The Light in the Star of David

Well Ladies...if you take a look at your Bibles, we are getting close to the half way mark! What a blessing you all have been to me and continue to be as we journey together through God's precious and holy Word! Stay the course and DO NOT let Satan sway you to the left or to the right!

As I was reading today's chapters, the Star of David kept popping into my head, so I started looking at pictures of this special Star on the computer. As you will notice, all of the pictures I selected have the Star of David depicted with some form of light involved in each picture. More on that later. Stick with me as I jump around to some different books of the Bible today (I have highlighted the references for you to the other areas of the Bible we are traveling).

THE ARK RETURNS: The material here is greatly expanded upon in comparison to where we have seen this before in II Samuel 6:12-19. The author of I Chronicles reflects here his own interests especially in the detailed inclusion of the names of the Levites involved and the inclusion of the musical instruments used. Also, in verses 13-15 of this chapter, the Chronicler provides the explanation for the failure of the first time the ark was attempted to be moved and Uzzah died. Psalm 132 is a song of ascents that can be read in conjunction with this part of chapter 15. In verse 8 and 9 of Psalm 132 it says, "arise, O Lord, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy." Notice also that the Chronicler does not expand on the incident with David's wife Michal (verse 29) as was done in II Samuel 6:20-23. This could possibly be because of his more positive view of David in his account or because he assumes the reader has knowledge of the other account. In either case, the detail included here reminds me that God cares GREATLY about the details of our lives. He cares about whether or not you can find a pair of socks quickly in the dryer when you are in a hurry to get out the door, or that you just so happen to have an extra fork in your lunch box to give to a co-worker who needs it to eat his or her lunch. Doesn't that blow your mind - the God that created this incomprehensible universe cares about the TINIEST detail of your life and according to Matthew 10:30 even knows the EXACT number of hairs on your head (yes He can keep track even when they fall out in the shower)!!!! Should that want to make us shine the light of Jesus wherever we go or what?!?!?! Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

DAVID'S PSALM OF THANKS: Notice that David plays a priestly role in that he is wearing a linen ephod and exercises the priestly perogative of blessing the people here. This psalm of thanks in not found in the Samuel account. Also, be aware that this lengthy historical account taken in portion from Psalm 105, which emphasizes the promises to Abraham, would be of particular interest to the Chroniclers audience just having returned from exile, because the faithfulness of God would have been fresh in the minds of those God had restored to the Promised Land. Portions of this psalm here are from Psalm 106 which would have really spoken to the audience the Chronicler was writing to because of the talk of those who have been gathered and delivered from nations. This books clearest teaching on salvation is here in verses 34-36 where David states that one of the main purposes of salvation is to bring glory to God. So, here again, as people who have accepted God's salvation, we should be "shining" His glory to ALL the nations!

DAVIDIC COVENANT & DAVID'S PRAYER: Here we are again with this amazing covenant that God made with David through which the Savior of the world would come. Psalm 89 verses 30-37 confirms that this covenant would stand NO MATTER WHAT. So since there is no king on the throne of Israel right now does that mean that this covenant is no longer valid? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Let's look at what Paul says in chapter 11 of Romans: "Rather, because of their (Israel's) transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!" (verses 11-12) Also in verses 25-27: "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved..." So, we as the Gentiles of the world that are coming to our "fullness" need to be doing our jobs while God has put the Israelites on "hold". Our light needs to be doing its job so that as many Gentiles can be grafted into our family as possible. Make no mistake - their WILL be a King on the throne of Israel in the near future. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! And he will come on a powerful and beautiful white horse to take his throne FOREVER!!! (Revelation 19:11)