TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34
Romans 4:13-5:5
Psalm 14:1-7
Proverbs 19:17
1 Chronicles 26:20 — Ahijah and others (Zetham and Joel in 1 Chronicles 26:22, Shebuel in 1 Chronicles 26:24, Shelomith in 1 Chronicles 26:26) were appointed over the treasures of the house of God – the treasures set aside by David (1 Chronicles 26:26) and going back through Saul to Samuel (1 Chronicles 26:28). What did these men think about the treasures 500 years later?
- just five years after Solomon hands the crown to Rehoboam, the treasure is captured by Pharaoh Shishak (1 Kings 14:26). If they would have gone to the LORD first (Deuteronomy 20:1-4), they would not have had His house raided;
- just a few decades after Shishak, Asa raided the gold and silver of the Temple and paid off the Syrian King Ben-hadad (1 Kings 15:18);
- four generations after that, Jehoash paid off a different Syrian King – Hazael (2 Kings 12:18);
- Jehoash’s son Amaziah lost the treasure to the Northern Kingdom’s Jehoash in 2 Kings 14:14;
- the treasure was given away a few generations later by …
- Ahaz to the Assyrian Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings 16:8), then by …
- Hezekiah to the Assyrian Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:15), then finally taken by …
- Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:13) to Babylon.
Interestingly, even though the treasures were raided seven times, we see that there were still vessels of gold that Solomon had made available at the time of Nebuchadnezzar (400 years later). The commentator Ellicott was surprised, but he assumed that there were secret store-chambers under the Temple. It is my contention that the heavy mandatory taxes for the nation/temple were used regularly to rebuild the treasures according to the descriptions given in Scripture. It could have possibly been similar to the refurbishing of state capitol buildings every 50 years or so. The Levites were continually refabricating the treasures dedicated to the House of the LORD (a continual reminder of the cost of not trusting the LORD).
1 Chronicles 27:6 — The Chronicler is recording the exploits of the many faithful. Not just the head coach (David), but those in his “starting lineup” (e.g. Benaiah).
1 Chronicles 27:7 — You might remember that Asahel was slain by Abner (2 Samuel 2:23). The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary suggests “This officer having been slain at the very beginning of David’s reign [2Sa 2:23], his name was probably given to this division in honor of his memory, and his son was invested with the command.”
1 Chronicles 27:24 — The Census Intrigue continues – apparently Joab also started to count those twenty and under. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary notes:
The census which David ordered did not extend to all the Israelites; for to contemplate such an enumeration would have been to attempt an impossibility (Ge 28:14), and besides would have been a daring offense to God. The limitation to a certain age was what had probably quieted David’s conscience as to the lawfulness of the measure, while its expediency was strongly pressed upon his mind by the army arrangements he had in view.
1 Chronicles 27:34 — Wisconsin publishes a similar document (a Blue Book) that contains the biographies and lists of the Governor’s Cabinet and major officials.
Romans 4:21 — What God promises, He will perform! We can stand on those promises!
Romans 4:24 — The righteousness that was imputed to Abraham can also be imputed to us if we believe in Jesus, taking us from God’s wrath (Romans 4:15) to peace with God (Romans 5:1).
Psalm 14:7 — Yes, David himself looked forward to the salvation that would come, especially knowing that all have gone astray, none seek the LORD (Psalm 14:2-3).
Proverbs 19:17 — A lender will investigate the ability of the borrower to repay, but the poor have no cosigner but the LORD who will repay any deeds done.
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