First Chronicles 24-27

God’s message to me: Everyone has their place and their job. When the Apostles set out to seed churches throughout the world they would start out handling all the jobs until the church began to grow and then let the members take up those jobs. When there was strife over the division of food they appointed the first set of deacons to handle the job. In David’s time things were already in place. The Levites had the job of helping the sons of Aaron who were also Levites but set aside for the priesthood. With the temple about to be built and the Tabernacle of Meeting no long being need to be hauled around the Levites were redistributed from the duty of hauling specific items to doing specific jobs. Some were musicians, some were assistants some were guards and etcetera. Just as Christ told us were are all parts of the same body. We each have our function and none could function effectively without the rest. It’s also important to understand that God did not intend us to take on all the jobs or even many of the jobs. It isn’t wrong to help out in any area we can but to try and take over multiple jobs when others are there to fulfill them only causes us to fail in the job God created us for.

Promises: God made us for a purpose. We were intended for important work in the service of our Lord. Each of us is important even if we see other jobs as getting more glory. It is important to realize that our duty is vital to making the other jobs work. Someone has to do the jobs and if we don’t do what we are needed to do then someone else will be forced to take time from their duty to do what we aren’t doing.

Commands: Remember your place. David was not to build the Temple and so he did not. He was told by God through a prophet where to make his sacrifice for the sin of rushing the census. He set the place up as a place of worship and sacrifice because he knew that his actions had made God angry and was afraid to go to the Tabernacle. He prepared the supplies for his son to build the Temple but made no attempt to do it himself.

Timeless principles: Defense has always been a part of life. Even among the Levites there were people assigned to combat roles as guards and soldiers. When the city guards took time off for the Sabbath they were replaced by the Levite guard units. There are two false concepts that get a lot of play. The first is that a minister cannot be a combatant. Just as the priests and Levites took up arms in defense of their nation, US History provides many examples of pastors who took of their garments of ministry and put on military uniforms and took up arms to lead their congregation into the war of Independence from England and to defend the country in later wars.

The idea that weapons don’t belong in a church is newly popular because it gives government another excuse to pass laws in violation of the second amendment. The temple of God was protected by armed guards. Many of the pastors mentioned above wore their uniforms and weapons under their robes while they preached, and the only foreseeable purpose to disarming those in a church is to make them easier targets for oppression.

How can I apply what I’ve learned: Understand the truth about biblical views. This section covered 3 points of contention that are playing out in US Politics. Weapons in church, armed pastors who lead in battle and just compensation for property. When we seek to choose leaders who represent us we should be seeking those who do not violate biblical principles. Politically correct views dressed up as religious fervor are still false doctrine and should be overcome. We should never let our political desires override what we know is right in the eyes of God. When we allow others to twist our faith to suit their political will we are no better than the Israelites who willingly turned from God to the golden calf because their king told them to.

more to learn for in-depth study: David had the poser, as king, to take whatever he needed. When Ornan learned that David needed part of his land to make sacrifices to God for an end to the plague he was willing to give anything without repayment. David knew that his actions had caused the problem and refused to use what wasn’t his to accomplish what he needed to do. He took what was needed but he refused to do so until payment was made. Our own government was founded with this principle when the Fifth Amendment to the constitution states “...nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” eminent domain laws do not comply with this amendment and the government has been abusing their authority for a long time. It would be good to consider this when you are deciding where to cast your votes on election day. When choosing a government representative we should be seeking those that will represent our values as Christians. One of those values is not stealing private property for public use without good cause and just compensation.

tomorrow: First Chronicles 28-29

Numbers 4-5

God’s message to me: We are chosen for a specific purpose and in a specific time. Just as the Levites were separated to separate duties during a 20 year period in their life. We have other duties that are more general, applying to everyone who is chosen of God. The Levites took up arms and replaced the guard units on the Sabbath so that the other tribes could celebrate God’s day of rest. All Christians are called to the great commission of spreading the Gospel.

Promises: God has a plan for me. A specific job for a specific time to serve a specific purpose. This makes me unique and special in all the world and it give me a purpose for which I can take pride.

Commands: Do the job that God has for me to do.

Timeless principles: Jealousy has been around a long time and Jealousy without reason has been around just as long. While there is a specific test set here for finding whether a spouse cheated the message is pretty basic. God knows the truth. Leave things in His hands. It’s one thing to know a person cheated but, believing it without cause or evidence is hurtful to the relationship so, God takes responsibility for dealing with the secret sin.

How can I apply what I’ve learned: Do what God commands when he commands it. Many missionaries fight with God over going to the mission field. Many fight harder when it is time to leave the mission field. Some are called to spend their lives in a specific role and others are only called for a specific time. It’s hard to accept when you have a heart for specific service but, sometimes, your time for that service comes to an end.

more to learn for in-depth study: The Levites service was from 30 years old to 50 years old in their duty to carry parts of the temple.

Tomorrow: Numbers 6-7

Exodus chapters 34-36

The theme of these last few lessons has focused on the commandments. Have you kept the 10 commandments? How many have you broken? Are you good enough? Take the good test and find out

God’s message to me: 34:23-34 God is our protection and we have no need to worry about our protection when we serve Him. When the people of Israel celebrated Holy Days the Levites took up arms and replaced them as guard. In modern times, most of the invasions of Israel came on Holy days when most of the Israeli army was at home on leave. In every case they have found themselves out maneuvered, out gunned and out classed and caught so completely off guard that they often had half the country taken over before they could effectively recall the soldiers to service. In every single case, within days, they have retaken all lost ground and taken over large portions of the attacking country’s territory. Militarily this is impossible and the nation of Israel should have ceased to exist long ago. With God nothing is Impossible and He makes certain His people are safe, even when they are to busy worshiping to be battle ready. God uses those times to bring glory to Himself.

I have asked non believers to explain this and they can’t . I have asked Muslims to show me an example of their people winning and they can’t. I have been asked by Muslims what I will say when their people rush Israel into the sea and I point out the facts I have just shown then ask them to accept God before He destroys them for attacking His people.

Promises: God is willing and able to forgive you if you ask. Most of the Israelites were forgiven for their actions regarding the golden calf. Aaron made the calf, led the worship and then lied about how it was made and was not only forgiven but made High Priest.

Commands: Obey God. Ask forgiveness for you sins. Rely on God.

Timeless principles: God Knows what you are to do long before you do. When He laid out the design of the temple He didn’t ask for just any willing artisans. He called for the men who were best for the job by name. Ministry isn’t left for just anyone willing to try his hand. It is what God has made you for and called you to. A willing heart is necessary but so is the calling and the gifting.

How can I apply what I’ve learned: Ask God for forgiveness of those things I have done, don’t repeat the sins, and trust God to bring me through the tough times.

more to learn for in-depth study: 334:27 god says “write these words” I keep telling you this is a written record.

Exodus 34:6b-7 “The Lord God , merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and fourth generation.”

God is filled with mercy, grace, patience, goodness, and truth. God forgives sin whether it is a mistake or intended evil, when asked for forgiveness.

Contrary to popular belief God is a just God. The guilty are not forgiven without asking for forgiveness and accepting Him. Reject God and the result of your sin is on your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Of course they can get right with God and escape the generational curse.

This is one of those passages that explains the reason for hell to those who “never heard the Gospel.” Visiting iniquity to the 3rd and 4th generation means around 100 years realistically. The idea being, that those who had the message and rejected it would have a difficult time not knowing the message for a long time. Atheists and agnostics can’t claim to not know the message. They simply reject it. Communists fall into this area. Communism suppresses religion to make the state the ultimate power but, both the party officials and the little guy on the street still know the message of God decades after the bible has been banned.

I have heard a number of “philosophies” from native tribesman in parts of the world that had no contact with “Christendom” for hundreds of years. While many are pagan, polytheist ramblings you find world wide there is always at lest one that is the gospel, at least from the Old Testament view. They may not have the message of Christ as risen savior but they have the message He taught from the Old Testament including not only the law but the faith in Messiah yet to come. Unlike those who seek Messiah and reject Christ these people never knew of Christ and converted quickly when they learned of Him. History classes don’t pay much attention to these peoples but they can be found in books and historical documentaries.

Keep in mind we all started in Northern Iraq(Kurdistan)at the foot of Mt Ararat. We all came from the children of Noah. We spread across the earth from there slowly and migrated to the various lands. History is filled with contacts between cultures who knew the events of the New Testament and those who didn’t. Vikings visited the America’s hundreds of years before Columbus. India and China were invaded by Romans. China traded and warred with Japan and the outlying nations like Korea and Vietnam. Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands and many others were settled by people from mainland areas and continued to trade and make contact by sea with others.

Before I forget, AGAIN, tomorrow we will cover Exodus chapters 37-39.