One Year Bible, July 11

1 CHRONICLES 11:1 - 12:18                                                                                            
DAVID'S THIRD ANOINTING: David was 30-years-old at this time and he reigned 40 years. He reigned over JUDAH for 7-1/2 years and over ALL ISRAEL for 33 years. All Israel came to Hebron to turn the Kingdom over to David. Even when Saul was king, David "led out" and "brought in" Israel (like a shepherd).

DAVID'S LEADERSHIP STYLE: David shepherded the people. (1 Chron 11-13)
(1) Pursuit of the Lord. Leadership success depends on the Presence of God with him.
(2) Passionate purpose. The throne was the Lord's, not his.
(3) Proper positioning of others showed wisdom toward those he led.
(4) Empowered others to serve and received empowerment from others.
(5) Wide participation in the decision-making process.

"I THIRST": The story of the 3 out of 30 Mighty Men going, at risk to themselves, to get water behind enemy lines for David - is a picture of our worship of the Lord Jesus because He thirsts. The men who gathered had one heart and one mind to make David King.

THESE CAME TO ZIKLAG (before Saul's death): These shared in David's shame while he was still a fugitive from Saul. The Gadites crossed the Jordan (east-to-west) at flood level during harvest. That in itself was quite a feat.

RESPONSE:   The Gadite warriors had the "faces of lions".   I am assuming they had long, blond hair and maybe even beards. They ran fast and sure, and they lived in caves. In addition, they knew what they were doing with weapons. They must have been something! Why not make a movie about them!

Whenever I read John 4 about the woman at Jacob's well meeting with Jesus, I think about this incident with the three mighty men going for water. Jesus told the woman, "Give me to drink" (v.7)  The whole conversation was actually about WORSHIP.   True worship satisfies OUR THIRST and our hunger.   As we worship to satisfy Jesus, He pours out water on us that satisfies the part of the heart that was unfulfilled and satisfies it.   Real worship, like what David's Mighty Men did for him, is extreme obedience and extravagant love.

ACTS 28:1-31                                                                                                                        
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  God accomplishes His Great Commission by protecting (even from shipwreck and snake bite), providing for (unusual hospitality and fellowship), and empowering His servants (with gifts of healings) who obediently proclaim the gospel to all people.   Probably Paul stayed in custody for about two years, during which time he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

RESPONSE:   I thinks it's interesting that people haven't changed. They assumed that because God "allowed" a poisonous viper to bite Paul (so he would die) that he must have been a murderer and God had judged him! Contrast that to the people who walked 44 miles out of Rome to meet Paul on the road to encourage him!  While in Rome, Paul preached "with all openness, unhindered."   God had seen to it that Paul got to Rome to preach, just like He promised.  Jesus is Lord.

PSALM 9:1-12                                                                                                                        
HOW GOD JUDGES:  Everyone knows that the term "Department of Justice" is a misnomer.  There is only ONE Judge who judges rightly - the "Just One", God's Son, Jesus.  He has NEVER "lost" a case.   He is the ONLY judge of "Righteousness".   Even when we are in the right, we need God to uphold our cause, because there is no real justice in the world system.   God sets kings and kingdoms up and He takes them down.  No one rules without God's permission.  He alone judges correctly. "Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead." (Acts 17:31)   We put our trust in God's righteousness and mercy.

PROVERBS 19:1-3                                                                                                                
INTEGRITY: Wholeness, to have our spirit, soul and body in agreement. To be integrated.

KNOWLEDGE: Refers to the knowledge of God and of holy things. A man who has no accurate knowledge of God is incautious, rash, and headstrong, and hence, he sins. He is continually missing the mark, and wounding his own soul.

FOOLS: It says here that a fool ruins his own life by his decisions, choices, and behavior. Then he rages against God, blaming God!

RESPONSE:   I have known people who have ruined their own lives by turning their backs on God. They turn toward God only to blame Him for their troubles. They have rebelled against God because they think all their problems are God's fault.  What they don't realize is that their only hope and their only help is God - but they have shut themselves off from Him.