Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles
1 Chronicles gives us the lineage from the first man God created, Adam, to the descendants of each of the tribes of Israel. It then lists the genealogy of King Saul, before and after this first king of Israel. Chapter 10 tells us of the death of Saul and his sons, explaining that Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord (10:13). The Lord then turned the kingdom over to David, son of Jesse.
WHEN YOUR ENEMY SAYS YOU CAN’T
King David did exactly what his enemies said he could never do. Jerusalem became his home and is still referred to as the City of David today. When what we face seems impossible and those around us are reminding us of what we can never accomplish, we must remember that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is with us. When God asks us to do something, He will be there with us. He does not ask us to step into our day alone; He does not want us to try to do this on our own strength.
And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was with him. – 1 Chronicles 11:9
After building an army of warriors, David set out to accomplish his first big task as king — to bring the Ark of the Covenant back. The first attempt was going well at first. David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments. But when the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark of God, he fell down dead because the Lord’s anger was aroused. The celebration ceased and David GAVE UP on doing what God had called him to do. Things were not going his way, and he let grief and discouragement sidetrack him from the mission (1 Chronicles 13).
WHEN THINGS DON’T GO YOUR WAY
David was now afraid of God, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” – 1 Chronicles 13:12
When God does not move as we want Him to or as expect Him to, how do we react? Do we let fear keep us from trusting God with what comes next? Do we let tragedy paralyze us? Have you ever let grief and discouragement sidetrack you from what God is asking you to do?
Three months later, David tried again to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem. This time was different for David. His men took six steps with the Ark of God and David stopped the procession to sacrifice a bull and a fattened calf. Just six steps into the journey, David stopped to make a sacrifice of praise.
And David danced before the Lord with all his might… – 1 Samuel 6:14a
WHEN YOU STOP TO PRAISE GOD SIX STEPS IN
So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres…King David skipping about and laughing with joy… – 1 Chronicles 15:28-29
David let out all the stops for this celebration! The Levites formed a choir of singers and musicians (1 Chron. 15:16) and David danced before the Lord in praise and thanksgiving. His wife Michal was ashamed of his behavior but David responded with confidence, saying that he was dancing before the Lord who had appointed him. And he was willing to look even more foolish in the eyes of others for the sake of celebrating the Lord (2 Samuel 6).
WHEN YOUR PRAISE IS FOR THE LORD’S SAKE AND NOT FOR OTHERS
Oh the joy of worshiping before the Lord for His eyes only! God welcomes our exuberant expressions of joy and He delights in our uninhibited worship when it is for Him only — not for show but an authentic expression of our gratitude. When we worry about what others think of our expressions of worship, our praise becomes muted and our worship watered down. David poetically described the heart of gratitude from which his praise came.
“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God!
“What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like. For the sake of your servant, O Lord, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known. O Lord, there is no one like you…” – 1 Chronicles 17:16b-20a
When our enemy says we can’t, praise the Lord!
When things don’t go our way, He is worthy of our praise!
Before we get even six steps into what He has called us to do, let’s praise Him for the outcome!
Let’s praise Him with uninhibited worship! Let’s dance as David did for an audience of One!
Lord, we praise you for your daily involvement in our lives. We thank you for equipping us for what you have called us to do, and then stepping in to make each task possible. When we are fighting discouragement and ready to give up, you make your presence known and give us the courage and strength to take the next step. May our celebration reflect the confidence we have in who you are and what you have done for us. May you receive our praise and be pleased with our authentic worship of the God who is faithful all the time! Amen.