1 Chronicles 21 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 21.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/21/1/s_359001

Meditate on verse 1.

 

Then Satan stood up against Israel

 and moved David to number Israel.

 

Taking a census may not seem sinful; however, God did not want David to take confidence in numbers to defeat his enemies.  God could make David’s army 100 times bigger in an instant in order to win a battle (v. 3).  Knowing exactly how many human bodies he had for going to war would cause David to trust in his human army rather than God’s army.  So, Satan tempted David to take a census, and David fell for it.  God was furious. 

 

In order to appease God’s wrath, the angel of the LORD told David to “build an altar to God on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite” (v. 18).  This place of sacrifice would become the location of God’s temple where sacrifices would be made for the sins of the people; and where, 1,000 years later, Jesus died as the sacrifice for the sins of the world.

 

Then Solomon began to build the house

of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount

 Moriah, where the LORD had appeared

to his father David, at the place

that David had prepared on the

threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

—2 Chronicles 3:1

 

Use the words from 1 Chronicles 21:1 and 7-8 in confession and repentance as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, please stop Satan from standing up

 against __________ and me and moving me to sin. 

God, You are displeased with this thing, and You have

struck us.  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 done very foolishly

Because You are our Sacrifice and our Savior, Jesus~”

 

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

1 Chronicles 20 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 20.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/20/1/s_358001

Meditate on verse 6.

 

Again, there was war at Gath, where there

was a man of great stature who had

 twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on

 each hand and six toes on each foot, and he

 also was descended from the giants.

 

1 Chronicles 20:4-8 records three victories over three giants:  Sibbecai killed the giant named Sippai (v. 4).  Elhanan killed Goliath’s brother, Lahmi (v. 5).  And, David’s nephew, Jonathan, killed the 24 fingers and toes giant (vs. 6-7).  It is encouraging to know these testimonies of giant slayings, for we all have times of being beset by giants.

 

The psalmist knew the value of such testimonies.  We can take hope in them as well.

 

The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall

 diligently consider Your testimonies.

 You have removed all the wicked of the earth

 like dross; therefore, I love Your testimonies.

—Psalm 119:95, 119

 

Using the words from 1 Chronicles 20:4-8, pray for God to kill any giants wreaking havoc in your life and the lives of those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, war has broken out in the lives of _________ and me. 

Please kill the giant of __________.  Subdue this evil in our lives.

 LORD, there is spiritual warfare.  Kill the sinful giant, the

 shaft of whose spear is like a weaver’s beam.  The giant we

 face is like one with 24 fingers and toes, six fingers

on each hand and six toes on each foot.  He taunts

Your people, LORD.  LORD, kill this situation. 

LORD, these are our giants.  Let them fall by Your

 hand and by the hand of us, Your servants.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

1 Chronicles 19 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 19.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/19/1/s_357001

Meditate on verse 4.

 

So Hanun took David's servants and shaved

them and cut off their garments in the middle

 as far as their hips and sent them away.

 

Unbelievable!  Can you imagine showing kindness to someone; then afterward, your thoughtful act being treated with humiliating contempt?   If you are like us, you probably can.  We all have memories of being misunderstood or having false motives assumed for deeds done out of love and a pure heart.  Those times are gut-wrenching and feel like they just happened yesterday.  When those moments come, seek the heart of Jesus for how to respond.  “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).  Then trust King Jesus to defend you like King David did his humiliated men.

 

Pray 1 Chronicles 19:13 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, help __________ and me be strong and let us

show ourselves courageous for the

sake of our people and for Your Kingdom, God.

 LORD, do what is good in Your sight.

Because You are our defender, King Jesus~”

 

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Chronicles 18 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 18.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/18/1/s_356001

Meditate on this repeated sentence from verses 6 and 13.

 

And the LORD helped David wherever he went.

 

“And the LORD helped David wherever he went” explains this entire chapter (vs. 6, 13).  Defeating and subduing the Philistines, Israel’s persistent enemies since the days of Isaac, happened because the LORD helped David (v. 1; Genesis 26:12-15).  Establishing the border of Israel to the Euphrates River, as promised by God to Abraham, happened because the LORD helped David (v. 3; Genesis 15:18).  Providing building materials to help his son build the temple happened because the LORD helped David (vs. 7-11; 1 Chronicles 17:11-12).  God helped David and gave him the privilege of seeing the fulfillment of 1,000-year-old promises because David believed God and trusted Him to keep His Word. 

 

Now, O LORD, let the word that You have

 spoken concerning Your servant and concerning

 his house be established forever and do as You

 have spoken.  For You, O my God, have revealed to

Your servant that You will build for him a house;

therefore, Your servant has found courage to pray

 before You.  Now, O LORD, You are God, and

 have promised this good thing to Your servant.

—1 Chronicles 17:23, 25-26

 

Pray those words David prayed, trusting God to fulfill His promises to you and those you love (1 Chronicles 17:23, 25-26).  Then pray 1 Chronicles 18:6 and 13-14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, please help __________ and me wherever we go. 

LORD, help us wherever we go.  Help us administer

 justice and righteousness for all Your people.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

1 Chronicles 17 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 17.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/17/1/s_355001

Meditate on verses 2-4.

 

Then Nathan said to David, "Do all that

 is in your heart, for God is with you."

It came about the same night that the word of God

 came to Nathan, saying, "Go and tell David My

 servant, 'Thus says the LORD, “You shall

 not build a house for Me to dwell in.”’”

 

God quickly checked Nathan’s advice for David to follow his heart.  David’s desire to build a house for God was not God’s will.  The prophet Nathan and King David presumed upon God’s will without seeking His will.   

 

Keep this story in mind when giving and seeking advice.  Do not be quick to assume God’s will without talking to Him and reading His Word.  No matter who you are or what leadership position God has given you, constantly seek God’s heart for His plans. 

 

As a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), use the words from 1 Chronicles 17:16 and 23-27 to pray for God to establish you and your family in Him forever.

 

“Who am I, O LORD, and what is my family that

 You have brought us this far?  Now, O LORD, let the word

You speak concerning Your servant and concerning

my family be established forever.  Let Your name

 be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD

 of hosts is the God of ____________.  The family of __________, Your

servant, is established before You.’  For You, O my God, have

 revealed to Your servant that You will build my family;

therefore, Your servant has found courage to pray before You. 

Now, O LORD, You are God, and You have promised this good

 thing to Your servant.  And now please bless the family of Your

servant that we may continue forever before You; for

You, O LORD, have blessed us, and we are blessed forever.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

1 Chronicles 16 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 16.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/16/1/s_354001

Meditate on verse 11.

 

Seek the LORD and His strength;

 seek His face continually.

 

The ark of God represented God’s presence, and in His presence, the Levites ministered by celebrating, thanking, and praising Him (v. 4).  Ask the LORD to give you a joyful, grateful heart to serve in His presence.

 

Celebrate, thank, and praise the LORD with 1 Chronicles 16:8-12, 23-29, 31, and 34-36 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7). 

 

“Oh, thank You, LORD, I call upon Your name and

make known Your deeds among the peoples.

I sing to You, sing praises to You, and speak of

 all Your wonders.  I glory in Your holy name.

  Let the heart of __________, who seeks You, be glad.

 We seek You and Your strength.  We seek Your

 face continually.  We remember Your wonderful

deeds which You have done, Your marvels and the

 judgments from Your mouth.  Let all the earth sing

 to You, LORD!  We proclaim good tidings of Your

 salvation from day to day.  We tell of Your glory

 among the nations, Your wonderful deeds among

 all the peoples.  For great are You, LORD, and greatly

 to be praised; You also are to be feared above all gods.

 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but LORD,

You made the heavens.  Splendor and majesty

 are before You; strength and joy are in Your place.

 Glory and strength belong to You, LORD.  We give

glory to Your name and worship You.  LORD, You reign!

 We give thanks to You, LORD, for You are good; for Your

lovingkindness is everlasting.  Save us, O God of

our salvation, and gather us and deliver us to give

 thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise. 

Blessed be You, LORD, the God of Israel and the God

 of my family, from everlasting, even to everlasting.  Amen.”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

1 Chronicles 15 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 15.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/15/1/s_353001

Meditate on verse 13.

 

Because you did not carry it at the first,

the LORD our God made an

outburst on us, for we did not seek

Him according to the ordinance.

 

David figured out what went wrong in 1 Chronicles 13 when God killed Uzza for steadying the ark on a cart.  Carting the ark across the country was contrary to God’s Word; it was to be carried with poles by Levites from the family of Kohath (Numbers 4:5-6, 15).  Sadly, instead of consulting God’s Law, David “consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader, and the thing was right in the eyes of all the people” (1 Chronicles 13:1, 4).  However, the thing was not right in the eyes of God.  Seeking the opinion of thousands and failing to seek God’s Word, resulted in an outburst from God (v. 13).

 

Let the application soak in—it is really important to God for His people to know and obey the Bible.  He does not take lightly the ignorance and ignoring of His Word.  As you determine what to do and how to do it, consult Christ and His Word every step of the way.

 

Pray 1 Chronicles 15:13 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD our God, help __________ and me seek You

according to Your ordinances.  We

 want to carry this correctly the first time,

so You do not make an outburst on us.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Chronicles 14 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 14.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/14/1/s_352001

Meditate on verse 2.

 

And David realized that the LORD had

 established him as king over Israel, and

 that his kingdom was highly exalted,

 for the sake of His people Israel.

 

What an important realization David made!  The LORD arranged for David to be king, and He made his kingdom great for the sake of His (God’s) people (v. 2).  David’s kingdom was all about God; therefore, David asked Him how to lead His people and how to fight His enemies (vs. 10, 14).  God gave detailed instructions for surrounding the Philistines; then, God Himself fought on David’s behalf (vs. 14-15).

 

The LORD establishes you for the sake of His Kingdom and His people.  Do not be tempted to take credit for successes in your life or think accolades are for your glory.  Seek the LORD and His way for doing things.  Let Him fight battles that need to be fought.

 

Pray 1 Chronicles 14:2, 10-11, and 14-16 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, I realize You have established _______ and me.

 Please establish _________ in You.  May Your Kingdom

 be highly exalted for the sake of Your people.  God, I’m

 inquiring of You.  Shall we go up against _________? 

Will You give them into our hands?  God, break

 through our enemies by our hands, like the

 breakthrough of waters!  God, give us Your specific

 instructions when we inquire of You.  God, go

before us to strike the army of the enemy. 

We will do just as You command.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

1 Chronicles 13 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 13.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/13/1/s_351001

Meditate on this phrase from verse 2.

 

If it is from the LORD our God…

 

David and the people discerned correctly the LORD wanted them to assemble and bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim (vs. 2, 5).  Their mistake was not bringing the ark back correctly.  The ark should have never been placed on a cart; it should have been carried with poles on the shoulders of Levites and never touched by human hands (Exodus 25:10-16).  David accurately perceived God wanted the ark returned, but he did not do it according to God’s Word.  Instead of taking time to search the Scriptures, or possibly ignoring God’s command completely, David and the people moved forward with expedient convenience; the consequence was disastrous (vs. 7-10).

 

Take this chapter to heart as you discern God’s will.  Listen to the Holy Spirit AND read His Word, so you can walk with Jesus, pleasing Him every step of the way.

 

Pray 1 Chronicles 13:2, 6, and 14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD our God, if it is from You, let ___________ and

me do ______________.  LORD God, You are enthroned in

our lives.  As we call on Your name, please

 bless our family with all that we have.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

1 Chronicles 12 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 12.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/12/1/s_350001

Meditate on verse 32a.

 

Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times,

 with knowledge of what Israel should do…

 

Thankfully, David was surrounded by men who understood the times and had knowledge of what the people should do.  Three-thousand-years later, we are still in desperate need of people like that.  Thankfully, you can be one of them.  As a Christian, you have God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to let you see with God’s eyes what is happening in our world and the knowledge of what to do. 

 

There are lots of verses in this chapter for people of understanding to pray.  Pray them now using the words from 1 Chronicles 12:8, 14, 18, 21-23, 32-33, 38, and 40 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, make ____________ and me, mighty people of valor, people

 trained for spiritual war, who can handle shield and spear,

and whose faces are like the faces of lions, and who are

 as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.  May the least

among us be equal to a hundred people and the greatest equal to

 a thousand.  Bring us people who have Your Spirit.

 Give us Your peace and give Your peace to those who help us.

  Indeed, God, You are the One who helps us!

 Make us mighty people of valor.  Make us a great army

like the army of God.  Turn the kingdom of this world to

 Your Kingdom, according to Your Word, LORD. 

Make us people who understand the times with

 knowledge of what we should do.  Give us undivided hearts.

 Give us a perfect heart and let us be of one mind.

 Let there be joy indeed in our land.

Because of You, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

1 Chronicles 11 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Chronicles 11.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ch/11/1/s_349001

Meditate on verse 9.

 

David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him.

 

Observe God’s hand on David in this chapter. 

 

·      Despite Saul being king of Israel, the people recognized David as their leader because God said he would be prince over His people (v. 2).

 

·      The people made a covenant with David and anointed him king over Israel “according to the Word of the LORD” (v. 3).

 

·      The inhabitants of Jerusalem said David was not allowed to enter; however, he captured the stronghold of Zion, and it became the city of David (vs. 4-5).

 

·      David became greater and greater because the LORD was with him (v. 9).

 

·      The heads of the mighty men, together with all Israel, gave David strong support according to the Word of the LORD (v. 10).

 

·      David and the mighty men struck down the Philistines because the LORD saved them by a great victory (vs. 13-14).

 

Ask the LORD to do the same for you and those you love by praying 1 Chronicles 11:2-5, 9- 10, and 14 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, speak over ___________ and me. 

Despite circumstances, let it be according

to Your Word, LORD.  ____________ has said we

 cannot enter here; nevertheless, let us capture the

 enemy’s strongholds for the sake of Your Kingdom.

 LORD of hosts, let us become greater and greater

because You are with us.  May we have strong support according

 to Your Word.  LORD, save us by a great victory.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell