Arise and Build!

Godly Preparation For An Exceedingly Magnificent Endeavor

(1 Chronicles 22:2-19, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, February 25, 2018)

[2] David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. [3] David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, [4] and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. [5] For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.

[6] Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. [7] David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. [8] But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. [9] Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. [10] He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’

[11] “Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you. [12] Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. [13] Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. [14] With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD 100,000 talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add. [15] You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working [16] gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The LORD be with you!”

[17] David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, [18] “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people. [19] Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD.”

Material preparation for a great work

David was very desirous of accomplishing a great work for the Lord, but was prevented from doing so. Nonetheless, he wanted to help in the necessary preparations for the building of the Lord's temple to be completed by his son Solomon. A first step in this preparation, which took up most of the remaining chapters in 1 Chronicles, was the gathering of some of the materials necessary for the successful completion of the job.

Solomon was not building a religious idea without any physical substance. The God who cares about our needs for health, food, and shelter had given to David's son the task of building a real building. Therefore David organized the collection of special stones, iron, bronze, cedar, and many other necessities that were not mentioned in this chapter.

Exhortation to Solomon

How could Solomon do what was far beyond him? All would require great faith and courage. David first gave a stirring exhortation to Solomon. This important man of history was David's son, yet Solomon's father's words go beyond David to God as the father of the true builder of the Lord's house. God says, “He shall build a house for My Name. He shall be My son, and I will be his Father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.” These must have been mysterious words at the time they were delivered. What could the Lord mean by these promises? Now we know. Back to David.

David was not permitted to do the work himself. He had “shed much blood and waged great wars.” Solomon (name from “peaceful”) would be “a man of rest.” The Lord would establish him as king, granting “rest from all his surrounding enemies.” The “peace and quiet” would allow him to complete this great work (1 Tim. 2:2).

God would equip David's son with “discretion and understanding.” He would give the new king “charge over Israel” with the good desire that the king and the nation would “keep the Law of the Lord.” Then there would be prosperity. David encouraged Solomon with the words used in the Bible for a big project when one leader must die and another takes his place. “Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.” David spoke to Solomon of his provision of materials and people, though more would be needed. He then concluded with these stirring words, “Arise and work! The Lord be with you!”

Exhortation to the leaders

The king then turned his attention toward the leaders under Solomon whose help would be important for the completion of this great work. He asked two great questions: “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has He not given you peace on every side?” Rather than force a confession of faith, the “Yes” and “Amen” could come from their mouths.

With those great affirmations, David could continue to challenge them to move further in the direction of godly obedience. “Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.” Then concluding with words that were similar to those he had just spoken to Solomon: “Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God.” Why? “So that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the Name of the Lord.” This great conclusion gave all the glory to God, as was right.

Beyond David and Solomon

God's Son has a good Word for us today that takes us from Tabernacle to Temple to church (cf. Ps. 127, Heb. 3:1-6). David was not the first great man prevented by providence or death from accomplishing some great dream for God. (Remember Moses' speech to Joshua?) Jesus would die before the full appearing of His great kingdom, yet His death was not a setback in His mission, it established it (Psalm 118:22). He would rise up, living and reigning through His people. Neither Moses nor David could have accomplished that. Because of Jesus' great victory, His final kingdom mission is on, and you are a part of it. Do not assume that He can be stopped out in achieving His desires. Consider the preparation, and hear the exhortation. Rise up and build!

In the days of David and Solomon, God provided everything necessary for the work of building a magnificent temple in Jerusalem. Jesus is greater than Solomon, and He is building a far superior “temple.” He grants us all the gifts that we need for every aspect of this important work. Our greatest encouragement is that the Lord Himself is with us.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 46 – Be still, and know that I am God

Gospel Reading—Matthew 12:22-32 – A spiritual kingdom

Take the mercy.

A Safe House

(1 Chronicles 21, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, February 18, 2018)

[1] Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. [2] So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” [3] But Joab said, “May the LORD add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” [4] But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. [5] And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword. [6] But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.

[7] But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. [8] And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” [9] And the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, [10] “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” [11] So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Choose what you will: [12] either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” [13] Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

[14] So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. [15] And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. [16] And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. [17] And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”

[18] Now the angel of the LORD had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. [19] So David went up at Gad's word, which he had spoken in the name of the LORD. [20] Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. [21] As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. [22] And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the LORD—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” [23] Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” [24] But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” [25] So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. [26] And David built there an altar to the LORD and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the LORD, and the LORD answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. [27] Then the LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.

[28] At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. [29] For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon, [30] but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

[22:1] Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the LORD God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

There are at least two questions that the contemporary reader would be puzzled by in looking at our passage this morning. From 21:1, What's so bad about taking a census? And from 22:1, What's so essential about a central and singular place of worship? We'll deal with each one in it's place.

Satan, David, and the Lord God Almighty

The Lord is able to use even His most formidable adversaries and David's ugliest sin in bringing about His perfect plan. “Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.” So? This was apparently an obvious violation of the Lord's good order—so obvious that the biblical authors don't really explain the problem to us who are slow to see what Joab and the readers of 1 Chronicles certainly knew. The taking of a census (for war) which was to be accompanied with a tax (Exodus 30:11-16), should have been for the Lord's purposes and not David's. David was usurping God's place in Israel.

A Pestilence on Israel

Though God was sovereign over all that happened through this unusual episode (2 Samuel 24:1), the guilt belonged to David, and by the nation's association with the king, to all of Israel. God was ready to punish the people even though David suddenly came to his senses. Through the “seer” Gad, the King of heaven gave the king of the Jews a choice of punishments. David chose “three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel” rather than face Israel's “foes” or a long period of famine. His reasoning: “Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great.”

The extent of this plague was horrific. “70,000 men of Israel fell” and even Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. David and his elders “fell upon their faces” and interceded for the city of God. The king asked the Lord to come against him and his dynasty for what had been his fault. Only the Lord could spare Jerusalem from utter destruction.

“Here shall be the house of the Lord God”

In this moment of humble repentance and worship, Yahweh revealed the location of the singular place of worship for Israel throughout the remainder of the Old Covenant period. The plague of death would be stopped because of an acceptable sacrifice at the one place that would be authorized by the Almighty. The one who rules over men and angels was able to spare the lives of thousands of additional Israelites.

David was instructed to build a sacrificial altar at this very spot in order to stop the plague. The king insisted on paying for the property. He told the owner, “I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” After David “presented” burnt offerings and peace offerings to God and “called on the Lord” the God of power commanded and a might angel “put his sword back into his sheath.” It was then that David saw the good that God had ordained through the suffering. “Here shall be the house of the Lord God.” But was it safe? Could fear really give way to faith?

Why one temple? This singular site would lead us to one person we could fully trust—the Jesus of John 2:18-22. God's wrenching story of death and mercy (See Genesis 22:2 and 2 Chronicles 3:1.) was fulfilled on the cross of Christ. David's sin and God's plan to bring hope to the world prepared the Jews for the coming of Jesus as our blood Substitute and the better “temple” of the Holy Spirit. Sin can only truly be atoned for through one sacrifice that is acceptable to God and paid in full by the Son of God. The God of heaven will not allow Satan or our failings to defeat His own plan of GRACE. The Father has sent His Son to be our only safe refuge from eternal disaster. Take the mercy.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 45 – The King Will Desire Your Beauty

Gospel Reading—Matthew 12:15-21 – One Healer, One Chosen Servant, One Holy Temple

Strengthen me Lord! I can't bear the weight of any more disappointment, and the enemies are grotesquely frightening.

A Heavy Crown Taken, Giants Slain

(1 Chronicles 20, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, February 11, 2018)

[1] In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it. [2] And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. [3] And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and axes. And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

[4] And after this there arose war with the Philistines at Gezer. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the giants, and the Philistines were subdued. [5] And there was again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. [6] And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. [7] And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, struck him down. [8] These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

A Heavy Crown Taken

Joab “led out the army” to defeat a foreign power who were the descendants of Abraham's nephew Lot. “David remained at Jerusalem.” The fuller story of David's absence from the battlefield is told in another place. The Chronicler is interested in teaching us about the greatness of David. What that means in this account of the military exploits of Joab is that these were not seen as belonging to Joab but to Joab's king. The crown goes to David, as it should. He is the Lord's anointed.

About that crown: First, it was weighty—about 75 pounds. Second, it was glorious as people count glory—gold with “a precious stone.” Third, gaining it was the fruit of spiritual battle. This particular crown may have been for the head of an idolatrous statue of the God of the Ammonites rather than for the regular use of the Ammonite king. The linguistic difficulty here is that the name of their God is closely connected to the word king. Either way, the war for the crown was a battle between gods.

In any case, David, as the anointed of Yahweh, had the kingdom, the power, and the glory not only in Israel but even over another people group. The citizens of that land were subdued into service at pain of death, and the wealth of their nation, “a very great amount” was now the property of the king of Israel.

Giants Slain

A similar account of three battles with the Philistines to the west comes at the conclusion of 1 Chronicles 20. As with the Ammonites to the east, victories won by Sibbecai, Elhanan, and David's nephew Jonathan were rightly counted as David's triumph. It was not the job of the loyal warrior to seek his own glory, but to find his pleasure in bringing joy to the Lord's anointed.

The gigantic stature and fearsome appearance of the Philistine foes is noted. What had caused fear among the soldiers of the Lord in previous days was now trampled under the feet of men who were willing to be strong in David and David's Lord. Yes they were “descendants of the giants” and associated with the name “Goliath.” Nonetheless, the man who was now the king of Israel had defeated the original taunting Philistine (1 Samuel 17:10, 45-47), and now great conquests were being achieved by “the hand of his servants.”

“One Little Word”

While the Chronicler sought to build up the courage of the people of God in his own day by having them look back to David, his ultimate goal is to have them live in the present with an eye to the future. The Lord's promise of a future eternal king from his descendants looms large in our interpretation of this chapter. We must look beyond David to Jesus and His army of servants who will one day cast their crowns before Him acknowledging that all our victories rightly belong to Him.

Think about the rich use of crown imagery in the New Testament:

Crown of thorns (Matthew 27:29)

Church as crown of Jesus (Philippians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:19)

Crown of righteousness for faithful service (2 Timothy 4:8)

Crown of life for those who love Him (James 1:12, Revelation 2:10)

Crown of glory from the Good Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)

Casting our crowns before the Son of God (Revelation 4:10-11, 5:9-10)

Think also about New Testament teaching regarding victory over frightening enemies:

Powers and principalities (Ephesians 6:10-13)

Jesus won the battle against them with perfect sacrificial love (Colossians 2:13-15)

Regarding our King, Jesus has won unfathomable battles against enemies that were far too strong for us. Most obviously, His death on the cross when considered together with His resurrection has accomplished what no one else could do. He won the victor's crown over the grotesque giants of despair, sin, and death. Only He could bear the weight of the sins of His people and rise again.

Yet even before that ultimate battle, we see the Jesus of the gospels victorious over a withered hand and over people with withered hearts. (Matthew 12:9-14, Acts 2:36-41)

Concerning the church, our God who is at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than we ask or imagine. The Lord can move mountains, and He invites us to believe His Word and to obey His commands. (Ephesians 1:15-23)

Remember the power of Jesus working through His people. Yes, the church faces substantial opposition, but we have a mighty fortress in God, and “one little Word shall fell them.” That Word is the Word made flesh, the living Word, and the Word of God.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 44 – You Are My King, O God!

Gospel Reading—Matthew 12:9-14

[9] He went on from there and entered their synagogue. [10] And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. [11] He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? [12] Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” [13] Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. [14] But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Resolved. For Jesus and His Church, So help me God.

The Battle of the Ages

(1 Chronicles 19, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, February 4, 2018)

[1] Now after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place. [2] And David said, “I will deal kindly with Hanun the son of Nahash, for his father dealt kindly with me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came to the land of the Ammonites to Hanun to console him. [3] But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” [4] So Hanun took David's servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away; [5] and they departed. When David was told concerning the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”

[6] When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah. [7] They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and came to battle. [8] When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. [9] And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

[10] When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. [11] The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites. [12] And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you. [13] Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.” [14] So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for battle, and they fled before him. [15] And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab's brother, and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

[16] But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. [17] And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to them and drew up his forces against them. And when David set the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. [18] And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 7,000 chariots and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death also Shophach the commander of their army. [19] And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Syrians were not willing to save the Ammonites anymore.

A serious misinterpretation becomes a little world war.

1 Chronicles 19 tells the story of the relationship between King David and a foreign power, the Ammonites. When one Ammonite leader died and his son took his place, the new king's advisers steered him in a very foolish direction. They planted within his mind a very serious misinterpretation of David's motives, assuming that an expression of diplomatic sympathy was only a cloak for espionage and malicious intentions.

Their actions based on this false assessment proved to be devastating for their own future. They chose to humiliate the envoys that David had sent by shaving off some portion of their beards and turning their dignified clothing into humiliating costumes in a grievous insult against the Lord's people, making Israel into an adversary.

The Lord gives victory to David and Israel.

The Ammonites did not humble themselves before David after making this serious miscalculation, but went further in the direction of war by sending to the Syrians in order to hire troops from the north to aid them in their anticipated war with Israel. This in turn caused an escalation of the conflict “when David heard of it,” and the king of Israel “sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men” who walked right into an ambush. The Israelites “drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city” while the Syrian forces who had been hired for service were “in the open country,” leaving Joab and the mighty men with the Ammonites ready to attack and destroy them from one direction and the Syrians seeking to do the same from the other.

Joab divided his forces and turned to Almighty God, with the hope that the Lord would grant victory on at least one of the two fronts, so that they could quickly join forces again and attack the remaining enemy. Joab's words at this difficult moment proved to be inspiring. They echoed the battle cry of men like Moses and Joshua from earlier centuries, and they ring down through the ages to us today. (1) “Be strong.” They were to be firmly resolved rather than internally conflicted. (2) “Let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God.” (3) “May the Lord do what seems good to him.”

The result of this plan was amazing. First the Syrians fled, and their fear then infected the Ammonite army who also ran away to the safety of their city. The defeated Syrian tribes called for an expanded group of allies, again provoking David to an escalated response. Finally, the Syrian soldiers were “defeated by Israel” and they “made peace with David” and “were not willing to save the Ammonites any more.”

May the Lord do what seems good to Him!

The Lord has appointed civil authorities as agents of justice as well as mercy. It is right for rulers as they seek the Lord of nations, to (1) “be strong,” and (2) to use their strength to defend their people and their cities, with the confidence that (3) the Lord will do “what seems good to Him.” The kingdom of God will not come by the use of the weapons of this world. As we do the work of the church, Christians do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but “against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

How do we fight the battle of the ages? We must prayerfully follow the instruction and example of our King (1, 2, & 3 applied to the cross), who has won the victory already for us. Expect to face many dangers and troubles, but (1) stay strong in the Lord of the resurrection, (2) love the King who died for us and the city of God that He is building, and (3) Keep the faith. Our God will do what seems good to Him. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

The best practical advice for those heading into spiritual warfare:

Resolved. For Jesus and His Church, So help me God.

Old Testament Reading—Psalms 42 and 43 – The Battle Within

Gospel Reading—Matthew 12:1-8

[1] At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. [2] But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” [3] He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: [4] how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? [5] Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? [6] I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. [7] And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. [8] For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Message for Northern New England Presbytery

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem

(1 Chronicles 11:4-9, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, February 3, 2017)

[4] And (1)David and (2)all Israel went to (3)Jerusalem, that is, (4)Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. [5] The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, (5)“You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, (6)David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. [6] David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.” And (7)Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. [7] And (8)David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. [8] And he built the city all around from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. [9] And (9)David became greater and greater, for (10)the LORD of hosts was with him.

Exposition

1. Under God, David was the covenant leader over God's people in the mission described in these few verses.
2. All those in Israel were represented by David and his fighting men.
3. The city that they took, Jerusalem, was to be the city of God.
4. The Jebusites could no longer rule over that city.
5. The Jebusites were not willing to leave peacefully, but issued a challenge designed to discourage David and his mighty men.
6. David took the high ground of the city and thus won the decisive victory for the entire campaign that would follow.
7. Though David was the leader of God's people under Jehovah, provision was made for Joab to fight the good fight and win. Joab and other courageous men would be used to bring God's and David's victory all over the entire city.
8. Jerusalem, the city of God, became the city of David, and David would be present there.
9. Jerusalem would be the place where David became greater and greater.
10. In Jerusalem, and from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, David's God would be glorified.

Application

Jerusalem Number One: Psalm 137:5 and “the Chronicler” of 1-2 Chronicles

Jerusalem Number Two: Matthew 16:18, 24:1-2, 28:16-20, Ephesians 2:11-22, Jesus is our David, yet we are warriors of love and exiles here in Babylon, but we take heaven by storm.

Jerusalem Number Three: Revelation 21:1-4

All three are important, but which Jerusalem owns our heart as a Presbytery? Northern New England is where we serve, but our Resurrection King and His New Jerusalem must be our highest desire. (See Colossians 3:1-4.) Our David has taken the high ground of heaven and earth through His death, resurrection, and ascension. How will we follow Him as a regional church?

Perhaps it would help us to take our passage and apply it plainly to the Presbytery. Jesus is our David. We are His mighty men, serving at His pleasure, teaching His church through instruction and example what it means to live by faith. We are the city of God. We live now in this mortal world, but our worldview is different than that of the world. Some might seek to discourage us, even those who feel like they own our cities and towns who might say to us, “You will not come in here.” They are wrong about that. The key facts that they miss are: (1) that Jesus has taken the high ground through sacrificial love, and (2) that He calls us to faith, prayer, and action, finishing His task in us and through us. He will not be satisfied with anything less than the full coming of the kingdom for His own sake and for the glory of God.

Final thought: Presbytery is important in this mission, especially for Presbyterians. BCO 13-9(g): “(Presbytery has power) to devise measures for the enlargement of the Church within its bounds; (and) in general, to order whatever pertains to the spiritual welfare of the churches under its care.” You all have lots of good ideas worthy of encouragement, so keep this in mind:

Our most dangerous deficit would be a deficit of faith-The Lord of Hosts is with us.