Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 28:1-10. Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 28:4-6 (NIV) 
4  “Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 
5  Of all my sons–and the LORD has given me many–he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 
6  He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
 
On verses 1-6:  In these verses, David addresses the leaders of Israel (political officials, tribal leaders, military commanders, warriors and others).  First, David recounts how he originally had it in his heart to build a temple for the Lord where the ark of God could rest (v2), but that God told him that he was not the one to build the temple due to his having shed other people’s blood in battle (v3).

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 27:1-34.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-22:  Here the Chronicler gives attention to the commanders and officers who served King David and led his army which consisted of 12 divisions of 24,000 men each.  Several of the army commanders listed here are also named among David’s mighty men in 1 Chronicles 11 and 2 Samuel 23, such as Jashobeam (v2), Benaiah (v5), Asahel (v7), Ira (v9), Sibbekai (v11), Abiezer (v12) and possibly others too.  These men came from various backgrounds but all became leaders who served David and led his army divisions.

What can we learn from this?

For any team to move forward and be successful in the long run, there needs to be clarity on who the leader is.  Is there a team you belong to where the question of “Who is our leader?” needs to be answered more clearly? 

Notice that Benaiah’s dad Jehoiada was a famous priest (and one of the most famous priests in Israel’s history) (v5).  Most sons would follow the vocational calling of their fathers.  Yet in Benaiah’s case, Benaiah had a calling that was different from his dad’s. Benaiah would become one of the greatest warriors in Israel’s history.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 26:1-32.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 26:1 (NIV) 
1  The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph. 

On verses 1-3:  Here the Chronicler begins to list the men who served as gatekeepers at the temple.  Their role was to welcome those who entered the temple and also prevent dangerous or unclean things from entering.  They were part greeter team, part usher, part security, and 100% the first impression people received when people came to worship at the temple.  The fact that the Chronicler lists in detail who served as gatekeepers shows how important the gatekeeper ministry was, and continues to be today.  If you are part of a greeter team, ushering team or security team at the church, thank you!  Your role is a crucial one.  You are the front door of the church and the first impression people receive when they come.  In fact, for people who have never been to church before, you are their first impression of your church and of Jesus.  So never underestimate your role as a greeter, usher, or security person.  When you serve as a greeter, usher or security, know that your attitude, your demeanor and how proactive, observant and loving you are make a huge difference in people’s experience at church. 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 25:1-31.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 25:1 (NIV) 
1  David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:

On verse 1:  What is the ministry of prophesying?  People often think of prophesying as telling the future.  But prophesying in the Bible has a broader meaning and purpose.  Prophesying is the ability to sense when the Holy Spirit is giving a message to strengthen, encourage and comfort other people and to communicate that message effectively.  Sometimes that message may speak about future events.  Sometimes that message may speak about how God sees a person or situation in the present.  The fact that the Chronicler gives attention to the ministry of prophesying shows that prophesying had an important place in the Israelites’ worship of the Lord.