1 Chronicles
25 – 29
David’s reign ends and we get a Reader’s Digest version of
what happened. There are many details that are left out of this account and a
few added. With that there are many details missed by other stories. Verse 25:1
interested me by its wording:
David and the heads of the
Levites, also known as the commanders of the army, selected for the
service some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. These men were expected
to serve in the temple by prophesying with lyres, harps, and
cymbals. These are the singers who performed these duties in order of
their descent.
The word “prophesying” with musical instruments interested
me in the meaning. What exactly does it mean? I always considered “prophesying”
telling people what was going to happen and not entertaining them. I checked
other versions of the Bible and the wording is consistent telling me this is
accurate. I can understand how one could handle “prophesying” in music with
lyrics, but they don’t say that. I assume they are doing this via song for the
impact and remembering. I suspect many are Psalms we read today.
As we go to David’s final days in verse 28:1 he addressed
Israel:
At the end of his life, David
assembled in Jerusalem all the officials of Israel to instruct them in
how to run both the state and the religion after his death. These officials
included the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the divisions
that served the king, the commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, the
managers of all the royal property and livestock, the officials, the warriors,
and all the valiant men.
This is a man who was after God’s heart from day one, sure
he messed up along the way but haven’t we all (NOTE – This is NOT justification
for adultery). I believe you look at all the stories in the Bible we see God working
through the unexpected and the flawed. Even King Saul had his flaws of not
wanting his anointment. David had a lot to teach the nation without much time.
So he came before them and laid it on the line. As complex as we try to make
it, follow God with all your hearts is the message.
Verse 28:20 has his charge to Solomon:
Be strong, courageous, and
effective. Do not fear or be dismayed. I know that the Eternal God,
who is my God, is with you. He will not abandon you or forsake you until you
have finished all the work for the temple of the Eternal.
1’st Chronicles ends with Solomon being set as king by
David. This was unprecedented in “tradition” but as with David the youngest
became the king. This book does not talk about the struggles Solomon had with
his brothers who felt they had the birth right to the throne. We must learn
from this that we need to listen to God and not man’s rules.
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