Day 29, 30, & 31
1 Chronicles
That God knows each one of us by name and that he never gives up on us is what stands out.
1 Chronicles names endless names - but in the monotony of skipping over all of them, I get a sense of just how many pages and pages could be filled with each of our names and just the sheer realization that God does indeed, know each of us by name. I'm not just "Brandon's mom" or "Todd's wife" or "That lady" or the "Pain-in-the-ass" who hounds warranty repair services until they do their job -- but rather to God I am "Michelle Marie Guppy" - daughter of Barbara Buttram. I have a name in the present, I have a heritage from the past. I am as God is, and on the days I feel as if I'm an invisible no-one, I can read those lists of names and know that to God I am a very real someone.
In 1 Chronicles 17:16 King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O Lord God...."
That pretty much sums up any identity crisis I can have in wondering who I am...
God has answered that already...
The most exalted...
The chosen...
The one he loves...
The one he sent his son to die for...
From page after page of disobedience and ruin, these days readings are about the blessings and rewards of hearts turned back toward home in obedience. Rebuilding of faith. How service to God is more important than status in society. How the most important aspect of a kingdom is not in how political it is, but on how spiritual its leaders are.
As seen with David's desire to build the temple, it is not our timing, but God's.
I like in 1 Chronicles 16:8, David's "Psalm of Thanks" which reads:
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
O descendants of Israel his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is the Lord our God, his judgments are in all the earth.
He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.
He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: "To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit."
When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
He allowed no man to oppress them;for their sake he rebuked kings: "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."
Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.
Bring an offering and come before him; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns!"
Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise."
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people said "Amen" and "Praise the Lord."
I love this reminder to Solomon is 1 Chronicles 28:9 which says, "....acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion an with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."
What better way to end these readings than with 1 Chronicles 29:10 -- David's Prayer:
"Praise be to you, O Lord,
God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."
