1 Chronicles 16-18 (It is all about God!)
Tonight
we come to 1 Chron.16-18
A)If I were to summarize
these Chapters I would do so in this way.
B) Ch.16 is about God’s Glory and Greatness.
1)Ch.17 Is about God’s will
and Sovereignty.
2) Ch.18 is about God’s Power and
Protection.
C) A casual read of the
Chapters might lead one to think that they are about David.
D) But the thing that we
have to remember is the focus is always on God who was with David
1) God
who was for David
2) God who was behind David
E) David was only as great
as the God who supplied him and supported him and surrounded him
That
is what Ezra the Priest wants these Pp that he is writing to remember.
A) Recall – Ezra is writing
to the remnant – coming back into
B)Job to rebuild – re-establish – Wasn’t going to be easy –
C) So He is writing to
remind them of the faithfulness of God
D)
Focus at this time – Is God’s faithfulness to David
1)
E) That could happen again
as they sought the Lord
Recall
from Previous Study
A)After reigning as king of
A)Under
his leadership, the Israelites were finally able to drive the Jebusites out of
B)The FIRST thing that David
sought to do was to establish the place of God in the kingdom.
1)He
wanted the people to be conscious of the fact that it was God who was the real
King over
C)
Bring back the ark – Glory – Presence of God
1)
1st endeavor failed – Right Motive – Wrong Method
D) David
turned to the word – got it right –
1)
3 Myths later 2nd attempt was successful – great time of
celebration.
RD
V.1-3
Now
After the
Skip names
V.7 On that day
David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to
thank the LORD
A)Having Established Asaph
over the singers, David delivered a Psalm to Asaph that was to be the first
Psalm sung before the
B)Verses 8-36 make up the
song – they are taken from
RD V.8-36
Marks
of those In the Word – walking in the Spirit
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
“And do not be
drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things
to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
So
Ezra is Reminding them of this great
day –
A)Mindset they would need to
accomplish the task before them –
B)) Psalm centers on
remembering the greatness and the faithfulness of God.
1)
There are 6 themes that fill the Psalm
#1
Praise: 10 Praise references in the Psalm
Sing
/ rejoice/ worship / glory
A)The Psalm opens and closes
with the exhortation to give thanks.
A) Too often we take the
blessings of God for granted. We act and live as though God owed US something.
B)Remember
in the New Testament that there were 10 lepers that
came to Jesus for healing. (Luke 17:12-19).
C)
Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest. 1)That was the first step
that the leper had to do to be restored to the community.
D)The
priest would examine the leper, and not
finding further development of the leprosy the priest would put him in a house
for 7 days.
1)If
the flesh was still clean the man could then offer sacrifices and enter back
into Jewish society.
We are told
that AS THEY
WENT THEY WERE HEALED.
A)Realizing that they were
cleansed, ONE of them came back to Jesus and fell at His feet and worshipped
Him. Jesus said
B)NOTE: When thanksgiving
was NOT forthcoming Jesus took note of it.
When
we do NOT give thanks unto the Lord, the Lord takes note of it.
A)Which do you spend more
time doing – complaining or Praising.
B) Where is your focus –
What God has done- what He is doing. -Or what is not happening.
C)
The Psalm mentions the giving of thanks thru Singing – rejoicing – Glorying in the name
of God. Worship in the beauty of Holiness
D) God loves it when we sing
to him – One thing the Bible calls the fruit of our lips is Praise
E) Can’t
sing: Ok – Parent every had one of your kids sing you a song – Out of
tune – off Key
1)
But it was to you – Blessed by it.
2))God
feels the same way: Inhabits our praise!
Giving
thanks puts our focus in the right place
1)
Our perspective is right.
#2
Pray: Call Upon His Name V.8b
A)What is the name of God? God is NOT His Name. God is His title.
When
the translators decided to translate the Hebrew word for the Name of God they
decided to use the English word L-O-R-D.
A)The word lord is a title and not a name. As a result, people refer to the word lord as a title given to the God in the Old Testament, and God as His name.
B)In
reality, His NAME
is YAHWEH, or JEHOVAH, depending
upon how you chose to pronounce it.
C)Early
on in the history of
D)The
scribes held such high reverence for His Name that they would write the Name
for God with ONLY the consonants and would not put in the vowel points.
E)
They wrote the Name of God with the consonants
YHVH.
1)Scribes
added vowels – Yahweh
2)
Yahovah
3)We
have inserted the hard J and
pronounce it Jahovah
The
name JEHOVAH in the Hebrew is a VERB which means TO BE or TO BECOME.
A)It can be literally
translated to mean THE BECOMING ONE.
B) God said to Moses – Tell them I Am that I AM
C)We
have in the Old Testament the COMPOUND NAMES OF JEHOVAH.
1)The
second name describes that which God is to us.
For those who are sick He is
Jehovah-Rapha..... “I am your healer” Exodus. 16:26
To those who
are lonely He is Jehovah-Shammah...... “I am here
for you” Ezekiel. 48:35
To
those who are under condemnation He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu....... “I am your righteousness” Jeremaih.23:6
To
those that are in need He is Jehovah-Jireh..... “I
am your provider” Genesis. 23:13-14
To those who
are in turmoil He is Jehovah-Shalom..... “I am your
peace”
NOTE:
To us He has become Jehovah-Shua..... Jehovah is our salvation.
His
name became shortened to JOSHUA. This Hebrew name becomes the name JESUS in
Greek
Jesus
is the Name of our God. He is Jehovah-Shua. He is the one who has saved us from
our sins.
A)He has become our Savior.
B) At His name every Knee
will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord.
C) God wants us to call upon
His name –
1) His name encompassed his
person – Who He is
D) Calling
on His name recognition of Who He is and our Dependency upon Him
E) Call also reminds us of
the blessing of intimacy
1) We can call – He is the
God who hears!
Reminds
me of the time when a Jewish rabbi was visiting the Pope in
Dial 20 digit # very
expensive call.
A months later the Pope was
in
Rabbi breaks out a normal
phone – dial 777/ No cost
Pope couldn’t believe it –
How could that be – Rabbi said – From here it is a local call.
Hey in Christ
for us – It is a local call -
We should be calling upon
our God day by day BECAUSE He is the Lord of our lives.
#3
Proclaim:
V.8 Make known
His deeds among the people.
V.9 Talk of His
wondrous works!
V. 23 Proclaim
the good news of Salvation.
v.24 Declare
His glory and wonder among the nations Day after day{ Daily reminders
A)Today we would call that “witnessing”.
B)Witnessing is simply
sharing with others what God has done in my life.
1)
You have a testimony – Conversion
2)
But also your daily walk
C)
Talk to unbelievers like they are already saved.
1)
87% of Americans claim to be Christians
D) But how many are
experiencing a vibrant daily walk with the Lord.
E) Declare the goodness of
the Lord – watch the contagious affect it has on those around you.
#4
Remember:
V. 12 Remember
His works.
V. 15-22
Remember His Covenant
A)Notice in v.19 the
emphasis that is placed on the few – When you were few
B)
Now they were few once again – a remnant returning –
1) God started with a few
and made a great nation and He could do that again.
C) Ezra reminds them of the
Covenant to Abraham – not conditional –
1)basis of Covenant was
faith – Abe believed God
Righteous
D) God was calling them in
that same way to believe to trust –{ He would be faithful
Basis of our Covenant – Believe in Jesus – His
work – God declares us righteous
A) Remember that Covenant – NC – DONE
Finished –
#
5 Pursue: Seek the Lord.
V.11 His Strength & His Face.
#6
Give:
V.8,34 Giving thanks
V. 28 Give glory
V.29 Give offerings
Response to His greatness!
His glory
Spirit of reverence – fear
and tremble
RD V. 37-43
So
Ezra is reminding this remnant of the Spirit of Praise / reflection / and
Giving that permeated this event.
The need for them to be FOCUSED in the same way
As
we come to Ch.17 – He reminds them that David wasn’t satisfied with just having
the
A)You have to love this heart
in David – Always wanting more of the Lord – for the Lord
B) For the people. – Ch.17V.1-2
Now it came to
pass, when David was dwelling in his house, {His house
over looked Tab}so David said to Nathan the prophet,
"See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the
LORD is under tent curtains." 2 Then Nathan said
to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you."
A)It
was true that God was with David – but that didn’t mean that David should just
follow his heart
B) Often times when we talk
about – being led by the Lord – we talk in terms of speaking to our hearts
1) Giving us the desire of
our hearts – aligning our hearts with His
C) But there are times when
the desire of our hearts and God’s timing might be totally different
1) I have had many desires
in life and ministry – that were good desires – God never gave green light
D)
1) Didn’t come to fruition
while I was there – but came to pass later after I was gone
“A man's heart
plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”
E) Idea there is: if he is
willing to be led
So
Just because it is a good desire doesn’t mean that it is from the Lord.
A)Nathan makes a mistake
here in assuming – that this was the Lord –
B) He didn’t pray – God corrects him
3 But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan,
saying, 4 "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: "You shall
not build Me a house to dwell in.
A)What a hard answer this
would be for the king to hear – His dream shattered – When God said no
B.)
And what is really interesting
is: – at this time God didn’t give David an explanation of why? just said – no
C.)
It would years later that God revealed the reason why! – 1 Chron 22:8
David had
shed too much Blood – too many Wars {
D)But
initially God just said no David , I don’t want you to build me a house
God
reminds David – It is not Necessary: RD v.5-6
5 For I have not dwelt in a house since
the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to
tent, and from one tabernacle to another.
6 Wherever I have moved about with all Israel, have I ever spoken a word
to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying,
'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'"'
God cannot be contained in a
building – He envelopes the universe
The
church is not a building – the church is a body – people
C.)Building
can merely be a place where the body gathers together to praise the Lord – meet with God – learn about God / encourage each
other in God
D.)
But God had a plan for this temple – Important in the prophetic picture – sore spot in
So
here we find David at this place where he wants to do something for God / he
thinks it is a great thing – But God says no! { Hate that word !
A.)But
then God says – listen to what I am going to do
for you
RD V.7-15
A)God
says to Nathan – Tell David I don’t need a house
B) Not going to let David build me a house but I am going to build David a
House.
– LEGACY
God’s
response to David is known as the Davidic Covenant
Simply
states that God was going to establish David’s kingdom forever
D.)Though
it has direct application to David’s son Solomon who would build the temple
1)
It has a far reaching application to Jesus who would come from David’s lineage
– his seed/ Thru Jesus God will establish an everlasting kingdom
God
made
A)But the problem was it
passed.
B) But the day is coming
when He will make them even greater under Jesus –
1) Millennium
C) Amazing thing about God
and
1) Thru them – Messiah would
come – Bless and bring Salvation to the World
D)
Recurring theme of 1, 2 Chronicles – They are the line – thru
1) SO to this group just
coming back – He wants them to see the big picture
E) God was not done with
them – Promise to David was still in affect – Savior would come out of
1) They could not be wiped
out – done away with.
Picture this: 4th
quarter of a football game down by 34pts – God says keep playing – You are
going to win
Now
we can Learn important lesson from this: This is so like God – we say God, I
want to do something for you – He might say no
A.)But
then He says – I will do something even better for
you
B.)Now
He might not tell you at first – but if you are patient and continue to seek
Him – it will be revealed
C.)Has God told you No recently? What has been your
response? Mad? Sulking? Turned back on God?
1.)Listen He has your best interest at heart
D.)
Like David, he wants to radically bless your life – plans for you – that will
blow your mind
9But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has
prepared for those who love Him.
So God says David – this is what I am
going to do for you – establish throne forever – notice David’s reaction:
RD V.16-20
1st reaction: Speechless – Who is like you God
and Who am I – I don’t deserve this
A)God’s
grace and greatness in our lives should lead us to that place
B)
Sometimes I have to pinch myself – IS this really real – God loves me / Chose
me / I am here
C) I
get to serve Him – Life is AMAZING !
2nd Reaction –Who is like your people RD V.21-22
A)Great
thing for this remnant to be reminded of
B)
Who is like your people
1)Redeemed
for yourself – Out of Egypt –
2)Thru
them – make your name great
3)
Made them your very own
C) Same is true of
us in Christ –
1)Redeemed
for Himself – Bought us – Love us
2)
Make his name great – Light shine ….glorify father
3)
For His very own – Praise Jesus
3rd
Reaction: Let it be so God ! Rd v.23-27
Lord
I don’t understand it – don’t get it – can’t comprehend it – but I want to walk
in it.
A)I want to live in that
reality –
B) Guys that is called
faith!
C) God was going to
Sovereignty carry out this plan and David simply said – GO FOR IT GOD!
Ch.18 Summarize in this way: David’s Kingdom begins to
expand – Borders expanding
Victories
over
Philistines
took
Moabites
Syrians
Edomites
Rd
v.1-4 CONCLUDE –
Duet 17:14,16 Don’t multiply horses
David
Killed the horses so that
God’s
Glory and greatness.
God’s
Will and Sovereignty.
God’s
Power and Protection.
Same
Yesterday today and forever!