1 Chronicles 14:1

1 Chronicles 14:1 says, Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.  Hiram, the King of Tyre, sent messengers to David along with timbers of cedar and masons and carpenters to help David build himself a house.  David had a vast kingdom and Hiram a smaller one, but David needed Hiram's help.  I guess he could have tried to take these things from Hiram, but it was so much better that Hiram offered them freely.  Just because we as Christians may be more powerful than someone doesn't mean that we can just take what they have if we need it, nor does it mean that we may not need their help.  Verse two adds, And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.  David did not give himself credit for his being king but gave the credit to God.  We also need to give God the credit for whatever success we have in the world today.  Verse three continues, And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.  David gave God credit for his success, but then he began to break God's law by having more than one wife.  We should never give God credit for our success in life and then turn around and break his commandments.  David had sons and daughters with these wives.  These next four verses tell us the names of these children.  Verse four states, Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,  Verse five adds, And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,  Verse six continues, And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,  Verse seven concludes, And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.  Matthew Henry says that these children added to David's strength, and that it was an honor to have so many children, which is true.  Still, this happened outside of God's plan for marriage and family.  We also see that Solomon was one of these children, so God blessed him even if his birth was outside of God's will.  Our birth does not determine whether God can use us or not, but our rebirth through putting our faith in Jesus Christ does.

1 Chronicles 13:6

1 Chronicles 13:6 says, And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the Lord, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.  David and all the people went to Kirjathjearim to return the Ark.  It would seem everyone was involved, which showed how important this was to them.  We as followers of Christ all need to be involved in the carrying of the gospel into the world.  This should be a priority to us.  Verse seven adds, And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.  They. like the Philistines, carried the Ark in a new cart that was driven by Uzza and Ahio.  The Philistines had put the Ark in a new cart and then just let go without anyone attempting to drive it, because that had not worked.  Matthew Henry says that David and the Israelites, and especially the priests, should have known the proper way to transport the ark.  We should not attempt to make God's ordinances fit our way of enacting them but must make our lives fit under the authority of His ordinances.  Verse eight continues, David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.  The people were celebrating with many kinds of musical instruments and singing, playing and singing with all their might.  If anyone says that there should not be music in church today or that it should be limited to one or two instruments, they need to look back at worship in the Bible, where many different musical instruments were used in worship.  Verse nine states, And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.  When they got to the threshing floor at Chidon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzza put his hand on the Ark to steady it.  Touching the Ark for any reason was against God's law concerning it.  We cannot go against God's laws without consequences, even if we say we are doing so to help support them.  Verse ten adds, And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.  We are told that God's anger was kindled against Uzza because he had touched the Ark, which was forbidden by God and Uzza died.  If we refuse to accept God's gift of salvation, we will one day face His judgment and be sent away to everlasting punishment.  Verse eleven continues, And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.  David was displeased with God and called the place Perezuzza.  We should never become displeased with God, but sometimes when He rebukes us for attempting to do things against His will, we get mad at Him and try to prove He is wrong.  Verse twelve says, And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?  David became afraid of God and questioned how he could bring the Ark home without getting killed.  Of course, if he had talked to God about this and followed His laws concerning the Ark, he would have had no reason to be afraid.  As long as we obey God's laws under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we never have a reason to fear God.  If we attempt to do things our own way in disobedience to His word, we do have a reason to fear how He will react to us.  Verse thirteen adds, So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.  David did not bring the Ark to his own house, which here is said to be in the city of David, which is Jerusalem, so he must not have thought about bringing the Ark to its rightful place until he had been king for a few years but placed it in the house of Obededom the Gittite.  If we are to be saved, we must bring the truth of the gospel into our life.  Having it in someone else's house because we are afraid of its requirements will never save us.  Verse fourteen continues, And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.  The Ark remained there for three months, and God blessed Obededom and all that he had.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and have the Holy Spirit guiding us, we are always going to be spiritually blessed.

1 Chronicles 13:1

1 Chronicles 13:1 says, And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.  David then consulted with all the leaders of the people.  He didn't just start dictating to them, and neither should we just dictate to people if we are in a position of leadership in the church today.  We need to consult with others under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse two adds, And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:  Once more, David didn't just tell them what they were going to do, but said if it seemed good to them and under God's direction, they should send for the Israelites everywhere to come gather with them.  He especially included the priests and Levites.  We need to reach out to all of God's people today and ask them to join us in the battle against sin and evil and we all need to do everything by God's guidance.  Verse three continues, And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.  David then said they needed to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Hebron or Jerusalem, since it had been ignored all of the days of Saul.  Matthew Henry says they were bringing it back to Jerusalem, but if this occurred soon after David assumed his place as king, then he was in Hebron at that time.  Either way, they were to return the Ark of the Covenant to its rightful place in the center of the government.  Though it was eventually returned to Jerusalem, there was the early attempt that failed. The Philistines may have no longer had it, but God's people were ignoring it, so they might as well have.  The people of the world may not control the things that are important to God, but if we have them and ignore them, then they might as weel have control of them for all the good they do us.  Verse four states, And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.  All the congregation said they would return the Ark to its rightful place in the kingdom because it seemed good to them.  We need to keep the things of God in their rightful place today, not because it seems good to us, but because it is what God calls on us to do.  Verse five adds, So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.  David gathered all of Israel for the purpose of returning the Ark from Kirjathjearim.  We as followers of Christ also need to be united in carrying the gospel into all the world.  

1 Chronicles 12:29

1 Chronicles 12:29 says, And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.  There were three thousand descendants of Benjamin, who had mostly guarded Saul.  These three thousand now followed David.  No matter who we may have followed or protected before, we need to come to Jesus Christ if we are to have salvation, and we who are Christians should never reject others simply because of what they may have been before.  Verse thirty adds, And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.  The men of the tribe of Ephraim who were supporting David numbered twenty thousand eight hundred, and they were called mighty men of valor as many others had been.  I will say again that as Christians, we should be mighty in our stand for God.  Verse thirty-one adds, And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.  Of the half of the tribe of Manasseh who did cross over the Jordan there were eighteen thousand and they came to make David king.  They were separated from the other half of the tribe by the Jordan, but they were all still a part of the tribe of Manasseh.  No matter where we may live in the world, if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are a part of God's kingdom.  Verse thirty-two states, And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.  This was the smallest listed of the tribes in numbers, with only two hundred men listed, but it also says all their brethren were at their command, and they were said to understand the times.  Matthew Henry says this could have meant the planting times, the ceremonial times of worship, but likely meant the political times of the world.  They may have been small in numbers, but they were of great service to David.  We need to be knowledgeable about what is going on in the world today, from the environment, to the worship of God, and even to the political affairs in the world.  Verse thirty-three adds, Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.  Of the tribe of Zebulun there were fifty thousand men, who were noted as expert in war and who brought their weapons with them.  They were said to be able to keep order and were not double in heart, or dedicated to anyone but David under God's guidance we would hope.  It is good to be brave and devoted as long as we are brave and devoted to God and not doubleminded about our loyalty.  Verse thirty-four continues, And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.  From the tribe of Nephtali, there were a thousand who were referred to as captains, or military leaders, and thirty-seven thousand men under them who brought their shields and spears.  There should always be leaders in the church today, and we should follow them under God's direction and armed with the armor of God.  Verse thirty-five states, And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.  Of the tribe of Dan, there were twenty-eight thousand, six hundred men who were said to be expert in war.  I believe this means they had experience in fighting wars, just as we should be experts in fighting the spiritual war in the world today.  Verse thirty-six adds, And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.  Of the tribe of Asher, there were forty thousand men who were also said to be expert at war. Verse thirty-seven says, And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.  Of all those who didn't cross over the Jordan, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the other half of the tribe of Manasseh, there were a total of one hundred and twenty thousand men with their weapons.  Though physically separated from the rest of Israel, they were still very much a part of Israel.  Verse thirty-eight adds, All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.  All these men came to Hebron to make David king.  We must all come to Jesus and make Him our King today if we are to be saved, and then we must become engaged in fighting the spiritual war against sin and evil.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.  These men from across the Jordan spent three days with the others, eating and drinking what their brothers, the rest of the people of Israel had prepared for them.  We need be united as God's people and support one another's needs.  Verse forty concludes, Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.  Those that were the closest to Hebron had brought an abundance of food to feed the others.  We who are closest to God should be willing to give generously to help others who may be in need, especially our fellow Christians. 

1 Chronicles 12:16

1 Chronicles 12:16 says, And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.  Some of the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin came out to meet David when he was hiding from Saul.  Matthew Henry says he was surprised to see them since the men of Ziph and Keilah, who were men of Judah, had often been a danger to him.  We cannot judge whole groups of people by the actions of some.  Verse seventeen adds, And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.  David met them and told them that if they came to help him, he would welcome them, but if they came to betray him to his enemies that God would rebuke them.  As followers of Christ, we should accept people at their word but do so under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Verse eighteen continues, Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.  Amasai had the spirit come upon him, and Matthew Henry says this was a spirit of wisdom and not of prophesy.  The Holy Spirit should guide us all as Christian, but He does not guide us all to the same role.  I find it interesting that Amasai said your God and not our God, since David had already proclaimed God to be their God.  He may have done this just to emphasize that he was referring to the same God that David worshipped.  We do need to make sure that if people speak about God today that they are speaking about the One true God.  David received them and made them captains. Verse nineteen states, And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.  Some of the men of Manasseh joined David as well, but the Philistines sent David and them away when they were going to join with them. thinking David would fall to Saul and put them in jeopardy.  Verse twenty adds, As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.  Verse twenty-one continues, And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.  These men of Manasseh helped David in a battle against the Amalekites who had plundered Ziklag.  They hadn't chosen to not follow Saul because they were afraid, but because they didn't support him.  We should never turn away from God because we are afraid.  Verse twenty-two concludes, For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.  David had more men join him every day, and we need to be proclaiming the gospel every day so that others will join God's family.  Verse twenty-three says, And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.  Then we have a listing of those by tribe who came to help David in claiming the kingdom from Saul.  Verse twenty-four adds, The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.  There were six-thousand eight hundred from Judah.  Verse twenty-five continues, Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.  There were seven thousand one hundred from the tribe of Simeon.  These first two groups were noted as being men of mighty men valor.  Verse twenty-six states, Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.  There were four thousand six hundred from the tribe of Levi, who were the tribe of priests.  Verse twenty-seven continues, And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;  We are told that Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, who were also priests, and he had three thousand and seven hundred men with him.  Nothing is said about these two groups being mighty men of valor in fighting. They weren't there to fight wars, but they were there to represent God.  We don't have this division between Christians today, since we all are a part of the priesthood of believers and are still to be brave in the war against sin and evil.  Verse twenty-eight concludes, And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.  Then, Zadok is mentioned as a young man of valor, who brought with him twenty-two captains from his father's house.  We need to bring everyone that we can to Jesus Christ today so that they can become a part of His family and army.

1 Chronicles 12:1

1 Chronicles 12:1 says, Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.  David had men who stayed near him because of the threat Saul posed to him.  As followers of Christ, we should never pose a threat to one another.  Verse two adds, They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.  These were kin to Saul but chose to come to serve David.  Our earthly birth parents don't determine whether we will serve God or not, but our rebirth through putting our faith in Jesus Christ does bring us salvation and should lead us to serve God.  It is a free choice. We are told that they could use a bow and hurl stones, or use a sling, with both their right and left hand.  Verse three continues, The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite.  We are told who six of these men were.   Once more, the names of some of the great men of faith will be remembered here, while others will not, but God will remember them all.  Verse four states, And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,  Next, we are told of some of the men of Gad who were noted as being mighty men and serving David.  This continues for the next several verses.  Verse five adds, Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,  Verse six continues, Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,  Verse seven concludes, And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.  Verse eight says, And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;  The next few verses single out some of the men of Gad who served David in the hold and the wilderness.  They were also known as mighty men and stayed close to David.  If we are to be mighty men and women of God today, we must remain near Him at all times, and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are, but we can still refuse to be obedient to Him.  Verse nine adds, Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,  Verse ten continues, Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,  Verse eleven says, Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,  Verse twelve adds, Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,  Verse thirteen continues, Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.  Verse fourteen says, These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.  Thess men of Gad were over anywhere from a hundred to a thousand others.  We are not all called to be over the same number of people in God's kingdom today, if we are called to be, and must be content with serving where God call us, whether it is to a great or smaller area of service. Verse fifteen adds, These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.  These men were also willing to brave the raging river Jordan when it was flooding to pursue the enemies of Israel.  We should never allow conditions to stop us from presenting the gospel.

1 Chronicles 11:20

1 Chronicles 11:20 says, And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.  Abishai was the chief of these three mighty men of valor, having killed three hundred of the enemy by himself.  There is always going to be one who stands above the others in the fight against the enemies of God, but that doesn't mean that everyone else should just rely on that person nor give up because they aren't as successful.  Verse twenty-one adds, Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.  Matthew Henry points out that we learn later that one of these three was a Moabite and another an Ammonite, and that they were forbidden to enter the congregation of the Lord, but that they had evidently proven themselves to be worthy of having that law suspended.  I don't think we can ever just suspend God's law, but only He can, so I would have to believe in this case He did.  I do know that none are excluded from coming to God by faith in Jesus Christ, and we cannot prove ourselves worthy of that free gift.  Verse twenty-two states, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.  Benaiah was note for having killed two lionlike men, and also for killing a lion in a pit on a snowy day.  Though not the same as killing three hundred by himself, these were also acts of valor.  At times, it may not be the number of the enemies of God that we overcome but the strength of the ones that we do.  Verse twenty-three adds, And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.  Benaiah also killed an Egyptian giant who was heavily armed when he himself had only a staff.  He killed the giant by taking his sword and killing him with it.  No matter how big our enemy may seem, if we are acting under God's authority, ultimately the victory is ours.  Verse twenty-four continues, These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.  We are told that Benaiah did these things.  Verse twenty-five concludes, Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.  We are then told that though he was a mighty and honorable man, Benaiah was not considered as great as the three, but David did set him over his guard.  We should never be concerned if other Christians are held in higher regard than we are, as long as we are doing what God called us to do.  Verse twenty-six says, Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,  The rest of the chapter simply lists the names of many of the valiant men of the army of David.  Verse twenty-seven adds, Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,  Verse twenty-eight continues, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite,  Verse twenty-nine states, Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,  Verse thirty adds, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,  Verse thirty-one continues, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,  Verse thirty-two says, Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,  Verse thirty-three adds, Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,  Verse thirty-four continues, The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,  Verse thirty-five states, Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,  Verse thirty-six adds, Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,  Verse thirty-seven continues, Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, Verse thirty-eight says, Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,  Verse thirty-nine adds, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,  Verse forty continues, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Verse forty-one states, Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, Verse forty-two adds, Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,  We do have the added information that Adina was a captain of the Reubenites who had thirty others with him.  Verse forty-three continues, Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,  Verse forty-four says, Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,  Verse forty-five adds, Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,  Verse forty-six continues, Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,  Verse forty-seven concludes, Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.  Since these verses give us little more than the names of certain people and whose son they were and where they were from, there is little that can be said about how this applies to us today, other than to say that God calls people from everywhere to serve Him.