Read 1 Chronicles 17
Sometimes when something seems so right it is not. While there was nothing sinful in building a temple for the ark of the covenant, it was not God’s plan for David. David was a man of war. It would be his son who would build a place in which God would dwell. We too must see that God has a plan for us. This plan is not what we might wish. This plan is one in which God alone will be glorified. As we go through life, let us look only for ways in which we put ourselves into submission to him and his all-wise counsel. Sing Psalter 367.
Read 1 Chronicles 18
After hearing that he was not to build the temple, David began to carry out the work for which God had ordained him. He went out as a man of war to destroy God’s enemies. This chapter recounts his many victories as well as their purpose. That purpose was to lay up treasure that would be used in the building of God’s house. Are we carrying out the purpose for which God has ordained us? Do we use the money that we make for his service? Let us seek the kingdom of God with all our hearts, knowing that he will give to us all that we need. Sing Psalter 359.
Read 1 Chronicles 19
Do we show kindness to those to whom we have an opportunity? Do we seek out those opportunities? If we run into trouble in showing that kindness, what is our reaction? David had those circumstances in his life. His attempts at kindness were repaid by trouble for his messengers. David dealt kindly with them. Let us learn from David how we must show kindness to those around us. In that way we show thankfulness to God for the great kindness he showed to us by sending his Son to die on the cross for us. Sing Psalter 24.
Read 1 Chronicles 20
“But David tarried at Jerusalem.” With those words the story begins of David’s sin that showed that he was only a type of Christ and not the Christ himself. Instead of doing his God-ordained work, he remained in Jerusalem living a life of ease. Are we guilty of this? Do we ignore our God-ordained work or tasks to live a life of ease? We need to consider what God would have us to do in this life and then do it. Sing Psalter 140.
Read 1 Chronicles 21
From the summary of David’s sin in chapter 20 we go to his transgression of numbering the people. If there is one sin to which all of God’s people are susceptible, it is the sin of pride. David wanted to see how many people there were over whom he was king. For this sin not only was David chastised, but all of God’s people also had to suffer. They, too, were corporately involved in the sin. Deliverance was given, and it was a picture of the great deliverance that would be given to all of God’s people including us. May we be ever thankful for that deliverance. Sing Psalter 83.
Read 1 Chronicles 22
After being chastised for his sin of pride, David got back to the work to which God had ordained him. He worked at gathering and preparing various building materials for the temple. Each of us has a task. We need to carry it out to the best of the abilities that God has given to us. We must be busy about it each and every day. We need to dedicate ourselves to that work; we must not let our desires take up our time and energies so that the work is not carried out. This is a way in which we show out thankfulness for our salvation. Sing Psalter 368.
Read 1 Chronicles 23
We can tell from the opening verses that David’s work on this earth was nearly finished. He now makes his son Solomon king. Solomon too would be a type of Christ. However, his kingdom would be one of peace, unlike that of his father David. David also prepares one last detail for the temple. He organizes those who would serve in that temple into groups to carry out the daily work of worship. God’s church today also has office bearers whose task is to lead God’s people in worship. May we rejoice in this fact, for in that way we are called to proper worship of Jehovah. Sing Psalter 200.
Read 1 Chronicles 24
This chapter is a continuation of the recounting of the process of putting in order those who would lead God’s people in worship. It is evident that it is God who controls all things, as the process was done by lot. This was not a lot of luck or of good fortune, but it was a lot of providence. God in his providence guides and controls every aspect of our lives. May we ever be thankful for his providence and the comfort that it affords to us. May we seek his guidance in all that we do. Sing Psalter 190.
Read 1 Chronicles 25
The last chapter dealt with division of the family of Aaron into groups and their work as priests. There were also other Levites who served in the temple. In this chapter we read of the descendants of Asaph. Their work was not to offer sacrifices or burn incense or any other work of the priests. Their work was that of leading the worship of God by music. God has given to us the gift of music for several purposes. One of these purposes is to praise him and his wonderful works toward us. Another purpose of music is that it is one of the means that we can use to thank him for his grace towards us. May we ever be found making a “joyful noise unto the Lord.” Sing Psalter 250.
Read 1 Chronicles 26
One truth that we can appreciate in these chapters is that of God’s covenant faithfulness. As the nation journeyed across the wilderness, it probably kept most if not all of the Levites busy in caring for the tabernacle as well as in the worship of Jehovah. As the Israelites settled down, their numbers grew; therefore we see this wise organization of David of the various groups. We also see the variety of work that was necessary to carry out proper worship. This is true today as well. It takes men and women doing a variety of tasks in order for the church to function smoothly. Let us, in whatever station or calling God has placed us, work with vigor in his service and in the service of the church. Sing Psalter 241.
Read 1 Chronicles 27
Not only were the Levites divided into orderly groups, but also other Israelites were organized in their carrying out the work of the nation. There were soldiers who had to defend the country so that Israel could worship in peace. There were men who carried out the financial dealings of the country. And David had counselors to help him in government. With wisdom David prepared for an orderly transition of government to Solomon. We should pray for such orderliness in government so that we can worship God in peace. Sing Psalter 223.
Read 1 Chronicles 28
We must see several items in this chapter. First, David charges the chief men to give heed to Solomon as he goes about the work of building the temple. They might have not wanted to listen to the new young king. Second, he tells them and Solomon that this work is of God. God gave the plans and the organization. Their obedience to David and Solomon was in reality obedience to God. Do we see this as we dwell in God’s church today? We are not heeding the word of mere men whom God has made leaders. We are heeding or not heeding God. May we remember this as we dwell in the church of the living God. Sing Psalter 348.
Read 1 Chronicles 29
This chapter describes the closing of David’s reign. He reiterates his commands to the people to help Solomon in the great work of building the temple. He then charges Solomon himself with that great work. By example he shows to the people that they must liberally support the work of building the temple just as we must liberally support all the causes of God’s kingdom. The chapter closes with a short account of David’s death. Sing Psalter 222.
Read 2 Chronicles 1
After taking over the kingdom, Solomon made his first wise choice. That choice was to go to God in worship and in prayer. God then came to him and asked what he needed. Solomon now makes another wise choice. He realizes that he cannot rule this kingdom in his own strength. As we begin ventures in this life, do we go to our God and ask his help? Young couples, you need to do this as your marry. Parents, you need to do this as you bring up children. Each of us needs to go to our God in prayer and ask for his guidance. Sing Psalter 218.
Read 2 Chronicles 2
Solomon’s first goal was to fulfill his father’s desire. He wanted to build a temple for God. Solomon knew that God was not earthly. He knew that no matter how grand and luxurious a building he built, it would not compare to the glory of God. Do we understand this about our God? Do we try to bring him down to our level? Do we do this by our actions or by our prayers? We must always realize that God is spirit and must be treated in a spiritual sense alone. He is not our pal; he is our God! Sing Psalter 129.
Read 2 Chronicles 3
In this chapter we have some of the descriptions of the temple and its furnishings. First, we see that Solomon built it according to the plan that God gave to his father David. Solomon made no alterations to that plan because this was to be God’s house. His plan was perfect. Second, if we move down to the final verse in the chapter, we see the names of the two pillars that greeted the worshippers and supported the building. Jachin means “He establishes,” and Boaz means, “In him is strength.” Do we confess that God establishes our lives? Do we live our lives in the strength of Jehovah? Sing Psalter 367.
Read 2 Chronicles 4
In this chapter we read of the various furnishings and items for worship found in the temple. Each of them is very significant not only in the worship of God but also for the salvation of his people. Do we see the blood of Christ that covers our sins in the significance of these items? Do we see Jesus, the light of the world, in the candlesticks? Do we notice the various metals and other items of beauty that signified God’s glory? Notice all the special numbers such as ten—the number of completeness, and twelve—the number of the church. Everything pointed to God. Does everything in our worship point to God? Sing Psalter 256.
Read 2 Chronicles 5
The temple was now finished and ready to be occupied by Jehovah. After the ark of the covenant was placed in the most holy place, and as the priest withdrew from the temple, the Shekinah cloud filled the temple as a symbol of God’s dwelling with his people. Today, we do not need a temple filled with symbols. We do not need a special cloud, for God has sent his Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, upon us to dwell within us. That Spirit assures us of our salvation through Christ alone. Sing Psalter 260.
Read 2 Chronicles 6
After the glory of God filled the temple, Solomon turned to God in public prayer. It would do us all good to study this prayer and use it as a model for our public prayers. In this prayer everything points to God. In this prayer Solomon asked for God to be with his people in every situation that they may find themselves. There is nothing that we cannot bring to our covenant God in prayer. We, like Solomon, can base our prayers on the mercies of Christ that God showed to David and also shows to us. Sing Psalter 235.
Read 2 Chronicles 7
As Solomon finishes his prayer, God gives to him and all Israel an immediate answer to that prayer. Fire comes from heaven and consumes the sacrifice offered on the altar of burnt offering. The people then have two feasts. Both of them were feasts of thanksgiving. After the fourteen days of feasting were finished, Solomon sends them to their homes to take up their daily work once more. God then comes to Solomon once more in the night and reminds him of his early promises, but he also warns him that they must continue in service to him or he would afflict them. May we serve Jehovah with all of our hearts all the days of our lives. Sing Psalter 266.
Read 2 Chronicles 8
The book of 2 Chronicles continues with the activities of Solomon. In verse 11 we read of his marriage to the daughter of Egypt’s king. We know that this became the beginning of Solomon’s downfall as he gathered unto himself many wives. This was disobedient to one of the guidelines for Israel’s kings as given in Deuteronomy 17. Solomon did not follow the apparent customs of some heathen lands; he did not install her in God’s temple, as that place was holy unto God. But yet his sin would cause much trouble for him and for Israel. Let us be careful to keep all of God’s laws, and in that way we will be pleasing unto him. Sing Psalter 360.
Read 2 Chronicles 9
Today we read an account of the visit of the queen of Sheba. We know nothing about her except what is recounted here and in the companion chapter in 1 Kings. Much speculation is made about her and her relationship to Solomon. We need to turn to the New Testament to see her place in history. There Christ mentions this woman who called upon God’s name because of what he had done for Solomon. Christ then says to the nation of Israel that a greater than Solomon was with them, and they did not believe. We have the whole of God’s word, and we have the outpouring of the Spirit. Do we believe? Sing Psalter 198.
Read 2 Chronicles 10
What a sad thing it was when Israel rebelled against God! While they may have thought it was against Rehoboam, it was truly against Jehovah that they rebelled. This should give us cause to consider our ways in his church. When we speak ill of a minister or a consistory, do we realize that we are speaking ill of the ministers of God whom he placed in authority over us? Do we realize they represent Christ among us? Let us never say, “To your tents O Israel!” Let us say, “Thy will be done.” In this way we bow before Jehovah and his way for us. Sing Psalter 174.
Read 2 Chronicles 11
God’s way for his church was the separation of Israel and Judah. In this way Christ would come for the salvation of his church of which we are a part. God was faithful to his promise to the patriarchs and to David. We see this when we read that Judah “set their hearts to seek the Lord.” Do we do this? The old man of sin that resides within us would have us say, “To your tents.” Is that the path we follow, or do we follow the path of seeking Jehovah and all of his goodness? May this be our desire and may this be our prayer. Sing Psalter 150
Read 2 Chronicles 12
After reading verses 1 and 2 of this chapter, we need to stop and examine our lives. Are we guilty of forsaking the law of God? If we are, we should see in our lives how God has chastised us to bring us back to his ways. Each time we read his word, we must see that this is like a prophet coming to us with the word of the Lord. Do we read God’s word in this way? Do we want to listen to the word in this way? By nature the answer to the last two questions is no. By grace and through Christ we can and do. Let us cleave to his word and let us seek daily to walk in Jehovah’s law. Sing Psalter 336.
Read 2 Chronicles 13
The sins of the fathers are compounded in the children. We see this in Rehoboam, and we see this in his son Abijah. Solomon’s folly became their folly. Because they were God’s people, he brought his rod in the form of Israel and Jereboam against them. It looked hopeless even in spite of Abijah’s speech that was true, though it was spoken in desperation. Out of that hopelessness God saved his people. Out of our hopeless, natural condition, he has saved us through Christ. Thanks be to God for that victory. Sing Psalter 253.
Read 2 Chronicles 14
In this short chapter we once again find the evident grace of God for his people. After the wicked kings Rehoboam and Abijah, we find righteous Asa. We notice that righteousness in the second verse of the chapter. Asa does that which is right in God’s eyes. The chapter goes on to relate to us his righteous activities. Verse 6 gives to us the result of those activities. Judah had peace and rest in the land. They were not bothered by invaders or other problems. Do we notice this in our lives? When our lives are marked by righteous activities, do we experience the peace that passes all human understanding? Let us seek that kind of peace by walking in Jehovah’s ways. Sing Psalter 238.
Read 2 Chronicles 15
We find in this chapter a continuation of the activities of the previous one. Asa knew that even in victory against an invader, his work was not finished. He had some dangerous enemies at home. There were still idols in the land; in fact, there were idols in his house—those of his mother. Asa worked hard at removing those idols. What is true about us? Do we work hard in removing those dangerous idols in our lives? Do we work hard in removing those idols in the lives of our families? Do we work hard in removing the idols in our churches? This we must do in walking antithetically in God’s sight. In this way our hearts will be right with God. Sing Psalter 308.
Read 2 Chronicles 16
Even though many idols were destroyed out of the land, sin was not destroyed out of Asa’s heart. This can never happen. Asa and Judah had to learn that their ultimate deliverance did not come from man. It would come from him of whom Asa was only a type. Judah had to look ahead to the coming of Christ. We have to live our lives in a way that we acknowledge Christ as the only way of salvation. In doing so, we will look ahead until the day that Christ returns to take us into himself. May this be our righteous activity all the days of our lives. Sing Psalter195.
Read 2 Chronicles 17
One of the righteous activities of Asa was the instruction of his son Jehoshaphat in the ways of Jehovah. We see this because Jehoshaphat continued the reformation activities of his father. Jehoshaphat did not follow in the wicked ways of his father in the last days of his life. He followed in the good things of God; in fact, the chapter tells us that he surpassed his father in that he was like unto David. Jehoshaphat saw the importance of instruction. He made provisions for good teachers to go throughout Judah to teach God’s way. This should be our calling in our homes and in our churches. We need to teach, and we need to teach the proper things of Jehovah. Sing Psalter 325.
Read 2 Chronicles 18
As the focus in 2 Chronicles is on Judah, we will not say much about Ahab and his folly. We do well to consider it and not walk in his apostasy. Jehoshaphat had a besetting sin. That sin was that he joined with Ahab in various foolish ventures. For that sin God chastised him often. We must walk antithetically before God. Jehoshaphat was a failure in this respect. We may not understand completely God’s purpose in this, but this we must know; if we walk with the ungodly, God will touch us in some way. Let us be unsullied by the sins of the wicked. Let us walk in the right way of Jehovah. Sing Psalter 158.
Read 2 Chronicles 19
After his folly in joining with Ahab, Jehoshaphat returned to the ways that were good for him, and more importantly for God’s church. He realized the need for more leadership in the church than he could provide. God moved him to appoint judges to go throughout the land and settle disputes in the church and instruct the people in the right way of Jehovah. God has provided for us elders who do the same work. Let us pay heed to them as the ministers of Christ doing his work among us. Sing Psalter 69.