David's Charge to Israel

 

1 Chronicle 28:1-8

 

April 24, 2023

 

David's Charge to Israel

David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the stewards of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty men and all the seasoned warriors.  Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers, and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building.  But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’  Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.  And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.  He said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.  I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.’  Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

IF

Have you ever asked the question “What If”?  What if I had been born in China? What if my parents had been rich?  What if I had gone to better schools?  What if I had been a twin?  The “What ifs” could go on and on and I am sure they do for many people. 

 

We have read all about King Solomon and how he began putting his trust in God alone and looking to Him for wisdom and understanding, but his lust and pride in Life stole his heart from God.  We can only imagine what Israel would have been if Solomon had obeyed God.

 

But what about you, what about me, how has the “IF” come into play in our walk with the Lord?  You and I are experiencing a very dark time in the spirit of our nation, and you may be wondering what to do. This past week a friend told me about a Psalm he had read that had calmed his spirit.  He was worrying about our Country and other stuff like illegal Immigration.

My friend was reading Psalm 91.  It is titled in my English Standard Version of The Holy Bible as, (My Refuge and My Fortress).  Now that title should get your attention.  If you are like me, you need a personal refuge, a place you can run to and be safe.

So, I began to read Psalm 91, and was overcome with the thought, “If,” What if I believed what I was reading?  How would my life be different?  What if I believed the opening verse, which says; “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”  Before you judge me too harshly let me state that at the age of 27 years of age, I bowed my knee to the Lord Jesus Christ and asked him to forgive me and to come into my life.  Before that I was a Baptist, after that, I became something very different; I had a new identity, being a Baptist was no longer important, I was loved and accepted and acceptable to God. 

Each day the “IF” is in play for you and me, the world is one big want creator, its desire is to steal your heart from the peace and joy you have in our Lord, and make you desire the crumb trail that leads you away from the Lord.  You or I will be a poor finisher if we forget our Identity.

That night in a hotel room, I became a vessel that God moved into and my identity changed forever. The power is not the vessel, but what is stored in it.  An example is pie, I like pies, but I’m not that hung up on the vessel the pie comes in.  It was years before I had any understanding of this truth.  And now I still ask; “what if,” what if I acted on my true identity in Christ?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice