His Whisperings – Page 59 – Inspired by His Word

1 Chronicles 17:11-15 Blessings for David’s descendents

Posted on March 7, 2008 by Janice D. GreenMarch 7, 2008

11 When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.'”

15 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

1 Chronicles 17:11-15 (NIV)

God promised to bless David, but his blessings weren’t to stop there. One of his sons would build the house that David wanted to build. This refers to Solomon who would build the glorious Solomon’s Temple that is often spoken of in Scripture. Yet the blessings still didn’t stop there as this prophesy wasn’t only speaking of Solomon and his temple, but of Jesus who was also a descendent of David. Jesus is the Son whose throne would be established forever. Jesus is the one who God set over his house and kingdom forever.

How blessed we are to have the whole story today. David heard these words as Nathan spoke them to him and could only wonder what they all meant.

Father God, thank you for the gift of your Word which reveals your Son to us, even through the words of the prophets who couldn’t fully understand them at the time they spoke them. We thank you for their faithfulness to you in speaking words given to them by your divine guidance. Continue to bless us through your Holy Spirit that we may receive the messages you hold for us in your Word, the Holy Bible.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

1 Chronicles 17:7-10 God promises to bless David

Posted on March 5, 2008 by Janice D. GreenMarch 5, 2008

7“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. 8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 9 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. “‘I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you:1 Chronicles 17:7-10 (NIV)David wanted to build a house for God, but God let David know of his plans to bless and to protect David. God also had plans for the people of Israel, to give them a home of their own. He would protect them from wicked people and subdue all their enemies.

Isn’t this an interesting sequence of events. David wanted to bless God, and God in turn blessed David. Isn’t that just like God? If we would only remember who holds the keys to the storehouses of blessings for us all.

David was so different from many other kings who set out to make a name for themselves, and attempted to reign for as long as possible, even if it meant killing their own sons to prevent having an heir who might challenge the throne.

David wasn’t a perfect king; only Jesus could live up to that expectation. David made many mistakes which were recorded in the Bible. But he did have a servant’s heart, and he kept the good of his people in mind as opposed to using his subjects to build a kingdom for his own glory.

Father God, help us to see how it pleases you for us to have a servant’s heart. Help us to put others’ needs ahead of our own. Help us to serve you by serving others.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

1 Chronicles 17:1-6 No house for God?

Posted on March 4, 2008 by Janice D. GreenMarch 4, 2008

1 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”

2 Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.”

3 That night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:

4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. 5 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. 6 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”‘

1 Chronicles 17:1-6 (NIV)

David was uncomfortable, not because his palace was too small or too large. It only made him uncomfortable that while he was living in the lap of luxury, the ark of the covenant was still kept in a tent. David’s heart was in the right place.

But God spoke to his prophet Nathan telling him that David was not the right person who was to build a house for God. He further added that he was not unhappy to have the tent for his dwelling place and that he had never asked for a house of cedar.

God does expect his house to be reverent. He is not opposed to fine craftsmanship. I say this because of the explicit instructions he gave to Moses for building the ark of the covenant and for making the tent that was the tabernacle. See Exodus 25:10-22.

Do we share David’s concern over how we keep God’s house? Do we honor God by taking care of our churches, especially the sanctuaries? And do we do so for the right reasons? Are we making extravagant improvements so we will have a nicer church than the one up the street, or are we making it beautiful to bring honor to God? Are we spending so much on our church that we have nothing left to give to missions at home or abroad? Are you making a large donation to the building fund so the church will place a large plaque somewhere with your name on it, or are you willing for your contributions to go unmentioned?

Lord, help us examine our motives for building your house. May our actions bring glory to you and not to ourselves.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Psalm 78:67-72 God chooses David to shepherd his people.

Posted on March 4, 2008 by Janice D. GreenMarch 4, 2008

67 Then he rejected the tents of Joseph,
     he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
68 but he chose the tribe of Judah,
     Mount Zion, which he loved.
69 He built his sanctuary like the heights,
     like the earth that he established forever.
70 He chose David his servant
     and took him from the sheep pens;
71 from tending the sheep he brought him
     to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,
     of Israel his inheritance.
72And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;
     with skillful hands he led them.

Psalm 78:67-72 NIV

The verses we are pondering today focus on David’s appointment and role as King. But before I address this section I feel it is appropriate to at least pass over the first 66 verses of this Psalm.

The Psalm begins with an affirmation of the importance of teaching and remembering the great deeds and miracles God had performed on behalf of his people, the Israelite nation.

But the Israelite people had a problem. They did not remain faithful to God and they did not live by his law. In spite of God’s many miracles, they too soon forgot that they needed God and went their own way.

Whenever God sent hardships on them the Israelites would turn again to him. They would make promises they didn’t keep. Even though God led his people as a shepherd leads his sheep, they rebelled and suffered the consequences. These consequences led the Israelite people to risk and lose the Ark of the Covenant to their enemies, the Philistines. This happened before Saul was anointed King.

Verse 67 begins the explanation of the process God used to select David as the next king of Israel. David came from the tribe of Judah. He had been a shepherd as a youth – a role that he was able to carry over into his reign as King. He was no longer tending sheep, however. Now he was tending the flock of Israelite people, leading them as a shepherd leads his sheep. David led his people with integrity of heart.

Perhaps the message for our day and time that we can take from these verses is the example we are given for good leadership. God used the sheep pens to train David for leadership. David learned how to lead by shepherding his people. He led the people with “integrity of heart: with skillful hands he led them.” (Verse 72 NIV)

As we approach our next national election, may we pray for this kind of leader for our country. One who will lead by example, who will lead through service, who will lead with integrity and skill.

Father God, lead us as our shepherd. May we be willing sheep, eager to follow your example. Lead us through the next election to seek leaders who will lead with honor and integrity. And in the areas of our own individual lives where we have leadership roles, let us take to heart the example you have shown us.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Ark of the Covenant – Recent claims

Posted on March 2, 2008 by Janice D. GreenMarch 2, 2008

Tudor Parfitt, author of recently published The Lost Ark of the Covenant claims to have found the Lost Ark. Matt Lauer interviewed Parfitt on February 29, 2008 on the Today Show. I am aware that Parfitt’s book and the attention it was given on the Today Show has brought many hits to my recent posts on His Whisperings.

I must confess that I’m a skeptic to the claims made by Parfitt. He has chosen to place one set of scriptures over another and dismisses the gold coverings spelled out in the Exodus 25:10-22 account. I’m not inclined to accept this omission. Also, the object he claims to be the Arc has a circular bottom and oval shape. It doesn’t fit any of the sketches that Biblical scholars have created.

Another 2003 news article has been updated on the subject concerning another person who believes he expects to find the Ark of the Covenant. You can read this for yourself at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34103

I am compelled to respond to any person’s claims of finding the Ark of the Covenant with mixed feelings. God was so specific with his directives on how the Ark was to be created and handled. The history of events recorded in the Bible concerning the Ark make it clear that those who did not handle the Ark in the manner God prescribed suffered, even to the point of death. If God had that power then, he still has it today. I consider it quite possible that the reason no one has produced the Ark is that anyone who has found or attempted to move it may not have lived to tell about it.

As a Christian, I accept that we are now under the New Covenant – and that is the grace offered by Christ for our salvation. It is possible that the consequences of viewing or touching the Ark changed when Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead.

I really can’t claim any great knowledge on this topic, I can only point to the Scriptures. I’m not sure I would want to be the person to find the Ark nor to take the responsibility on myself to find a place to keep or display it.