1Chronicles 4-14

As this books recaps the lives of many key players of the Old Testament, we are reminded of the victories, fatal mistakes, and stories that show us what to avoid and what to follow.

Jabez is remembered for a prayer request, rather than a heroic act. Prayer is equally as important as it shows a trust and dedication to follow God’s lead first. What he asked God are things we should ask him from our humble hearts: 1) For God’s blessing; 2) Help in his word; 3) To be with him in all he did; 4) To keep evil and harm away. When we pray, we should pray that God will take his rightful position as Lord over our family, our work and our recreation. Obeying him in daily life is heroic living. Asking God for protection from harm and pain is important, as we live in a fallen world covered in sin, and God can keep us safe from the unavoidable evil that comes our way. We can also be evil contributions if we fail to guard our thoughts and actions. The real consequences of sin are ruined lives. We can utilize God’s protection by filling our minds with positive thoughts and attitudes.

In the “who’s who” of this book; a few important lessons should be shared in effort to adopt victory and avoid repeating the mistakes of others: Adam: Our sins have far greater implications than we realize; Noah: Great rewards come from obeying God; Abraham: Faith alone makes one right in God’s eyes; Isaac: Seeking peace brings true respect; Esau: It is never too late to put away bitterness and forgive; Jacob (Israel): While our sins may haunt us, God will honor our faith; Judah: God can change the hearts of even the most wicked people; Tamar: God works his purposes even through sinful events; Boaz: Those who are kind to others will receive kindness themselves; Jess: Never take lightly the impact you have over your children; David: True greatness is have a HEART FOR GOD; Joab: Those who seek power die with nothing; Amnon: Giving in to lust leads only to tragedy; Bathsheba: One wrong act does not disqualify us from accomplishing things for God; Solomon: Man’s wisdom is foolishness without God; Reuben: What is gained from a moment of passion is only perceived; what is lost is real and permanent; Nadab: Pretending to be God’s representative is dangerous business; Joshua: Real courage comes from God; Saul: Those who say they follow God but don’t LIVE LIKE IT waste their God-given potential; Jonathan: True friends always think of the other person, not just themselves.

The armies of Reben, Gad and Manasseh were successful in battle because they trusted God. The natural and developed abilities God gives us are meant to be used for Him. When we trust in our own cleverness, skill, and strength rather than in God, we open the door for pride. Pride can lead to a variety of sin. If you try to measure up to society’s standards for fame and success, you may neglect your true purpose: to please and obey God, for he knows where our talents and gifts should be used. Why waste your time trying to figure it out on your own and risk the chance of missing it completely? Have you ever met someone in their 60’s, 70’s or 80’s and they have a glazed countenance, perceived deep rooted depression or they just continue to wander in a joyless existence? My heart pours to those who live to die and never find their purpose or accept God in their hearts.

Sometimes we may hear an instruction from God that seems unimportant at the time; God gives us instructions that do not seem relevant to us at the moment, but later, we can see the importance of those instructions. Have you ever met someone and had no idea why something in your gut told you to stay away from that person? They may be a great person; but God just says that they are not for you because He knows things we will never know. It is so important to listen and obey God now, in the future; you will see more clearly His reasons.

Saul was unfaithful and failed to pursue right living according to God. Saul would ask the Lord for guidance in a frantic request after he had tried everything his own way and failed. God rejected Saul because of his stubbornness and rebellion and judged him for his sins. Saul sought God only when it suited him; God commands us to go to him first and consistently. He will always forgive his and is very patient; however, he knows the motive in our heart, and will not allow us to “use” him for convenience. Sometimes it may be frustrating to endure hardship in our journeys and it can be challenging to wait patiently for God. God’s promises are worth waiting for, even when his timetable doesn’t match our expectations or desires. Face your fear and head on. If you are grounded in God, victory will come when you hold that ground.
David was the example of great and true leadership. He surrounded himself with great warriors, the best of the Israelite army, and was not intimidated by their talent, strength and bravery. These are the qualities that made them worthy to be warriors and servants: 1) They had practiced long and hard to perfect their skills; 2) They were mentally tough and determined (“Their faces were the faces of lions” (12:8)); 3) They were physically in shape (“as swift as gazelles.”(12:8)); 4) They were dedicated to serving God and David. These are qualities for us to consider; we fight spiritual battles daily. Embracing the attributes of being a true warrior will lead to victory and is applied to all areas of life.

We learn of the power of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. When there was an important job to be done, God chose a person to do it, and the Spirit gave that person the needed power and ability. God is not subject to Universal Law as we understand it; God is far beyond our comprehension and can give you a power to fulfill his purposes that defy any miniscule law we understand. The Spirit came upon individuals in order to accomplish specific goals. The Spirit comes upon us to empower us to do God’s will, and also to dwell in us day by day. Have you ever experienced a power not of your own that carried you to victory? Often times, they are amazing moments in our lifetimes where we cannot even explain how we did something or why something great happened; the Holy Spirit can use whatever He wants to accomplish God’s plans. The Spirit can work through anyone, anything, anyhow, anytime and anywhere He deems necessary to fulfill God’s work.

Some of the soldier s kept souvenirs and some idols from battle, and David ordered them to burn to be burned. The only proper response to sin is to get rid of it completely. You cannot be a follower of God while continuously holding on to parts of your past that pushed God out. Eliminate whatever takes God’s rightful place in your life and follow him with your complete devotion.