Bible Pathways 05/20/2002

May 20

In Today's Reading:

Military divisions that served the king; Solomon encouraged to build the Temple; David's gifts for the Temple; his thanksgiving and prayer; Solomon made king; David's death.

Verse for Today:

Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be Thou, Lord God of Israel, our Father, for ever and ever (1 Chronicles 29:10).

David had reigned [as king] forty years (1 Chronicles 29:27), and his life was nearing an end. The nearer he came to the world of everlasting worship, the more he spoke the praise language of Heaven. His last recorded message to his earthly kingdom is one of the greatest expressions of worship found in the Old Testament. In the last year of his reign, David assembled all the princes of the tribes and the captains of the military companies. Then he reminded them of how God had chosen Solomon to build His Temple. He told the people that their greatest concern should be to keep and seek for (become familiar with) all the Commandments of the Lord your God (28:8). Then David charged Solomon to know . . . the God of [your] father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord [searches] all hearts, and [understands] all the imaginations of the thoughts: if [you] seek Him, He will be found of [you]; but if [you] forsake Him, He will cast [you] off for ever (28:9).

David then offered one of the most inspiring prayers recorded in the Scriptures, a prayer of thanksgiving, praise, and adoration. David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshiped the Lord (29:20).

David's heartfelt appeal to the people is a reminder to all of us that we should be praising God, adoring Him, and worshiping Him with thanksgiving for Who He is, for what He has given to us, and for what He has promised. If we recognize our total dependence upon God for everything, we will praise Him for His provision and for His protection from sin, Satan, and selfish living. But, when we neglect to praise the Lord daily, our worship often becomes a mere ritual. True worship is an expression of adoration from the heart. Every day, under every circumstance, and in every thing give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18). To grumble about our circumstances is to express dissatisfaction with God's arrangement of our lives. And to do this means we are questioning His wisdom as well as His love for us.

The Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Paul to write: I will . . . that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting (1 Timothy 2:8).

Christ Revealed:

Through the gold offered for the Temple by David from his personal wealth (1 Chronicles 29:3-5). Gold is the purest metal (Revelation 21:21) and represents the preciousness and great worth of Christ. He is pure (1 John 3:2-3).

Word Studies:

27:2 course = division; 28:19 works = details; 29:1 tender = inexperienced; 29:3 proper good = personal treasure; 29:15 none abiding = none exempted; 29:19 palace = Temple.

Prayer Needs:

Government Officials: Sen. Michael Crapo (ID), Rep. Wally Herger (CA), and Rep. Nick Rahall (WV) · Pray for the President · Country: Ethiopia (60 million) in eastern Africa · Major languages: Amharic and Tigrinya · Unsettled after overthrow of communist regime · 41% Eastern Orthodox; 35% Muslim; 10% Protestant; 10% animist; .7% Roman Catholic · Prayer Suggestion: Express your gratitude for the loving-kindness of God (Jeremiah 32:17-18).

Optional Reading: 1 Corinthians 7

Memory Verse for the Week: Ephesians 6:17