II Chronicles 5:13-14 “…and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised…in praise to the Lord, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,’ the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house.” Imagine this scene: the temple, finally complete, gleaming with beauty and purpose, finally ready to receive the arc of the covenant of God. Solomon gathers all Israel — priests, Levites, trumpeters, singers — every heart and voice united in one mission: to honor the Lord. As they lift their voices in harmony and sing, “For He is good, for His ... Read More about When God Stops the Service
Seeking God: The Condition Behind the Blessing
I Chronicles 28: 9-10 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary, be strong and do it.” That is David’s final charge to Solomon. Do not use God. Do not honor God from a distance. Instead, know Him. Serve Him. With a whole heart. With a willing mind. Because, David warns, the Lord is not fooled by appearances—He searches every heart and understands every plan and thought. Then comes the line that should make every reader uncomfortable: If you seek Him, He will be ... Read More about Seeking God: The Condition Behind the Blessing
When Zeal Replaces Listening
I Chronicles 17:1–2 “Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.’” Once David was firmly established as king and settled into a palace built of costly cedar, something began to trouble him. The ark of God—the visible symbol of the Lord’s presence—still rested under a tent. The contrast disturbed David’s sense of propriety. God, in David’s mind, deserved better. Surely honor demanded something grander. So, David voiced his intention to Nathan. He would build God a house worthy of His greatness. Nathan immediately affirmed the idea. It made sense. God was clearly with David. David’s motives ... Read More about When Zeal Replaces Listening
Called by God—but Guided How? David, Discernment, and Daily Decisions
I Chronicles 14:8–10 “When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard about it and went out against them. Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God…” In my last post, I reflected on the truth that God establishes certain fixed realities in our lives—the unchangeable aspects of who we are. The way we think, our physical attributes, our limitations, the things that make us unique are not accidents. In His wisdom, God has established them, whether we would have chosen them or not, and He intends to use them for His glory if we yield them to Him. But that raises a pressing question: what about the things we can change? Our work, careers, ... Read More about Called by God—but Guided How? David, Discernment, and Daily Decisions
Established by God: The Difference Between Being Chosen and Being Secure
I Chronicles 14:2 “And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.” There is a quiet but staggering word in this verse: knew. David did not merely hope, assume, or infer that he was king by God’s favor—he knew it. He understood that his throne was not the result of political maneuvering, personal brilliance, or fortunate timing. The LORD Himself had established him. That insight sets David apart from nearly every other ruler we encounter in the biblical record. In the violent, scheming world of kingship we see throughout II Kings, power is seized through intrigue, betrayal, and bloodshed. Ambitious men claw their way to the top. David did none of this. He was not king because he was ... Read More about Established by God: The Difference Between Being Chosen and Being Secure
When “Right in Our Eyes” Becomes Wrong Before God
I Chronicles 13:3–4 “Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. On December 8, 2025, I wrote an article titled When Good Intentions Meet a Holy God. I hoped that lesson—drawn from II Samuel 6—would be sufficient. I was wrong. Now, standing in I Chronicles 13, a parallel account of the same event, I find myself confronted again by a truth I would rather not revisit. Evidently, God is not finished teaching me here. Chapter 12 celebrates momentum. Mighty men stream in from every corner of Israel. David is established as king. Unity is high. Success is visible. Then, in chapter 13, David does what we would applaud instinctively—he turns his attention ... Read More about When “Right in Our Eyes” Becomes Wrong Before God