1Chronicles 27-29

Sunday Evening Bible Study

November 3, 2002

Introduction

We are now in the last chapters of the reign of David over Israel. He has been gathering materials for the building of the Temple and he has been organizing both the secular kingdom as well as the spiritual kingdom in Israel.

1Chronicles 27

:1-15 The army divisions

:1 their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses,

A list of the various men who oversaw the army during the year.

Summary

Each division was responsible for one month each year.

Each division was the same size, 24,000 men.

Each division was led by one of David’s Mighty Men.

:2 Jashobeam

Jashobeam was the David’s top warrior. He was number one of the top three. He had been known to have killed 300 at one time (1Chr. 11:1)

:4 Dodai an Ahohite

He was the guy that defended the barley field when everyone else left.

I Chronicles 11:12-14 And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who [was one] of the three mighties. He was with David at Pas-dammim, 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. 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.

:5 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada

He was famous for having slain two “lionlike men” of Moab, killing a lion in a pit on a snowy day, and killing an Egyptian that was 7 ½ feet tall. (1Chr. 11:22-25)

Benaiah also became the head of Solomon’s army. (1Ki.2:35)

:7 Asahel the brother of Joab

Being Joab’s brother, Asahel was also one of David’s nephews, the son of his sister Zeruiah.

:15 Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel

Just a note: Othniel was the first “Judge” of Israel. He was Caleb’s younger brother and rescued Israel from the king of Mesopotamia, then judged the land for forty years (Jud.3:5-11).

Lesson

Mighty Men

Each of these divisions was led by one of David’s “Mighty Men” (no, these are not just “action figures”, these are real guys)

Where they came from

I Samuel 22:1-2 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard [it], they went down thither to him. And every one [that was] in distress, and every one that [was] in debt, and every one [that was] discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

They started out as the outcasts of society.

Becoming a “mighty man”

Faithfulness

It doesn’t require: Money, connections, education, intelligence

It just requires faithfulness to the King (Jesus). These guys stayed with David through thick and thin. When others left, these guys stayed.

Luke 16:10-12 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

Men of action

They had proven themselves.

They were heroes, examples to the other men.

They were men who led others into battle.

The Israeli concept of an army commander is not one who sits in an office behind the lines and looks at maps, he’s the one leading the charge.

As a result, these men had been promoted to positions of prominence.

:16-22 Tribal rulers

:16 over the tribes of Israel

There were the leaders of the each of the twelve tribes as they were in the days of David’s reign.

:18 Of Judah, Elihu, [one] of the brethren of David

This “Elihu” was also known as Eliab, David’s oldest brother.

I Chronicles 2:13-17 And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh: Whose sisters [were] Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa [was] Jether the Ishmeelite.

Like the typical older brother, Eliab got on David’s case for hanging around with “the big boys” when there was a giant taunting the armies of Israel.

I Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

As the oldest, he would have been head of David’s family after Jesse died, so it is fitting that he leads the tribe of Judah.

But the interesting thing here, is that if anyone from David’s family should have been a king, it would have been Eliab. He was the oldest, and from appearances, probably the one who looked most like a king.

But he wasn’t chosen. Why? (see 1Sam.16:6-7)

When Samuel went to Jesse’s house to anoint one of his sons as king, his first thought was that it would be Eliab, but God said no. Eliab got passed over in favor of his little kid brother, David.

I Samuel 16:6-7 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed [is] before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

The reason David was chosen, and Eliab wasn’t, was because of the difference in their heart.

God doesn’t look for people with good looks, lots of money, a great body, or lots of brains to use. He looks for a pure heart. David was a man after God’s own heart (1Sam.13:14; Acts 13:22).

An example of David’s heart is back at Goliath’s challenge.

David went out against the giant. Eliab didn’t.

:21 Jaasiel the son of Abner

Abner was the commander of the army under King Saul, also his uncle. So, Jaasiel was Saul’s cousin.

:23-24 David’s census

The mess of David’s census.

We looked at the mess that David’s census created last week (1Chr. 21).

:23 the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.

We get a hint that some of the problem may have had to do at least a little with the pride involved in the numbers.

:24 but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel;

We think this means that Joab was unable to count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin because the plague had already begun.

:25-34 More Leaders

There was a person in charge of each aspect of David’s kingdom.

Lesson

Delegation

There was a point in David’s life when he was in charge of the sheep. He was the one sent to take food to his brothers on the front lines of battle.

But as God matured David, he learned to spread the responsibilities around.

Exodus 18:13-26

When Moses’ father in law saw what was happening, that the people got tired waiting and Moses got tired answering questions, he suggested that Moses take some good men and teach them, then let them share the load.

Lesson

Stewardship

Overseers of the kings property.

We too have been made overseers of the king’s property, of King Jesus.

Luke 19:11-27 We have been entrusted with the King’s goods. He wants us to be wise in taking care of them.

:33 Ahithophel

Ahithophel was actually a very sharp, very smart person. His advice was so good that it was said that,

“the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, [was] as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God”. (II Samuel 16:23)

This man was the grandfather to Bathsheba. He was also was the one who helped Absalom revolt against David.

:33 Hushai the Archite

Four times Hushai is referred to as a friend of David. (2Sam.15:37; 16:16,17; 2Chron.27:33)

In actuality, he functioned not much differently than Ahithophel, in that he gave advice. And though he “gave counsel”, he was not called a “counselor”, but a “friend”.

This is the man who stayed behind at David’s request to help “thwart” the counsel of Ahithophel.

When Ahithophel encouraged Absalom to attack David immediately, it was Hushai that encouraged Absalom to slow down and gather a large army. His advice gave David the time needed to escape being wiped out by Absalom’s army.

Lesson

Wisdom in many counselors.

Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.

Why? Because one person may be off the wall and you want any lame-brained advice balanced with good counsel, don’t get stuck with one Ahithophel.

Yet, you still have to discern good from bad counsel - Rehoboam didn’t.

Many people make the mistake of going for counsel, and expecting the counselor to make the decision. All a good counselor can do is give advice. It’s up to you to make the final decision.

Lesson

The Value of Friends.

Hushai was the king’s friend

Statistics seem to show that friends are about as effective in treating our problems as professional counselors are.

Interesting that Hushai gives counsel (2Sam.17:14,15), but he is called a friend.

Proverbs 27:6 Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy [are] deceitful.

1Chronicles 28

:1-8 Explaining the Temple to the Leaders

:1 David assembled all the princes

These were all the guys we have just finished reading about in chapter 27.

David is going to tell these guys much of what he’s already told Solomon back in chapter 22.

:2 house of rest

Instead of a moving, portable tabernacle, David wanted to build a permanent place for the ark.

Psalms 132:7-8 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

:2 the footstool of our God

This is the mercy seat, where “God dwelt”.

P.C. - By this he means the mercy-seat, to which especial allusion is made, ver.11. God is often spoken of as “dwelling between the cherubim,” and sometimes (Ps.99:1) as “sitting between the cherubim,” which were over the lid of the ark, called the mercy-seat.

Psalms 99:1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth [between] the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

(Jer 3:16-17 KJV) And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. {17} At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

:3 Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.

Lesson

Find your place and flourish in it

I do not think that this means that David was not qualified to build the Temple because of the sin in his life.

These things of being a “man of war” and having “shed blood” were not sins of David. These were things that David did in obedience to the Lord.

You could say he had the “ministry of killing Philistines”.

But God decided that He didn’t want a man of war to be building the Temple, instead He wanted it built by a man of “peace”, Solomon.

This is not an issue of having disqualified yourself from ministry because of sin. This is an issue of the fact that God has certain things He wants you to do and certain things He doesn’t.

Instead, this is a passage to remind us to find our place and then flourish in it. David didn’t get upset because he couldn’t build the Temple. Instead, he worked tremendously to make sure that Solomon prospered in building the Temple.

Certain people are better suited for certain things. David was not suited to build the Temple.

:5 to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

David saw the nation as being God’s kingdom, not his. Solomon would sit on the throne of God’s kingdom, not his own.

Later, we will read,

(1 Chr 29:22 KJV) …they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.

Lesson

It’s not your ministry

I think we can start to “own” things a little too much. All we have is from the Lord. The most we can be is a good steward of what God has given to us.

I think it’s a little dangerous when I hear myself talking too much about “my ministry” or “my church”. It is God’s ministry, it is God’s church.

We can start sounding a bit too much like a toddler

Illustration

TODDLER PROPERTY LAWS

1. If I like it, it’s mine.

2. If it’s in my hand, it’s mine.

3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine.

4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.

5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

6. If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.

7. If it looks just like mine, it’s mine.

8. If I saw it first, it’s mine.

9. If you are playing with something, and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

10. If it’s broken, it’s yours. (No, the pieces are probably still mine.)

The ministry does not belong to me. It does not belong to you. It belongs to God.

:7 I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments

God’s promise to make Solomon’s kingdom everlasting if he would obey.

Not that Solomon would live forever, but that his sons and descendants would always rule.

:8 keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God

David’s exhortation to the leaders to obey the Lord.

The result of obedience? Possessing the land.

For us too, to take possession of God’s promises for us, we must not neglect obedience.

:9-10 David’s charge to Solomon

:9 for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth

David is telling Solomon to be careful and not just serve God reluctantly, but with a whole heart. It’s the heart that God’s concerned about, not the serving, per se.

Lesson

You can’t fool God

Because God knows your heart, you can’t fool Him.

God doesn’t want the outward stuff, but the things from the heart.

Because the heart is so deceitful, only God can truly understand it. We can’t even understand ourselves.

(Jer 17:9-10 KJV) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? {10} I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Sometimes our motives are so confused, we aren’t sure if we’re doing something for the right or wrong reasons.

How can we understand our hearts?

1. Prayer. Ask God to search your heart.

Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

2. The Word. Read it. If you’re wrong, you’ll be convicted, it not, you’ll be blessed.

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

:11-21 David’s Plans for the Temple

:11 of the inner parlours thereof,

The inner chambers of the Temple.

:12 the pattern of all that he had by the spirit,

It was the work of the Holy Spirit that inspired and directed David in these plans.

:13 the courses of the priests

All the organizational things we’ve studied in the last few chapters were all directed by the Lord.

:18 the chariot of the cherubims

P.C. - “by the chariot of the cherubims is of course not meant that the cherubim had a chariot, but that they constituted the chariot of Jehovah. (Ps.18:10)

Psalms 18:10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

In other words, the cherubim are God’s chariot.

The golden angelic beings that spread their wings over the Ark are being called the “chariot”

Ezekiel 1:15-21 - Ezekiel’s vision of the cherubim, and their “wheels”.

Elisha saw God’s chariot when Elijah died:

II Kings 2:11-12 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw [it], and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

:19 the LORD made me understand in writing by [his] hand upon me

David is saying that God moved upon him and gave him the plans as he, David, wrote them out.

The temple, just like the tabernacle, was a model of heaven (Heb.8:5).

David’s plans weren’t just the latest things in temples - there was purpose and meaning to everything included in the design.

In contrast, a later king of Judah, Ahaz (2Kings16:10), thought he’d remodel that old temple, and decided to make a new altar, and copy the pagan altar in Damascus. God was not real happy about that.

Heavenly things found in the Temple:

Rev.4,5 (Heaven):

4:2 Throne = mercy seat

4:5 Seven lamps (torches) = gold lampstand

4:6 Sea of glass = brass sea

4:7 Living creatures = cherubim

4:8-11 Worship = worship

5:6 Lamb as slain = sacrifice

5:8 Harps = instruments and musicians

5:8 Prayers of saints = golden bowls of incense

Lesson

Build on God’s design

In our lives, it’s important to make sure we build according to God’s design (His Word).

Why should we not try to build our lives according to the world’s design for Christians? (go to church on Sunday, live a good life, live in America)

We too are a temple, and a pattern of heaven. We show people what heaven (and Jesus) is like.

We need to live “radical” Christian lives, totally all out for Jesus.

:20 he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee

Hebrews 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Even better than Solomon’s promise - God says He’ll never leave us.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

God has a work for us, He will keep helping us until we’re done.

:20 Be strong and of good courage, and do it:

This is the second time David has said to “be strong and do it”. He said it also in verse 10.

David went to a lot of trouble, he made so many preparations, it won’t be that difficult for Solomon to do, but there will be temptations to stop, so David urges strongly.

In our lives, we too are a temple, and God the Father has made ample provisions for us in building the temple.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:

But we too are often faced with temptations to stop building before the temple is finished.

Lesson

Don’t stop building

Nehemiah was building the wall of Jerusalem, but the opposition he faced was the same we face, whether it’s a wall, a temple, or our lives in Jesus Christ.

These lessons are from the book of Nehemiah:

1) Ridicule (4:3)

(Neh 4:3 KJV) …Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

This is a hard one for me. I want people to like me, not make fun of me. But you can’t live full on for Jesus if you’re trying to avoid ridicule, it will come.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

2) Outright attack (4:8)

(Neh 4:8 KJV) And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

Sometimes the enemy will simply try and ruin you.

I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

3) Fear (4:11,12)

(Neh 4:11 KJV) And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

Sometimes the fear of an attack is worse than the actual attack.

Illustration

Clarence gets whupped

There were some backwoods hillbillies living across the river from each other, who feuded constantly. John hated Clarence with a passion and never passed up a chance to throw rocks across the river at Clarence. This went on for years until one day the Corps of Engineers came to build a bridge across that river. John was elated; he told his wife that finally he was going to get the chance to cross over and whip Clarence. He left the house and returned in a matter of minutes. His wife asked what was wrong, didn’t he intend to go over the bridge and whip Clarence? He replied that he never had really seen Clarence up close and didn’t realize his size until he started over the bridge and saw the sign:

‘CLEARENCE 8 FT 3 IN

Sometimes our fears aren’t based on fact.

There is one “fact” we need to keep in mind.

I John 4:16-18 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Know and abide in His love.

4) Financial Debt (5:4,5)

(Neh 5:5 KJV) …lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

The people had gotten themselves into great financial debt, and it slowed everything down.

Today, with easy “credit”, its easy to get into debt. Its easy to get into a hole that’s very hard to climb out of. And soon you live to work and to pay off debts, period. No living for Jesus, just for bills.

Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

5) Compromise (6:2)

(Neh 6:2 KJV) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

The enemy decided that if he couldn’t beat them, he’d join them.

Illustration

A little boy always went next door to play even though his mom had warned him against doing so. This worried the mom so badly that she asked him why he was so disobedient. He replied that Satan tempted him so bad and he did not know what to do. The mom then advised him to say ‘get thee behind me Satan’ whenever he was tempted. She then built a fence around the house. This worked for a week, then one sunny afternoon the mom looked over the window and there was her son playing on the neighbor’s lawn having cut a hole in the fence. “John”, she yelled, “Come here!” She then said “did I not tell you to say ‘get thee behind me Satan’ whenever he tempted you?” “Yes”, the boy replied, “I said, ‘get thee behind me Satan’, then he went behind me and pushed me through the hole in the fence.”

It’s dangerous when Satan is on the same side of the fence as you.

The world wants to join you in your building, but it want to build its own way, not God’s way. The enemy wants you to try the easy way, give in to the other side, to live your life the way he wants you to live it. “Ease up a little! Don’t get so fanatical! You can serve God and sneak in a little sin in on the side!”

6) Slander (6:6)

(Neh 6:6 KJV) …It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

The enemy sent letters to the Persian Emperor saying that the Jews were trying to rebel and set up their own kingdom, which they weren’t.

Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Don’t let slander stop the building. Instead, Nehemiah very concisely & briefly answered the charges, and best of all, he prayed.

7) False religion (6:10)

(Neh 6:10-12 KJV) Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. {11} And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. {12} And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

They had some people pretend to be prophets and say that God wanted them to stop.

We need to learn to test all things and cling to the things that God says in His Word.

:21 the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee

God has also given us each other to help us grow and build our temples.

1Chronicles 29

:1-5 David’s gifts

:1 the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.

NASB - “for the temple is not for man, but for the Lord God”.

Lesson

Your body belongs to God

Our bodies are a temple of God.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

What I do for or with my body, is it for myself or for the Lord?

I think much would change if we realized fully this truth, that our bodies don’t belong to us.

How do you drive someone else’s car? Are you more careful with it than with your own? What if the car you drove home in belonged to the mayor of Fullerton, or the president of the United States, or God?

We need to realize that our bodies belong to God.

:1 not for man, but for the LORD God

Lesson

Give “to the Lord”

vs.9 they offered willingly to the LORD

We get too caught up in the human perspective of things. We see the needs of the church for building rent, salaries, missions, and expenses. We see the pastor standing up front each week.

But that’s not what we are to be giving to.

God wants us in our hearts to be giving to Him.

Why does God want us to give to Him? Is He poor?

God is not poor. His church does not need your money. God has ways of providing for His people.

(Psa 50:7-15 NLT) "O my people, listen as I speak. Here are my charges against you, O Israel: I am God, your God! {8} I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly bring to my altar. {9} But I want no more bulls from your barns; I want no more goats from your pens. {10} For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. {11} Every bird of the mountains and all the animals of the field belong to me. {12} If I were hungry, I would not mention it to you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. {13} I don't need the bulls you sacrifice; I don't need the blood of goats. {14} What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. {15} Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory."

God doesn’t need our money, He owns the universe!

He wants your heart more than your money.

He simply wants to teach us obedience and dependence upon Him.

God wants us to recognize our need for Him, and to recognize that all that we have comes from Him, and so we give back to Him from what He gives to us.

:2 I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God

David was totally committed to building the Temple.

David’s commitment involved his wallet. We’re going to see some principles in giving in this chapter, but the point here is that David’s commitment to the Lord didn’t stop short of his money.

In our current day, there is so much abuse in the church concerning money, that some of us have gone the other way, where we don’t even want to hear anyone talk about money. But if we’re not careful, our own hidden reasons can be because we don’t want to part with our money.

Lesson

Prepare to give

(1 Cor 16:1-2 KJV) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. {2} Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

I don’t think that God wants us to be unprepared to give. I think it ought to be thought out.

Illustration

Hymns and Offerings

One Sunday a pastor told his congregation that the church needed some extra money and asked that the people to prayerfully consider next week giving a little extra in the offering plate. He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out three hymns. After the offering plates were passed, the pastor glanced down and noticed that someone had placed a $1,000 bill in the offering. He was so excited that he immediately shared his joy with his congregation and said he’d like to personally thank the person who placed the money in the plate. A very quiet, elderly, saintly lady all the way in the back shyly raised her hand. The pastor asked her to come to the front. Slowly she made her way to the pastor. He told her how wonderful it was that she gave so much and in thanksgiving asked her to pick out three hymns. Her eyes brightened as she looked over the congregation, pointed to the three handsomest men in the building and said, “I’ll take him and him and him.”

Okay – bad joke. But the point I want to make is that giving should be something that you take the time to think about. It ought to be something that you pray over. It ought to be something that you talk and plan for.

My intention today is not to pass the offering plate. I am not trying to send you some secret message that we are in desperate need of funds. We’re actually doing pretty well right now financially.

My intention is to challenge you to consider that part of the Christian walk that we often tend to avoid – giving.

:3 over and above all that I have prepared

Lesson

Give over and above

These were things that David was now giving “over and above” what he already gave back in 1Chr. 22:14, where he had already given 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver!

Some of us who are kind of tight with our money, feel kind of nice when we give our “tithe”, thinking that we’re covered for this month. But what if God wants you to give to someone or something in addition?

(2 Cor 8:1-3 NLT) Now I want to tell you, dear friends, what God in his kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia. {2} Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. {3} For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

I’m not just talking about giving to the church. I’m talking about giving as a way of life.

Illustration

I remember the incredible, awesome feeling that came when our first son was born. I had a hard time comprehending the love that I felt for that little baby. As that little guy began to grow, my love just grew with him. And then the second baby came along. I privately wondered if I’d be able to love a second child. I wondered if I was going to have to take my love and divide it up between the children.

But what I found is that God doubled my ability to love.

You may feel at times that you’ve just given and given and given of yourself to people and don’t have anything else left to give. Maybe God wants to stretch you a little and show you that He can help you love like He does.

:4 three thousand talents of gold …

In today’s values, David is giving another $858,600,000 in gold and $2,835,000 in silver.

:5 who then is willing to consecrate his service

literally, “who is willing to fill his hand”

David turns to challenge the leaders to give.

:6-9 The Leaders give

:6 offered willingly

You will see this phrase over and over in regards to proper giving.

Lesson

Give “willingly”

vs.17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

David is saying that God doesn’t give credit for gifts that are given for impure motives, as an unwilling heart.

Sometimes our motives aren’t so pure when it comes to giving.

Illustration

It seems that some vandals had cut down six royal palms along Miami’s Flagler Street. Since the palms were very expensive, Dade County authorities weren’t sure if they could replace them very soon. But then someone donated six more and even had them planted. The old ones had been about fifteen feet tall and provided a nice foreground for a “Fly Delta” billboard. The new palms are thirty-five feet tall—completely hiding the sign. The new donor: Eastern Airlines.

(2 Cor 9:7 KJV) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

purposeth – proaireomai – to bring forward, bring forth from one’s stores – to prepare ahead of time!

grudgingly – lupe – sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, affliction; here, it’s literally “out of pain”.

necessity – anagke – necessity, feeling like “you have to”.

When these guys come on the TV and start their begging for money, and you feel like you should call up and pledge, is it because you delight in the Lord’s work and want to give, or is it because you feel guilty and don’t want to be held responsible for God’s work to fail?

If you aren’t giving from a willing heart, don’t. Hold on to that money and buy yourself lunch at McDonalds.

:7 of gold five thousand talents …

The leaders give: $1,431,000,000 in gold, $12,800,000 in gold coins, $40,500,000 in silver, 675 tons of brass, and 3,750 tons of iron.

:8 they with whom precious stones were found gave them

It wasn’t those who didn’t have the precious stones that had to come up with them. The precious stones came from those who had precious stones.

Lesson

Give what you have

Not what you don’t have.

I know a brother who once had an experience in a church where the preacher was getting “words” from God on who would be giving such and such amounts of money. The preacher told my friend that he was going to give $600. The problem was, he didn’t have it.

(1 Cor 16:2 KJV) Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Our giving should be “as God prospers us”. I think that giving should be proportional. This is one reason why I think the concept of tithing, giving a tenth, is good. You give a percentage of what God gives to you.

Sometimes we go through tough times when we’re out of work or on disability. God understands. He doesn’t expect you to keep giving at the same level you did when you were working full time.

Don’t feel guilty because you can’t give big amounts of money.

(Luke 21:1-4 KJV) And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. {2} And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. {3} And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: {4} For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Jesus considered the widow the top “giver” of all the people at the Temple that day. She only gave two little coins, but she gave out of her poverty, she gave more proportionally than any of the others.

:9 the people rejoiced,

Lesson

Give with joy

The poor church in Macedonia (probably Philippi) was a giving church, and they did it with joy. In fact, Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi is characterized primarily by joy.

(2 Cor 8:1-2 KJV) Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; {2} How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

God loves it when our giving is done with the right attitude.

(2 Cor 9:7 KJV) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

cheerful – hilaros – cheerful, joyous

If you can’t give joyfully, don’t.

:10-14 … David’s prayer

:12 Both riches and honour come of thee,

Lesson

Recognize where it comes from

vs.14 for all things [come] of thee, and of thine own have we given thee

He takes care of us – Because it all comes from God, we don’t need to worry about our own needs if He is prompting us to give. But it’s important that God is the one prompting us to give, not some person trying to twist our our. He’ll take care of us just like He always has.

In Corinth – the wealthy church

(2 Cor 9:6-10 KJV) But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

God is gracious to people who are gracious to others.

{7} Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. {8} And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Paul was encouraging the wealthy Corinthian church to give to the poor saints in Jerusalem. To answer their inevitable question, “Well if we give, who’s going to take care of us?” The answer - God will.

{9} (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. {10} Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

The “sower” is the one who gives out seed. God gives more “seed” to the one who “sows”.

With this, we again need to be careful of motive. Some people are motivated to give because they are promised that God will make them rich if they give. That’s a rotten way to give.

Illustration

At a church meeting a very wealthy man rose to tell the rest of those present about his Christian faith. “I’m a millionaire,” he said, “and I attribute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life. I remember that turning point in my faith. I had just earned my first dollar and I went to a church meeting that night. The speaker was a missionary who told about his work. I knew that I only had a dollar bill and had to either give it all to God’s work or nothing at all. So at that moment I decided to give my whole dollar to God. I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today.”

He finished and there was an awed silence at his testimony as he moved toward his seat. As he sat down a little old lady sitting in the same pew leaned over and said to him: “I dare you to do it again.”

We give only because we have learned that God has given us everything.

Lesson

Three kinds of givers

1. The one who needs to feel guilty before he gives.

They need someone to lay a guilt trip on them about the starving children in India.

2. The one who needs to be convinced something is worthwhile before he gives to it.

They need to be shown the architect’s plans and the promise of a good return on the investment.

3. The one who is looking where to invest his funds

This is the kind of giver that God is.

(2 Chr 16:9 KJV) For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

God doesn’t need to be persuaded to give. He finds where He wants to invest and then gives to that person.

This is the kind of giver God wants us to be, one like Him.

Lesson

Be a receiver

For some of you, you don’t need to be challenged today in giving, you need to be challenged today in receiving.

You’re never going to understand anything about giving until you’ve been touched with the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.

The Bible says,

(John 3:16 KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

There is no greater giver than Jesus.

(2 Cor 8:9 KJV) For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Perhaps God is looking for you today, looking to invest in you.

:20-25 Worship and celebration

:20 all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD,

Lesson

Words of worship

blessed the LORD – barak; to bless. To bless in the OT means “to endue with power for success, prosperity, fruitfulness in offspring or vegetation, longevity, etc.

We are very aware of how God blesses us. But do we realize that God is “blessed” by our worship?

bowed down their heads – qadad; I bow down. This root refers to the bowing of one’s head accompanying and emphasizing obeisance. This root is used to emphasize devotion. Deepest worship.

worshipped the LORD – shaha – bow down. The commonly occurring form is “to prostrate oneself” or “to worship”.

NASB - did homage to the LORD

Two words are used, both indicating that they were on their knees, with their faces on the ground.

This was how they “worshipped”.

:20 and the king

They worshipped David?

NASB - and did homage to the LORD and to the king

They showed their allegiance and respect to him.

We must learn respect for those in authority over us, even the government.

Lesson

Submission to government

We could rationalize and say, “Well, this was David, he was a godly king, I would show respect to the government if it was godly too”. But the Bible goes beyond that.

Peter wrote his first epistle probably from Rome, around 64 A.D., during the time of that Nero was emperor, one of the wickedest men to ever rule.

(1 Pet 2:13-15 KJV) Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; {14} Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. {15} For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Obeying the laws of the land will silence foolish men who would criticize you

Paul also wrote during the time of Nero.

(Rom 13:1-5 KJV) Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. {2} Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. {3} For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: {4} For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. {5} Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

God put governments in power, if you resist the government, you resist God.

God gives governments authority to uphold the law.

:21 sacrificed sacrifices

NASB - made sacrifices

The word in Hebrew here (shulamim) is the word used to describe the “peace offering”.

The “peace offering” was a sacrifice of fellowship with God.

In it a person would bring their animal to the priest, either from cattle, sheep, or goat, without blemish, and they would lay their hands on the animal, then the priest would slay the animal. The priest would then take the two kidneys, the fat, and burn them on the altar. (Lev.3)

Sometimes a person would also bring a thank offering of flour and oil mixed together into cakes. Then the priest would bake or fry the cakes over the fire.

The priest that made the sacrifice would get to keep part of the bread that was made, and the breast and right shoulder of the animal for his dinner.

And everything had to be eaten either on the day the sacrifice was made, or the next day. What was left over was to be burnt in the fire. Nothing was to be left over until the third day. (sounds like a missing body!) (Lev.7:11-18; 29-34)

In summary, the peace offering was a sacrifice in which everybody sat down to dinner with the Lord.

It’s what fellowship is all about. Potluck suppers are a good thing, as long as the Lord is invited. There is a spiritual precedent to having people over to your house to share a meal together.

:21 offered burnt offerings

With a burnt offering, a person could also bring either from the herd, flock, or a bird. The animal was to be a male without blemish (like Jesus). The offerer was to lay their hand on the head of the animal while the priest slew it, making atonement for the offerer. Then the priest would cut up the animal and put it on the altar, over the fire. (Lev.1)

With the burnt offering, the priest was to make sure that the fire kept going all night. The offering was to be totally burned up, with nothing left but ashes. Nobody was to eat anything from the burnt offering. The next morning, the priest was to gather up the ashes, change clothes, and take the ashes outside the camp and dump them. (Lev.6:8-13)

The purpose of the burnt offering was consecration. In it, a person was setting himself aside to serve the Lord. We see in it a picture of a person giving their life to the animal by laying hands on it. Then the animal dies and is totally consumed in the fire. Even the ashes aren’t to remain, but to be carried off afterwards. Just as we are to be crucified with Christ, and we are to continually reckon our fleshly nature dead to sin and alive to God. We are to stop being slaves to sin, and become slaves to God. (Rom.6)

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

In light of the burnt offering, may I suggest that to be a “living sacrifice” we need to lay our fleshly nature down on the altar, and let it be totally consumed in the flames, so that we might live holy lives unto God.

:21 drink offerings

Both peace offerings and burnt offerings were to be accompanied by drink offerings (NASB - libations). (Num.15:5) There was a certain amount of wine that was to be poured out on the altar to God.

It was also specifically prescribed for:

The morning and evening burnt offerings (Ex.29:38-41)

Entering the land and offering the firstfruits of their harvest. (Lev.23:9-13)

The sacrifice of the Nazirite vow. (Num.6:13-17)

The sabbath offerings, monthly offerings, and offerings of the feasts, were all accompanied with drink offerings (Num.28:9-14)

There was an actual prescribed amount to be offered with each kind of animal.

With each ox, there was to be a half of a hin of wine poured out. (Num.15:10)

With each ram, there was to be a third of a hin of wine poured out. (Num.15:7)

With each lamb, there was to be a quarter of a hin of wine poured out. (Num.15:5)

These are the amounts for each animal (Num.15:12), hence, we can calculate that:

Bulls: 500 hins of wine (1000 x .5)

Rams: 333 hins of wine (1000 x .333)

Lambs: 250 hins of wine (1000 x .25)

Total : 1083 hins of wine, or, 1083 gallons of wine (1 hin = 1 gallon)

When this wine was poured out upon the sacrifice, it was

“for a sweet savour unto the LORD”

There was to be something of a sweet odor when the wine was poured out onto the sacrifice.

Lesson

Joy in sacrifice

As we’ve seen, there was to be a prescribed amount of wine poured out on top of certain sacrifices.

One commentary (Pulpit Commentary) said, “Libations are amongst the simplest and most universal of offerings to the unseen powers.”

The dictionary defines libation as: the pouring out of a liquid such as wine or oil as a sacrifice to a god.

I hope I don’t sound too fleshly with this, but it seems to me that a “drink offering” was like pouring out a glass of wine to God in order to go with the meal.

I think it was to be a joyous, happy kind of thing.

Paul uses this same language to describe his own life:

(Phil 2:17 KJV) Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

(Phil 2:17 NASB) But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

(Phil 2:17 NLT) But even if my life is to be poured out like a drink offering to complete the sacrifice of your faithful service (that is, if I am to die for you), I will rejoice, and I want to share my joy with all of you.

Paul sees his own life possibly coming to an end, and it being a picture of this drink offering that is poured out on top of a sacrifice. He sees the faith of the Philippians being a sacrifice, and he sees his own life being poured out on top of it.

Yet Paul sees his own “pouring out” as a thing of joy, a good thing, something that might be sweet to God.

Sacrifice is good. It is sweet.

Illustration

Judy Anderson, whose husband is the West Africa Director of the World Relief Corporation, grew up as the daughter of missionaries in Zaire. As a little girl, she went to a day-long rally celebrating the one-hundredth anniversary of Christian missionaries coming to that part of Zaire. After a full day of long speeches and music, an old man came before the crowd and insisted that he be allowed to speak. He said he soon would die, and that he alone had some important information. If he did not speak, that information would go with him to his grave.

He explained that when Christian missionaries came a hundred years before, his people thought the missionaries were strange and their message unusual. The tribal leaders decided to test the missionaries by slowly poisoning them to death. Over a period of months and years, missionary children died one by one. Then the old man said, “It was as we watched how they died that we decided we wanted to live as Christians.”

:21 in abundance for all Israel

In other words, everybody who was there got plenty to eat!

:22 eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness

Lesson

Joy in the Lord

Some people have the mistaken notion that being a believer means having no fun.

There are Christians who think that church should be quiet and somber like a funeral parlor, and that the music should definitely not make your toe tap.

There are non-believers who look at some Christians and would think the same thing. They would think that being a Christian must not be very fun. In fact it must be pretty dull!

Not so! There is great joy in fellowshipping with God!

Psalms 122:1 {A Song of degrees of David.} I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

If you’re not happy being at church, you need to either change churches, or take a close look at your relationship with the Lord!

Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.

:22 they made Solomon the son of David king the second time

David had already made Solomon king in 1Chron.23:1. Here it is reiterated in a recommitment.

:26-30 David’s death

:28 he died in a good old age

2Sam.5:4,5 tells us that David was 30 years old when he became king at Hebron. Add his 40 year reign, and you get an approximate age at death.

David lived to be around 70 years old.

By Bible standards this is not extremely old. Abraham lived to be 175 years old.

But this is called a “good old age, full of days” because David had the opportunity to carry out his plans and to see their success.

:29 they [are] written

Remember having to write papers for school, and having to include a bibliography of the sources you used for your teacher? The writer of Chronicles is going to now give us his bibliography, the sources he used in compiling his history.

Review: 1&2 Chronicles was written after the Babylonian captivity, probably by Ezra the scribe.

How do we know it wasn’t written until after the captivity? Because 1Chron.9 contains the genealogies of those who returned from the captivity.

:29 the book of Samuel the seer

BKC - the book could perhaps refer to 1Sam.1-24

This Samuel is the prophet in those chapters, the last of the judges, and the one who anointed both Saul, then David to be king over Israel.

:29 the book of Nathan the prophet

BKC - perhaps the books of Nathan and Gad would be the remainder of 1Sam.25 - 2Sam.24.

Nathan was one of the prophets that God spoke through during the time that David was king.

Two incidents we know him for best were:

1. When David wanted to build the temple for the Lord, he spoke with Nathan, who first told him to go ahead and do whatever was on his heart. Then God gave a different message to Nathan, for David not to build. (2Sam.7)

2. When David had covered his sin with Bathsheba by murdering her husband, God sent Nathan to rebuke David. He was the one who pointed the finger and said, “You are the man!” (2Sam.12)

:29 the book of Gad the seer

We know that Gad had been with David for a long time. Before David became king, during the period of his life when he was fleeing from Saul, God used Gad to move David from place to place, to protect him. (I Samuel 22:5)

Gad was also with David at the end of his life. When David was moved by Satan to number Israel, and then he confessed his sin, God spoke through Gad, giving David the choices of what kind of chastisement he would suffer. It was Gad who told David to erect an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan, where the temple would eventually be built. (2Sam.24; 1Chron.21)