4.17 1 Chronicles 10-16

John Demsky

4.17.2020

1 Chronicles 10-16

Summary of the chapters:

There is a lot going on in these chapters! 

In chapter 10 Saul and Israel are fighting the Philistines and are being overtaken. Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua are slain by the Philistines while Saul is wounded in battle. Saul asks his armor bearer to kill him before he is taken and mistreated by the Philistines but his armor bearer does not do so. Saul falls on his own sword and his armor bearer follows suit. The Israelites retreat and the Philistines occupy their cities and even go as far as taking Saul’s head and armor for their own false gods. Valiant men from Jabesh-gilead recover the bodies of Saul and his sons and bury them. Saul ultimately perishes for his lack of faith in God; consulting a medium before this battle instead of God

In chapter 11 David is anointed king of Israel after Saul’s death; as Israel recounts how David led them even during Saul’s reign as king. David and all Israel then go and capture Jerusalem which becomes known as the city of David as David makes his home and stronghold there. The chapter describes David becoming greater and greater because the Lord of Hosts is with him.

Chapters 11 and 12 both recount David’s mighty men; including those who had been loyal to David even when Saul had been seeking his life and refusing to accept that God was going to give the kingdom to David. 

Chapter 13 sees David and his commanders attempting to bring the Ark of the Covenant back from Kiriath-jearim. They have it loaded onto a new cart and are celebrating along the way when an oxen stumbles. Uzzah reaches out to take hold of the Ark and in doing so angers God so he is struck down. David fears God after this and questions bringing the Ark home so he leaves it in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite whose household God then blesses.

Chapter 14 recounts victories over the Philistines God gives to David as well as the names of his children born in Jerusalem. 

Finally in chapters 15 and 16 the Ark is brought to Jerusalem and is carried by the Levites as God had ordained from the days of Moses. The Levites are ordained into a new ministry of praise, worship, and thankfulness to God before the Ark!

Key Verse:

1 Chronicles 16:41

“With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

The style of these chapters is largely a “chronicling” tone; recounting the events that transpired at the end of Saul’s reign and the beginning of David’s. So much awesomeness has transpired by the time we arrive at this verse- the Ark comes to Jerusalem and God is being celebrated by all Israel through praise, worship and instruments with all this being led by the Levites. The change in tone in the second part of this verse is almost as if the chronicler cannot hold back the awesomeness of God in a “chronicling” tone for any longer and must praise Him for His steadfast love that endures forever!

How does what you read change your vision of God?

So much is going on in these chapters and yet God is sovereign over all of it. We can see the bigger picture after everything has transpired through the recountings of the chronicler but many events must have been hard to understand at the time they happened. Israel saw their king (Saul) fall in battle which was incredibly demoralizing. Even David was afraid of God after He struck down Uzzah for touching the Ark and had doubts of how it could be brought to Jerusalem after that. With everything going on in the world right now with COVID-19 we can’t fully understand the big picture but we know God’s steadfast love endures forever and we can trust Him!

How will you go with God from this reading?

I want to trust God fully throughout this pandemic and whatever comes afterwards; knowing who He is and putting away any doubt of Him that may arise because of the limitations of what I can perceive.

Where did you see Jesus in this reading?

I see Jesus in David’s heart to glorify God. Jesus was always looking to glorify God his father and we see that heart in His ancestor King David bringing the Ark to Jerusalem and leading the people in celebrating God. Jesus is the perfect King leading us to glorify God!

Outtake Bonus Video – We love you John!