1 Chronicles 11:10

1 Chronicles 11:10 says, These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.  Though David was king by God's appointment, he still had mighty men around him to help him establish his rule over the people.  God doesn't send us alone to proclaim the gospel, though we should be willing to do so if necessary.  Verse eleven adds, And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.  The first mentioned, Jashobeam, had killed three hundred by himself at one time.  We should not allow overpowering odds to keep us from doing what God calls us to do.  Verse twelve continues, And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.  Then, Eleazar was called one of the three known as the mighties..  Verse thirteen states, He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.  Eleazar had been with David when they encountered a group of Philistines in a valley full of barley that the people of Israel had fled from.  Verse fourteen adds, And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great deliverance.  Eleazar and David set themselves in the middle of the valley and killed the Philistines and delivered the valley back to the people of Israel by God's power.  Even if other Christians run away from the battle against the forces of evil today, we must stand firm by the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse fifteen says, Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.  Then, we are told of another time when David had three of his captains with him in a cave in the battle against the Philistines.  He was basically hiding out at this point.  Verse sixteen adds, And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.  While David was in the hold, or cave, the Philistine's were in Bethlehem.  David did not always have an immediate and easy victory, and we may not either.  Verse seventeen continues, And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!  David expressed a personal longing for some water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, which was controlled by the Philistines.  We should never allow our personal desire to become more important than what God wants of us.  Sometimes, we seem to be dissatisfied with what we have and want something that we see as better.  Verse eighteen states, And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord.  These three great captains of David broke through the Philistines and got David the water he wanted, but he would not drink it and poured it out to God instead.  David recognized the sin of selfishness in his life and realized that men had put themselves in danger to satisfy his selfishness, and he would not put himself above his men, and he had by asking for or mentioning his desire for the water.  David poured the water out to God in devotion to Him.  This was something he wanted, but not more than He wanted to be devoted to God.  We need some of these same attributes today.  Verse nineteen adds, And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.  David said because these three men put their lives in danger just to fulfill a desire he had that he would not drink the water.  We need to consider what our desires might cost others if we are acting selfishly and refuse to endanger others just to fulfill our own selfish desires. 

1 Chronicles 11:1

1 Chronicles 11:1 says, Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.  All of the people of Israel gathered at Hebron before David and proclaimed themselves to be his kinsmen.  Though we may not be related physically, as followers of Christ we are all related spiritually, and Jesus is our King.  We should all gather around Him and proclaim ourselves to be brothers and sisters by our faith in Him.  Verse two adds, And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.  The people even acknowledged that during the reign of Saul that David had done more to keep Israel safe than Saul had, and that God had already anointed him king even then.  Of course, many of them didn't acknowledge this while Saul was still in power.  No matter who is in power in the world, we need to acknowledge that Jesus Christ alone can save us.  Verse three continues, Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.  All the elders came and anointed David as king as Samuel had proclaimed him already according to God's word, and David made a covenant with them.  Jesus Christ has always been the true King, and He has made a covenant with us if we will only acknowledge it.  Verse four states, And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.  David then relocated the seat of power from Hebron to Jerusalem.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we must relocate the seat of power in our life from self to Him.  Verse five adds, And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.  The Jebusites opposed this relocation, saying David would not be allowed to take over the city.  Our sinful nature will often oppose our allowing the Holy Spirit to take up residence in our lives and be our Guide.  Of course, unlike David and the city of Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit will never force us to allow Him to rule in our life.  Verse six continues, And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.  David promised that whoever defeated the Jebusites would be his chief and captain, and Joab did so and was made David's captain.  Our victory over sin and evil comes through God by the sacrifice of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ on the cross and by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, so we must make God the captain over our life.  Verse seven says, And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.  David took up residence in the castle in Jerusalem and the city became known as the city of David.  When we are saved, we should be known as God's people, no matter where we may live.  Verse eight adds, And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.  David did not establish Jerusalem, but he added to it and repaired the damage that had been done to it.  Jesus Christ does not live in our lives to rule over us until we accept Him by faith, but once we do, He will add to our lives spiritually and repair the damage that sin has done.  Verse nine continues, So David waxed greater and greater: for the Lord of hosts was with him.  David grew stronger and stronger, because God was with him.  We should grow spiritually stronger because God is with us as Christians.

1 Chronicles 10:8

1 Chronicles 10:8 says, And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.  While the Philistines were stripping the bodies of the Israelites of everything of value, they came across the bodies of Saul and his sons.  For all his failures, Saul had been involved in the battle.  Even if we fail at times as Christians, we must always be willing to be engaged in the battle against sin and evil in the world, even if we die in the battle.  Verse nine adds, And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.  After stripping Saul, the Philistines took his head and armor to be put on display in their land before their idols and people.  They saw the defeat of Saul as a defeat of God as well.  People who worship other gods still have this view today.  Verse ten continues, And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.  They displayed Saul's armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head to the temple of their god Dagon.  Again, this was to show that their god was more powerful than Saul's God, but they were wrong, and so is anyone who claims some other god is more powerful than our God today if we are Christians.  Verse fourteen states, And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, Verse twelve adds, They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.  When the men of Jabesh Gilead heard what had been done to Saul by the Philistines, we are told being men of valor that they took the bodies of Saul and his sons and buried them under the oak of Jabesh and fasted seven days.  If we hear of bad things being done to Christians today, we need to be people of valor and do all that we can under God's guidance and power to stop it.  Verse thirteen continues, So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;  We are told that Saul died for his sins and for seeking guidance from an unfamiliar spirit, or a spirit not of God.  All sin will bring death a death penalty, but Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all sin for all time when He died on the cross, and through faith putting our faith in Him, we can avoid the penalty of death.  Verse fourteen concludes, And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.  We are also told that God was responsible for the death of Saul and not the Philistines.  It was actually Saul's refusal to follow God that led to his death, and if we refuse to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we will end up spiritually dead, forever separated from God.  God then turned the kingdom of Israel over to David, because Saul was not obedient to Him.  If God had called us for a purpose, we must look to Him for guidance in carrying it out.  Otherwise, He may give our role in His kingdom to someone else. 

1 Chronicles 10:1

1 Chronicles 10:1 says, Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.  It seems that the Philistines were often at war with the people of Israel, and the people of Israel ran from them in fear.  As followers of Christ, we should never run away from evil in the world out of fear.  Verse two adds, And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.  This was during Saul's reign and was when Jonathan and Saul's other sons were killed.  We aren't really given any information about Saul being king before this.  Still, if we don't run away in fear, and even though God will forever protect us spiritually, we may be defeated physically.  Verse three continues, And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.  We are told of Saul being wounded in battle.  Verse four states, Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.  Saul asked his armor bearer to kill him so he wouldn't be captured and abused by the Philistines.  We are not told that he looked for God for deliverance, and this should always be our first action no matter how hopeless things might seem.  The armor bearer wouldn't do it out of fear, not of Saul but of others if they found out what he did I believe, so Saul killed himself.  We should never allow ourselves to get to the point where life seems so hopeless that we kill ourselves, but if we do, it is not an unpardonable sin in my opinion.  Verse five adds, And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.  Saul's armor bearer killed himself when he saw Saul was dead.  He may have thought he would be blamed and didn't want to face the consequences if he was.  We should never allow the death of another person to cause us to kill ourselves.  Verse six continues, So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.  We are told that Saul and all his house died together, but we know that one of Jonathan's sons lived.  Verse seven concludes, And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.  When the people of Israel in the valley near Saul saw that Saul and his sons were dead, they fled, and the Philistines took over their cities.   We don't need to allow the defeat of others to cause us to abandon our faith in God and flee from those who oppose Him.  As long as we remain faithful, we are already victorious, so there is never a reason to run from evil in this world.

1 Chronicles 9:35

1 Chronicles 9:35 says, And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:  Gibeon's father was said to live in the land of Gibeon.  This seems to be a strange statement that he lived in a land named for his son, but if this was written later, it might have been by then.  Matthew Henry says it could have been an error in transcription, but though a redundancy, for whatever reason it is stated this way, we just need to accept it by faith.  This is the family that Saul, the first king of Israel, would come from.  Verse thirty-six adds, And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab.  Verse thirty-seven continues,  And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.  Verse thirty-eight concludes, And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.  Here, we are told that these descendants of Jehiel lived near Jerusalem.  Verse thirty-nine states, And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.  We get to Saul, then follow with the sons of Jonathan and their children.  Verse forty adds, And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micah.  Verse forty-one continues, And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.  Verse forty-two says, And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;  Verse forty-three adds, And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.  Verse forty-four concludes, And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.

1 Chronicles 9:27

1 Chronicles 9:27 says, And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.  The Levites lived near the house of God, because they were in charge of taking care of it.  As Christians, wherever we live should be God's house and we should take care of it and ensure that His word is always taught and lived by in our homes.  We need to be close to Him at all times and not just at a church building on Sundays.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.  They had different jobs in the tabernacle and then the temple.  The building wasn't important.  The fact that it was where God was seen as being was.  Since the Holy Spirit is with us at all times, the building that we gather in is not what is important.  The fact that we are with God is what matters.  Verse twenty-nine continues, Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.  These verses continue to describe different roles that the Levites had in the worship service.  Verse thirty states, And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.  Verse thirty-one adds, And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.  In this verse, we are given the name of one of the Levites and his particular role in the worship service.  We were not told all of the names of those who served, and whether the people of the world or even of the church as a whole, ever know our name or not, we are to serve God in whatever capacity He calls us to serve.  Verse thirty-two continues, And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.  Some were identified by who their father was but not by name.  Verse thirty-three says, And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.  The work went on day and night and some of the people, the singers, lived in the chambers to so.  We should continually sing praises to God.  Verse thirty-four adds, These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.  These were referred to as the chief fathers of the Levites throughout the generations and they lived in Jerusalem.  We need to stay near God in all that we do, whether we are among the chief people in worshipping and serving Him or not.

1 Chronicles 9:14

1 Chronicles 9:14 says, And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;  Once more the genealogy works backward. This continues in the next couple of verses.  Verse fifteen adds, And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;   Verse sixteen continues, And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.  We have the added information in this verse that these people lived in the villages of the Netophathites.  This is a village in Judah about three miles from Jerusalem.  Verse seventeen states, And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;  Verse eight adds, Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.   Then, we have a list of the porters, whom we are told waited in the king's gate facing east and were in the company of the children of Levi.  Verse nineteen adds, And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the Lord, were keepers of the entry.  The next group of sons were in charge of keeping the gates of the tabernacle, and we are told their fathers were keepers of the gates of the tabernacle.  Matthew Henry points out that since they had no temple again as yet that they had gone back to worshipping in a tabernacle.  Worshipping God should never be stopped simply because we have no building in which to worship.  Verse twenty continues, And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the Lord was with him.  Phinehas, the son od Eleazar had ruled over this group in the past, and God was with them.  The key to serving God, no matter who our parents were, is that God is with us.  Verse twenty-one states, And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  We are told that Zechariah was the porter of the door of the tabernacle.  We all have a calling as followers of Christ, and no matter how important or unimportant it may be, we need do do it to the best of our ability.  Verse twenty-two adds, All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.  There were two-hundred and twelve porters in all, based on their genealogy as had been set in order by David and Samuel, who is referred to as a seer.  We no longer have to look to our ancestors to see where we fit in the church, but need to simply rely on the calling of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-three continues, So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.  This verse repeats the fact that they had oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord.  Sometimes today, someone will want to control who can and cannot come into a church building to worship, but I believe God expects us to welcome everyone equally.  Verse twenty-four says, In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.  There were porters in all four directions.  Verse twenty-five adds, And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.  They evidently served a week at a time and not all at once.  We cannot all serve in the same position at the same time, nor can we serve twenty-four hours a day, so we need to be organized in our work for God.  Verse twenty-six continues, For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.  The four chief porters were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.  We need people today to be responsible for the money brought into the church, and it needs to be used in accordance with God's leadership.