord.

What he thought about this is significant. In verse 14, the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the Ark of the Lord God of Israel. The children of the Levites bore the Ark of God upon their shoulders with staves, as Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord. You see, the second time they did it right. Sadly, I think that's how our lives often are; we get it right the second time.

Consider the book of Jonah. We will be there in several weeks, probably in a couple of months. In the book of Jonah, the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. I am so thankful for that verse. Here he is, in the belly of the big fish, and God speaks to him a second time, asking, "Are you ready to go do what I want you to do this time?" Then Jonah repents and calls out to the Lord. So many times in my life, I am sure you have had the same experience. You can look back and see how the second time we got it right. The first time, we often trip.

I am thankful for the report of David here too because he was just like we are. He wasn't perfect; he was a man just like the rest of us. He went through the same difficulties. Yet, he goes before the Lord and asks, "What am I supposed to do?" As he approaches the Lord, God says, "Hey, gather together the Levites. Don't go to all the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds. Get together the Levites and talk with them." There is a definite difference, and that difference is important in how we approach the Lord and how we do His work.

The Apostle Paul, in 2 Timothy chapter 3, speaks about those who have an appearance of godliness. Notice what he says about those who have this appearance. In 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 5, he writes, "Having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. From such people turn away," Paul says. He warns us not to hang around with people who may look good on the outside.

Remember, David had all these guys pulling the Ark along. They had the Ark of God, which is the physical, earthly representation of God's presence. There they had that two-foot by three-foot box overlaid with gold. Inside the Ark was the table or the bread that they had gathered, the manna that came down from heaven. There were also the tablets of stone with the law of God and the staff of Aaron that had budded.

So there it was, this representation of God's presence. They had the appearance of godliness, didn't they? But they didn't consider the power, denying the power thereof. Why should we depart from such people? Why should we turn away from them? It is dangerous.

To hang around with people who are messing around with God is concerning. Those who are playing church, so to speak, are prevalent. Sadly, we even have the phrase "playing church" because there are people who do it. Throughout the United States, many individuals live the way they want to, doing their own thing all week long, and yet they still go to church. One guy said years ago that they sow their wild oats on Saturday and pray for a crop failure on Sunday. There are many people who seem to do that in their lives. They have the appearance of godliness because they attend church, but they deny the power. Paul says to turn away from such people. Why? Because it is dangerous. There is a judgment that will come upon them.

This account in 1 Chronicles is probably the best illustration in the Bible of a very important principle, which has to do with following precisely what the Word of God says. We must ensure that we follow exactly what God says. David knew this. In Psalm 138, verse 2, David said that God has magnified His Word above His name. David understood that God's Word was to be followed. God Himself magnifies it above His name; He holds His Word with great passion. The zeal of the Lord will perform this, as we read in Isaiah chapter 9. Why? Because the Word of the Lord has gone forth; He has spoken it. In Isaiah chapter 55, we read that God's Word will not return void but will accomplish the work that He sent it forth to do. It will prosper at what He sent it forth to do.

God is passionate about His Word, and there is a judgment, as we read in the book of Revelation, that will come upon those who mess around with His Word and do not take it with the weight it deserves. David understood, as we saw in Psalm 138, that he was to magnify God's Word. Yet, in a time of zeal and joyous passion, he disobeyed the Lord by flippantly using the ark in a cart, and ultimately, someone died because of it.

We must consider this when we are serving the Lord. The children of Israel, however, brought back the ark of the Lord in 1 Chronicles chapter 15 with great joy, in a great parade, with the entire nation of Israel and all the Levites bringing it back. It is interesting to note...

I think it's kind of fascinating to see that David doesn't bring the ark back to the tabernacle. The tabernacle was in the city of Gibeon at this point in time, but he brings it to Jerusalem. He brings the ark back up to the city of the king, the city of Jerusalem. Why is that? Why was he going to bring it?

Consider that for a moment. When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they needed a tabernacle. What’s special about a tabernacle? It's mobile, right? It's like a modern-day RV, I guess you could say. It was God's RV in the wilderness, and God knew that they were going to be a people that were mobile. When they were in the wilderness, they were going to be moving wherever the cloud would take them. So, the house, the tabernacle, that God was going to dwell in, in the midst of His people, needed to be mobile.

Yet, when they came into the Promised Land, there was no longer a need for a tabernacle. There was no longer a need for this wilderness wandering experience. David brings the ark up to Jerusalem, where ultimately the temple was going to be built. Why? Because God intended that His people would stay there in Jerusalem, in the land of Israel. It was never God's intention that they would leave that land again. However, because of their sin, they do, just as God told them they would back in Deuteronomy chapter 28. Remember, God promised them that if they departed from His word and turned from Him, then just as they inherited this land, they would be spit out of it.

God intended that His people would no longer wander in the wilderness, that they would no longer have just this tent of meeting, but that they would have a place where the name of God, the ark of God, would dwell.

Very interesting, because there's a letter in the Hebrew alphabet, the 21st letter, the letter Shin. It looks kind of like a W, and it represents God Shaddai. If you look at Jerusalem from an aerial view, examining the geography of the city, there are three valleys that make up Jerusalem: the Kidron, the Teropian Valley, and the Valley of Hinnom. When you look at it, the city of Jerusalem resembles that letter. It looks like the letter that represents God, and that is the city He placed His name upon. It actually looks like the letter that represents Him, which is pretty interesting, if you ask me. God says, "This is the place."

I want my people to dwell and have their temple in that area in Jerusalem. After bringing the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord back into Jerusalem, David looked at the Ark sitting there. He had built a small tent to cover it up and was considering the house he was dwelling in. He said, "It's not right that I dwell in this great palace while the Lord is in this tent. I want to build the Lord a house, a temple."

He told his friend Nathan, the prophet, about his desire to build a temple for the Lord. Nathan responded, "Do everything that's in your heart, King. If that's what you want to do, I think you should build a temple for the Lord." Nathan then left David's presence, but God spoke to him, saying, "Nathan, you've spoken too quickly. That's not what I want him to do."

Instead of David building a house for God, God told David in chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles, "I'm going to establish your house. You want to build me a house, but you're a man of blood, a man of war. You've had blood on your hands too much; you can't build me a temple." God promised David that He would establish him and his people, and that he would bring forth a son named Solomon, who would build the house for Him.

When Solomon finally built the house for the Lord and they dedicated it in 1 Kings chapter 8, there is something very interesting that Solomon said. If you turn to 1 Kings chapter 8, verse 17, Solomon, as he spoke to the whole nation of Israel, noted that the temple had been built and they were about to dedicate it. In verse 18, he expressed an amazing truth about our God. There are many things we desire to do for God. I meet people all the time who say they have desired to go to this mission field for the Lord, to build this for the Lord, or to speak this for the Lord, yet they never had the opportunity to do it; the door never opened for them.

Sometimes, I've met people who are discouraged about their circumstances. I remember years ago, Pastor Josh, when he and I were doing the youth ministry here at the church. He wanted to do an outreach trip and was really praying about it, seeking to have the door open for this opportunity. However, everything fell through, and he was really discouraged. I remember one day we were talking, and he was down because he wanted to do this. He felt like the Lord was telling him to pursue it, but then the door closed.

I was reminded of a verse, and it was as if the Lord said to him, "Listen, it was in your heart. You did well. Just because you had the desire to do it, God says, 'I'm pleased with that. I'm blessed that you had the desire.'" That amazes me about God. Here, David expresses his sincere heart's desire to build a temple, a house for God. God said no, you can't, but the very fact that you desired to do it, I'm pleased with that. That blows my mind—that's the way God looks at things and thinks of us.

Why? Well, Jeremiah 17:10 tells us that God searches our hearts. He knows the desires we have, and He is pleased with those desires when they are directed toward Him. The eyes of the Lord look to and fro throughout the whole earth to see a person whose heart is toward the Lord, a heart that desires Him.

In 1 Chronicles 17, God tells David, "You can't build me a house, but I'm going to build you a house. I'm going to establish your house, and moreover, I'm going to subdue all your enemies." In verse 10, God further assures him that the Lord will build him a house.

Then, in chapters 18, 19, and 20, we see God beginning to fulfill His promise to David by subduing David's enemies. We see David achieve victory over the Moabites and the Philistines. In fact, David smites the Philistines and completely subdues them in chapter 18, verse 1. He also defeats the Moabites, and the narrative continues through all the different battles he faces against the Ammonites.

God says, "I'm going to establish you," and in the very next chapters, 18, 19, and 20, God begins to subdue David's enemies and take care of those matters for him. Why? Because God is true to His word. If He says it, He will accomplish it. God always fulfills the promises He makes.

God chose your son Solomon to build the temple that you desire to build for Me. Even though David could not build the temple, God says it is still going to get done. The desire of your heart is going to be accomplished, and that is a comfort to me as well. Sometimes we have desires to do certain things, and we don't get to fulfill them. Yet, the Lord uses somebody else to fulfill it, and we should be joyful in that.

Sometimes we get upset. We look at others and think, "How come he gets to do the work that I wanted to do?" It is easy for us to feel that way. I know that at the beginning of the year, when we started talking about a trip to China, I went to Pat and said, "I'm going to go to China at the end of the year." He said, "Okay, go." However, I didn't get to go to China at the end of the year, but Josh, Kelly, and Terry did.

When we met on Friday, Kelly, who has a pretty good sense of humor, told me, "You missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." I looked at her and said, "That is horrible! How could you possibly say such a thing?" Then we went out to lunch, and I told her, "You know what, Kelly? For me, I was just blessed that you guys got to go." Oh, that the Lord would help us to have that heart, because that is not my normal tendency.

Like anyone else, when we see somebody else get the promotion we wanted or achieve something we desired, jealousy can arise. It is a work of the enemy. We look at them and think, "But I want to do it."

What we see in David's heart is significant. When God says, "You can't build Me this temple, but your son is going to," David dedicates the rest of his life to preparing for the tabernacle. The rest of this book is focused on him getting everything ready so that when Solomon is ready to build, it will be easy for him. All the plans will be in place, all the building materials will be ready, and all the men to do the work will be organized. David prepared everything for the temple, making it almost as if all Solomon had to do was show up and assemble the pieces, like putting Legos together.

The last portion of the book is dedicated to this preparation for the temple. The only real dark point in this book is in chapter 21, where we read that Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel. He stood up against the nation of Israel.

He provokes David to number the nation. In 2 Samuel chapter 24, we see this very same thing, where we read that God provoked David or put it before David to number the nation. Sometimes we can look at that and wonder what it's all about.

I think a good correlation to this can be found in 1 Kings chapter 22. I apologize; it might be 2 Kings, but no, it is indeed 1 Kings. So, turn in your Bibles to 1 Kings chapter 22, verse 20. In this chapter, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, the southern tribes, teams up with the northern ten tribes under King Ahab. They prepare to go out to battle against another nation.

As they get ready for battle, Jehoshaphat suggests, "Hey, let's ask the Lord if this is really what He wants us to do. Is there a prophet around here?" Ahab responds, "Yeah, there's a prophet, but I don't really like him very much because he always says bad things about me." So, they inquire of the Lord and ask the prophet to come. The prophet Micah arrives and speaks to them.

In verse 20, Micah says, "The Lord said, 'Who shall persuade Ahab that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?'" One spirit said in this manner, and another said in that manner. Here is God in heaven calling out to all these angels, including Satan's angels and demonic angels, as we see in the book of Job chapter 1. All these angels seem to have access to God.

God calls out to all these angels and asks, "Who wants to deceive Ahab so that he will go out to battle?" One demon steps up and says, "I'll use this tactic," and another stands up and says, "I'll use that tactic." Then, in verse 21, a spirit comes forth and stands before the Lord, saying, "I will persuade him." The Lord asks him, "Wherewith? How are you going to do it?" The spirit replies, "I will go forth and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets."

You shall persuade him and prevail. Also, go forth and do so. Here is the picture in heaven: the prophet Micah comes and speaks because Ahab has hundreds of prophets standing there. All these prophets are saying, "Ahab, go! The Lord's going to deliver these people into your hands." Jehoshaphat says, "Maybe we could hear another opinion. Can we get a second opinion here?"

The prophet Micah comes, and he says, "Listen, this is what I've seen. God called out to all these spirits and said, 'Who wants to persuade King Ahab to go and do this?'" One stood up and said, "I will put a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets so that he is persuaded." God said, "Alright, go ahead and do it."

What's going on here? What is this that's happening? What we need to understand is that what the enemy uses to tempt you, God uses to test you. The enemy will come and try to tempt you to go after the things of this world or to go in the wrong direction, and God will use it as a test. We see it so clearly in the life of Job. Here, Satan comes before God, and God asks him, "Hey, what you been up to, Lucifer?" He says, "Well, you know, I've been going throughout all the earth, looking to and fro."

Then God asks, "Have you considered my servant Job? He's upright and righteous in all his days." Satan replies, "Does Job serve you for nothing? You've given him so much." Lucifer basically says Job is a mercenary; the only reason he serves you is because you've blessed him. "If you take everything away from him, he'll curse you." God says, "Alright, try it out. Test him."

So what does Satan do? He goes and brings a trial; he brings a temptation into Job's life to try and tempt him to curse God. God says, "Go on and test him." You see, what Satan uses to tempt us, God uses to test us. This was a test that came before David, the hand of God. It is a test from God, but it was a temptation by the enemy.

Here, David, what does he do? David said to Joab in verse 2 of chapter 21, "The rulers of the people go," or he says to Joab and to the rulers of the people, "Go and number Israel from Beersheba even unto Dan and bring the number of them to me that I may know it." Joab speaks to David and says, "May the Lord bless your kingdom."

David may he multiply this kingdom a hundred times. I just have a question for you: Why are you doing this? It just doesn't seem right to me. Why would Joab even ask that?

David himself would write in Psalm 20, verse 7, "Some trust in horses, some trust in chariots, but we will remember the name of our God." Here, David is asking Joab to go and count not all the people of the nation, but all the people that were ready for war. He wants to know how strong he is and how big his army is. Joab says to him, "Are you sure that this is a good idea? I don't think it's a good idea. Why will you be a cause of trespass to Israel?" He says, "Don't you realize that this is going to be a sin?"

It is pretty amazing that Joab is the one who stands up and says this to the king because Joab is an interesting character in the Bible to me. God uses him here to kind of say to David, "Are you sure this is a good idea?" You know what? God will use the most interesting circumstances and things for you and me as a way of escape. Remember, we are told in 1 Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 13, that no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. But God, with the temptation, will provide a way of escape that you may be able to bear it.

Here was David's way of escape: Joab is standing up and saying, "King, I don't think this is a good idea." But David says to him, "Nope, I think you should do it." In verse 4, nevertheless, the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed, went throughout all Israel, and came back again to Jerusalem. The king's word prevailed against Joab, and Joab said, "Alright, I'll go and do what you want me to do."

Joab went and took the sum of the number of all the people and returned to him. Notice, though, in verse 6, that Levi and Benjamin he did not count among them, for the king's word was abominable to Joab. He said, "The king's word was an abomination to me. I just can't do this with a right heart and a right conscience." But he went forth and did it nonetheless.

Here, the enemy tempts David to sin, and God is testing him. David fails the test and reaps the consequences, as we see in the rest of this chapter. Right after this happens, right after the sum comes to him, we read in verse 7 that God was displeased with this thing, and therefore He smote Israel. David said unto God, "I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. But now I beseech Thee, do away with the iniquity of Thy servant, for I have done very foolishly."

So you see the heart of David again come forth. The Psalm 51 heart of David cries out to God and says, "I've done foolishly; please forgive my iniquity." The Lord spoke unto one of the prophets of David.

The prophet Gad came to David and told him, "Listen, God is giving you three choices for judgment, three choices for punishment. Would you like to have three years of famine, three weeks, or three months of destruction before your enemies, or just a few days of pestilence from My hand?"

In verse 13, you see David's broken heart of contrition. David cried out to Gad the prophet, saying, "Lord, I'm just going to fall upon Your mercies. Do with me whatever You have to do. Obviously, there's going to be a consequence because of this sin; there's going to be a judgment because of my sin. But God, I'm just going to lay myself upon the mercy of the court, so to speak. Whatever You say, then You will do."

So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel, and there fell in Israel seventy thousand men. God sent an angel into Jerusalem to destroy it. As He was destroying, the Lord beheld what was going on and relented from the evil. He said to the angel that was destroying, "It is enough; it's over." God commanded, "Stay now your hand." The angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between the earth and heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand that was stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David, along with the elders of Israel who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. David said to God, "Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? Even I, it is I that have sinned and have done this evil indeed. But as for these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray Thee, O Lord my God, be on me and on my father's house, but not on this people that they should be plagued."

The heart of David here is like the heart of Moses. Remember, Moses went down the mountain and saw the children of Israel dancing around the golden calf. He threw down the law of God and said, "You have broken the law." God then said, "I'm going to destroy this people." Again, it was a test for Moses. God said, "We'll start over with you, Moses." In the face of temptation from the enemy and a test from God, what did Moses say? He said, "God, place the sin upon me. Blot me out."

Out of your book, you see the powerful heart of Moses and the great heart of David. It was a heart given fully towards God. David says, "I am the one who has sinned, Lord. Judge me, judge my people." Then the angel of the Lord commanded David, through the prophet Gad, to say to David that he should go up and set up an altar unto the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David went up at the saying of Gad, who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Ornan turned back and saw the angel of the Lord with his four sons, and they hid themselves. Now, Ornan was threshing wheat. When David came to Ornan, he looked and saw David, and went out to the threshing floor, bowing himself to David with his face to the ground. David said to Ornan, "Grant me this place, or the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord. You shall grant it to me for a full price, so that the plague may be stayed from the people."

Ornan replied to David, "Take it to yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. I give you the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and wheat for the offering. I give it all to you." King David said to Ornan, "No, but I will verily buy it from you for the full price. I will not take that which is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost." So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place.

David built an altar unto the Lord God and offered a burnt offering and peace offerings. He called upon the Lord, and He answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of the burnt offering. The Lord commanded the angel, and he put up his sword again into the sheath. At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there.

For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. However, David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

Even though there was this sin of David, and even though the people were judged because of his sin, there are ramifications that come upon the people. Ultimately, the Lord is able to use this for good. As we see in Romans chapter 8, verse 28, all things work together for good to those who love Him.

And are called according to His purpose. How does God use this thing for good? Well, that piece of land that David buys is ultimately the very piece of land that they would build the temple on. From it, the Lord is able to use this as He builds the tabernacle there or He builds the altar.

In 1 Chronicles 22:1, David said, "This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel." David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel, and he set masons to hew rock stones and to build the house of God. Ultimately, from this, God uses it to begin the preparation for the building of the temple. Now that the land is purchased, he calls together all the masons to get the rocks ready.

Through the next chapters, from chapter 22 until the end in chapter 29, David is gathering together the priests. This is where you see the Levites gather together, and they are numbered and gathered for the service of the Lord there in Jerusalem. He gathers together the gold, the silver, the stones, and everything that was going to be used in the temple. He speaks to Solomon, his son, about building this temple, and I think it's pretty powerful what he says to him here.

Look down in 1 Chronicles 22:12. He is speaking to his son, starting in verse 11: "Now, my son Solomon, the Lord be with you and prosper you, and build the house of the Lord your God as He has said unto you. Only the Lord give you wisdom and understanding and give you charge concerning Israel." Notice this is David's prayer for his son Solomon: "That you may keep the law of the Lord your God, and then you shall prosper if you take heed to fulfill the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; dread not nor be dismayed."

So, David says to Solomon, "Keep the law of the Lord. May God give you wisdom and understanding to keep the law of the Lord." Unfortunately, we saw a couple of weeks ago how Solomon had wisdom for the people but not for his own heart.

Now behold, in my trouble, I have prepared for the house of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold and a thousand talents of silver, and brass and iron without weight, for it is in abundance. Timber also and stone I have prepared. David says, "I've got everything ready for you," but I want you to notice this—underline this in your Bibles—the very last bit of verse 14.

David says to Solomon, "I've got everything ready for you: gold, silver, iron, rocks, wood—everything that you'll need. But you may add thereunto." Sometimes we look around at the house of God, at the work that God is doing, and we think everything is going on just fine; they don't need my help. No, you may add thereunto. God wants to use you too. God wanted to use Solomon to add to the work, to add to the temple. David says, "Listen, I've got some plans. I've got wood, I've got rocks, I've got gold—everything that you might need. But you're able to add thereunto."

Moreover, in verse 15, he mentions that there are workmen with you in abundance: hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work of gold, silver, brass, and iron. There is no number. He says, "Listen, you've got plenty of men to work on this."

Check out this exhortation: "Arise therefore and be doing, and the Lord be with you." There is a lot of work to do as it relates to the house of the Lord, the work of God. Sometimes we can look around and say everything is steaming along just fine. No, you can add thereunto. There is a piece that God has for you to do. The exhortation of David to Solomon is the same thing that I would exhort you with as well: "Arise therefore and be doing, and the Lord be with you." He has a work for you to do; He desires to fulfill that work in you.

The next chapters, 23, 24, and 25, deal with the nation gathering together. He calls together the heads of the nation, whether it be the Levites or others. Then, in chapters 28 and 29, David, in his older years, begins to give everything over to Solomon. I just want to briefly look at a couple of verses here.

In chapter 28, verse 9, David says to him, "And you, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father and serve Him with a perfect heart and with all a willing mind. For the Lord searches all the hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found of you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off."

Remember the whole focus of the first nine chapters of this book: the inclusion of people in God's work and the exclusion of people in God's work. He tells Solomon here, "Listen..."

God is the one who searches the heart. He knows your hearts; He knows the imagination of your thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found of you. If you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. You'll be excluded from His work, so take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it. Be strong and do it.

I think that's probably a great exhortation to end with. God knows the heart; He sees the heart of man, and He is blessed by and pleased with a heart that is given to Him. As we saw Solomon speak about his father, it was in your heart that it was good, O king. The eyes of the Lord look to and fro to find a heart that is loyal to Him, dedicated to Him. Here, David exhorts his son Solomon, saying that if you want to be included in the work, you want to be chosen of the Lord to work and build His house.

All of us are like living stones, as Peter talks about, building up this great house for the Lord. So, take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to be a part of that work. Be strong and do it. Be strong and do it. Amen.

Let's stand and pray. God, I thank You for the exhortation of 1st Chronicles. Thank You for this book that so clearly shows the king and the temple. I pray that we would recognize You as our King and that You have made us Your temple. How awesome it is, Lord, to be those who are the temple of the Holy Spirit! Help us to be yielded to You and to be a part of this work, just as David exhorted Solomon to be strong and do it.

Lord, there is a work that You've called us to, and we can add to what's going on here in Your kingdom. We can be a part of it, Lord, used in it. All we have to do is be strong and do it, and You're the one who gives us strength. Just as Paul spoke of in 2nd Corinthians, when we are weak, then You are strong in us. So, be strong in us and help us to do the work.

Just as Paul also spoke of in Philippians chapter 2, it is You, Lord, who works in us to will and to do Your good pleasure. God, work in us this week, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

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