1 Chronicles 10-12
(Review of Saul and David)
April 28th


Produced by The Listening for God Ministry
Copyright 2016

Please refer to one or more Bible versions of your choice to read this section. We recommend that you read at least two versions for added understanding. For your convenience, we have provided six links below, each of which takes you directly to today's chapters in a specific version:

Key Verse

Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

- 1 Chronicles 11:3 (KJV)

Summary of Chapters

Chapter 10 begins the second of two parts of 1 Chronicles, which is a review of the history of David’s reign over all of Israel. The first chapter summarizes the transition period from Saul to David. Saul was the first king of Israel, but we are reminded by the author of 1 Chronicles that

Chapters 11-12 include a description of the anointing of David at Hebron. These chapters also supply a long descriptive list of David’s Mighty Men and the warriors who joined him while he was taking refuge in Ziglag. The account notes the victory at Jerusalem that enabled the Israelites to establish the city as their religious and political capital. It was intended to be the shining city on the hill – the City of David. The city eventually lost its light and was conquered by the Babylonians, as we learned in 2 Kings, because the people were unfaithful, just as Saul had been.

Reflection and Application

Saul’s shortcomings were not only what he did, but what he failed to do. For example, he sought guidance from a witch rather than God. The temptation still exists to seek out psychics and other so-called masters of divination.

One would think that our culture is advanced enough in science and spirituality to collectively dismiss these types of practitioners, but God allows our free will and our culture embraces the free market, so spiritual prognosticators persist- even in our most sophisticated cities. Fortune tellers are alluring and may have some skill in making good assumptions, but only God knows the future with certainty.

In chapter 12, the NIV version notes that “the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty (12:18),” and he addressed David with a message of peace. The translation in The Message by Eugene Peterson indicates that Amasai was "moved by God's Spirit," but according to some experts, a literal translation of the original Hebrew expression would be something like “the Spirit clothed itself with Amasai.” The reference to clothing oneself with a member of the Holy Trinity is used sparingly in the Bible, but can also be found in the book of Romans, when Paul says, “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh (Romans 13:14 - NIV)(1)."

Amasai received the Spirit involuntarily, but the Apostle Paul advises us to willingly allow ourselves to be immersed in Jesus and his Spirit, and give our bodies up to the higher power. This opportunity is available to us at any time. A faint touch of his robe brought healing to a desperate woman; imagine the healing that can emerge when we totally wrap ourselves with him. When we allow ourselves to be wrapped in the Spirit then we will be moved to do all the good we can, by all the means we can, in all the ways we can, in all the places we can, at all the times we can, to all the people we can, as long as we ever can.

David’s men followed him because of his character and because they recognized that he was anointed by God. He did not need social media tools or a PR guy because people could see his goodness. If we are brave, faithful, and determined to do all the good we can, then people will follow us to God.


Questions and Prayers for Further Reflection

    Related Questions
    1. Who was the leader of kids that you hung out with when you were young and why did people follow him or her?
    2. What do we tend to immerse ourselves in during troubled times?
    3. What has God asked of us that we are failing to do?
    Recommended Prayer
    Father in heaven, we acknowledge that you left your Spirit on earth to continue your work. Help us to dress ourselves in your Spirit rather than the material fabric of this world, so that we may do good in your name.

    Suggested Prayer Concerns
    Educators

    Footnotes

    (1)Tuell, Steven S. First and Second Chronicles, Interpretation, John Knox Press, Louisville, KY, 2001, p.51

    Looking Ahead

    Tomorrow's reading: 1 Chronicles 13-16 (Arrival of the Ark)

    Comments and Questions
    If you have comments or questions, please add them to our Comments page, email to the author at ted@listeningforGod.org, or share your comments or questions via the Listening for God Twitter account www.twitter.com/listeningforgod