God Speaks
The Heads of Households for the Tribes of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim and Asher
Verse of the Day: “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding I Chronicles 7-10:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
I Chronicles 7
1. God recognizes the grief of His people and (since Pentecost) makes the Holy Spirit available to comfort them.
2. People are to comfort each other in times of grief and tragedy.
I Chronicles 8
1. God knows about the tragedy of divorce (8:8) and the difficulties it causes. Other scriptures state that God hates divorce for the turmoil it causes in people’s lives.
2. People are commanded to love each other as much as they love themselves.
I Chronicles 9
1. God is the one who chooses what responsibilities His servants will have.
2. People are to be faithful to carry out their responsibilities with God’s help.
I Chronicles 10
1. God always deals with our sins either immediately or eventually as in the case of King Saul.
2. People sometimes suffer from the consequences of other people’s sin, as Jonathan suffered from the consequences of the unwise decisions and actions of his father, King Saul.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding I Chronicles 7-10?
Dear LORD God, thank You for valiant fighting men and women in our armed forces, like the sons of Issachar. Give them the courage and insight they need to fight for what is right and good. Please comfort the grieving, like Ephraim, and ease the burden of their misfortune. May men in this generation become true heads of their families, choice men, mighty warriors, and outstanding leaders. May those who are considering divorce turn to You for wisdom and grace so as to avoid this tragedy if at all possible. Heal the wounds that all involved will suffer. Please forgive my sins of _______ on the basis of Jesus’ death on the cross in my place so that I don’t have to be exiled from You forever. Please draw many people out of exile back into fellowship and service with You. Thank You that being considered part of Your family is not based on coming from a special human lineage, but by Your choice to adopt all those who respond to You in faith. Then You accept, train, and equip us to function as ambassadors to invite others to be part of the king’s family. All of this is for Your glory, LORD.
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to I Chronicles 7-10? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will ask God to help me to be faithful to my responsibilities like the gatekeepers in 1 Chronicles 9:22-27.
- I will examine the relationships between Ner, Abner, Kish, Saul (Israel’s first king), Jonathan, and David.
- I will research the saying, “The sons of Issachar were valiant men. They recognized the signs of the times and knew what to do.”
- I will study the biographies of God’s servants, both those in the Bible and those in more modern times, so that I can follow their positive examples and/or avoid their mistakes (sins).
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.