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January 25, Sunday
Reading B25 — 1 Chron. 24 — Organizing Priests Audio: 1 Chron. 24 (ESV)
An audio recording of the following comments is available below:
Honoring Ministers — David’s organization for official service in the future temple is continued in this chapter. Whereas chapter 23 began with divisions and assignments for the tribe of Levi, most of chapter 24 concentrates on one section of that tribe, the priests who descended from the two surviving sons of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar. David organized them into 24 divisions, so each group would serve for two weeks of the 12 lunar months of the year. It was a very formal ceremony that was conducted “in the presence of the king … princes … Zadok the priest … Ahimelech … and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites” (v. 6). It was also a holy ceremony because these selected men were “sacred officers and officers of God” (v. 5). This should make us aware of our responsibility to honor those who serve as ministers in our own church. Paul instructed Timothy in his overseeing ministry, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17). The writer of Hebrews directed us all in this way: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account” (Heb. 13:17).
January 26, Monday
Reading B26 — 1 Chron. 25 — The Temple Musicians Audio: 1 Chron. 25 (ESV)
An audio recording of the following comments is available below:
Making Melody to God — David’s organization for service in the temple continues in this chapter with another division of Levites, i.e., the musicians. Three family groups carried this responsibility, the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. Their service in worship included the musical instruments of lyres, harps, and cymbals (vv. 1, 6) as well as skillful singing (v. 7). A somewhat unexpected comment is that they “prophesied” in their ministry (vv. 1, 2, 3). Prophecy is usually thought of as communicating direct messages from God, as with the OT prophets, but here it relates to music. The ministry of these musicians contained not only the music but also the message of the text. They were messages set to music. In fact, many of these musical messages became part of the Book of Psalms, 12 of them being attributed to Asaph, three to Jeduthun, and one to Heman. They were messages from God. Much of the music we sing in our churches today involves something similar, as we often sing passages from inspired Scripture. Music is important in our worship. God wants us to sing His words of praise. In three psalms of this master musician, David declared, “I will sing and make melody” to God (Ps. 27, 57, and 108).
January 27, Tuesday
Reading B27 — Psalm 131, 138 — Worship the King Audio: Ps. 131, 138
An audio recording of the following comments is available below:
A Heart for Worship — These two psalms of David are about worship. Psalm 131 speaks about the need to prepare for worship, which involves humbling oneself with a “heart … not lifted up … [and] eyes … not raised too high” (v. 1). I have truly prepared for worship when “I have calmed and quieted my soul” (v. 2). I remember decades ago at the church I attended, when the church congregation entered the worship center, they would sit quietly and silently pray in preparation for corporate worship. We need to humble ourselves because we are naturally too caught up in ourselves to properly worship God. Psalm 138 follows with a description of worship, which gives thanks “with my whole heart … to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness” (vv. 1-2). There are two reasons for giving thanks here. The first is for answered prayer: “On the day I called, you answered me” (v. 3). David remembered and thanked the Lord that “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life … and your right hand delivers me” (v. 7). The second reason we should give thanks is because of God’s greatness: “…for great is the glory of the LORD. For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly” (vv. 5-6). Please remember next weekend when you go to church, humble yourself before God and thank Him for His greatness and answers to your prayer.
January 28, Wednesday
Reading B28 — Psalm 139 — Infinite God Audio: Psalm 139 (ESV)
An audio recording of the following comments is available below:
Search and Know — This psalm of David begins and ends with the penetrating search and infinite knowledge of God: “O LORD, you have searched me and known me … Search me, O God, and know my heart!” (vv. 1, 23). David said that we could not hide from Him, even if we wanted to: “where shall I flee from your presence?” (v. 7). God is omnipresent—everywhere present; He is also omniscient—all knowing. He knows everything we do (like “when I sit down and when I rise up”—v. 2a) and everything we think (“you discern my thoughts from afar”—v. 2b). He not only knew us when we were in our mother’s womb, He made every detail of our body from the moment of conception (v. 13), showing that He is also omnipotent—all powerful. He can do anything, He knows everything, and He is everywhere. He is infinitely wonderful. It is only this kind of God who can “lead me in the way everlasting!” (v. 24).
January 29, Thursday———————-ACCOUNTABILITY TIME!
Reading B28 — Psalm 143 — Pleas for Mercy Audio: Psalm 143 (ESV)
An audio recording of the following comments is available below:
Suffering and Waiting — David was in trouble again, and he suspected that it was because of his sins. He came to God with “pleas for mercy” (v. 1), which means that he asked for God to save him from punishment that he deserved. In the next verse, he asked God, “Enter not into judgment with your servant” (v. 2). When you get into trouble and everything seems to be going wrong, do you ever consider that it may be God’s discipline for your sinfulness? This is a time for us to search our hearts for ways in which we may be displeasing God, and then to confess and forsake our sinful thoughts, words, or actions. Twice in this psalm, David described his feelings with a similar expression. First, he said, “my spirit faints” (v. 4) because of his painful condition. He said that his “enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground” (v. 3). His circumstances had brought him low. Second, he said, “My spirit fails!” (v. 7b) because of the apparent delay of God’s rescue. He said, “Answer me quickly, O LORD!” (v. 7a). Both our circumstances and God’s delay sometimes depress us. Our correct response is to repent and wait. In God’s perfect timing, He will rescue.
ACCOUNTABILITY TIME! If you are up to date in your reading as of today,
please let me know at accbibleread@gmail.com.
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January 30, Friday———————-ACCOUNTABILITY REMINDER
Reading B30 — Psalm 144 — A Prayer for Victory Audio: Psalm 144 (ESV)
An audio recording of the following comments is available below:
Successful Prayer — David began and ended this psalm with blessing. He began it with a stanza focused on the blessedness of God: “Blessed be the LORD, my rock” (v. 1). That is a good way for us to begin our prayer times, too. Recognize and express the greatness of God! David also recognized his human weakness compared to God, saying, “O LORD, what is man that you regard him” (v. 3). We are nothing compared to God; He alone is our hope for success. The psalm ends with this: “Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!” (v. 15). We are blessed by God. This comes after David’s prayer for help and God’s answer. This should remind us to thank God for coming to our aid as we requested. Be grateful! Between these two sections about blessing, David presented his request for help. He asked for Yahweh to “come down … rescue me and deliver me … from the hand of foreigners [Gentiles]” (vv. 5, 7; cf. v. 11). Perhaps this was written when Israel was being threatened and attacked by the Ammonites and Syrians. David then anticipated God’s answer to his prayer in this response of glad and grateful worship: “I will sing a new song to you, O God” (v. 9). He also anticipated the future results of victory, having healthy children and successful farms (vv. 12-14). This is a prayer of faith. He knew the love and power of God, and he knew that help would come from Him. In our prayers, we should also honor, ask, and believe.
ACCOUNTABILITY REMINDER. If you are up to date in your reading as of today,
but did not report yesterday, please let me know at accbibleread@gmail.com.
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January 31, Saturday——————ACCOUNTABILITY FINAL DAY
Reading B31 — 1 Chron. 26 — The Gatekeepers Audio: 1 Chron. 26 (ESV)
An audio recording of the following comments is available below:
Important Service — Why would a whole chapter in the Bible be devoted to gatekeepers and their responsibilities? It was because God considered them to be important. These Levitical gatekeepers were basically guards, protecting the four main gates that led into the temple area. They were also guards for the two temple treasuries, one for regular giving by the Jews, and another for spoils taken from wars and dedicated for the support and maintenance of the temple itself. What struck me in reading this chapter again was the high value placed on these men. They were called, “men of great ability … able men … able men qualified for the service … 1,700 men of ability … men of great ability … and 2,700 men of ability” (vv. 6-8; 30-32). They were selected because of their ability, men of great importance who were given great responsibility. One verse in this chapter is unique for its description of the gatekeepers at the western gate. The ESV translates it, “And for the colonnade on the west there were four at the road and two at the colonnade” (v. 18), with a footnote on the word “colonnade,” saying that the meaning of the Hebrew word, parbar, is really unknown. The verse’s meaning in the KJV is even more confusing, not even attempting to translate parbar: “At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, [and] two at Parbar.” My former pastor, Dr. James A. Borror, preached a classic sermon several times on this verse, focusing on the great value of serving God in behind-the-scenes ways. (You may listen to this message at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzpcvkAGtf4). Every person who serves the Lord is important, whether they are recognized or not.
ACCOUNTABILITY FINAL DAY! If you have not yet reported for this month,
please let me know your reading status today at accbibleread@gmail.com.
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