1 Chronicles 27-29

During times of peace there were 12 divisions of the military, who each served 1 month each year. There were also named governors over each tribe in Israel, including the Levites and the priestly line of Aaron, as well as two for each of the half tribes of Manasseh.

At the end of David’s life he calls together all of the leaders in Israel, and recounts to them all that he had done in preparation for building the temple, and calls upon them to also give a free will offering towards the building of the temple that will be accomplished under his son Solomon. All of the leaders in Israel commit themselves to serving God, and submitting to Solomon as king in Israel, who sits on David’s throne as king even before he is dead.

Like God did with Moses, He also gives David all of the detailed instructions for building the Temple, and he gives Solomon all of those blueprints. Virtually everything needed for the temple has been provided, and very little additional planning will be required. Only the wood needed for the temple will be obtained after David’s death, which will come from Hiram, the king of Lebanon, who was a friend and servant of David.

David is about 70 years old when he dies, having been king for about 40 and 1/2 years, and who was about 30 years old when he first became king.

Psalm 30 | 1 Chronicles 25-26

Day 124 - Saturday, May 04

Like what David had organized in the previous chapter, where 24 courses of priestly families were set up for service to the Lord in His tabernacle (and later in the Temple), David also sets aside another course of 24 families, under the direction of the worship leader in Israel (Asaph), to play and sing music in the place of God’s presence (tabernacle of David at this time, and in Solomon’s temple in the future).

David also organizes the rest of the descendants of Levi, who were not assigned priestly duties, who served in more menial and administrative functions in Jerusalem, and throughout Israel. They were the doorkeepers to the house of the Lord, and also of the gates of Jerusalem. They were treasurers and bureaucrats representing the king throughout the land.

1 Chronicles 22-24

Day 123 - Friday, May 03

Even though David is prohibited from building the temple of God, he makes all of the necessary preparations, and collects all of the gold, silver, and bronze that will be needed, and he orders that the stones for the temple be quarried and shaped in advance. He gives Solomon instructions to build the temple in his place as king in Israel, and commands the elders of Israel to support that effort.

Under David’s direction, the descendants of Aaron and Moses are identified and set apart for service to the Lord. There are 24 courses of priests named, who will be responsible for ministering in the temple for 1/2 month each year, as will their descendants after them. The eighth course of priests were of the family of Abijah (1 Chronicles 24:10), and the father of John the Baptist (Zechariah) served in the temple by lot from that lineage (Luke 1:5).

2 Samuel 23:24 | 2 Samuel 25 | 1 Chronicles 11:26-47, 21:1-30

As David’s life nears its end, God is angry with the sins of Israel, and He allows the devil to tempt David with pride, so that he sins in numbering the people in Israel. This is an act of pride, in that David wanted an accounting of all the people under his command, however he is convicted of his sin when the deed is done, and he seeks forgiveness of God.

However, God gives him a choice of punishments, and David prefers to fall into the hand of God, rather than his enemies. 70,000 people in Israel are killed by the angel of the Lord before coming to Jerusalem, where God halts the killing as the angel stands above the threshing floor and property of Ornan the Jebusite.

God commands that David sacrifice an offering to Him on Ornan’s threshing floor, so David purchases his place of threshing wheat, as well as the rest of the property that is known today as the Temple Mount. God burns up David’s sacrifice with fire from heaven, and His anger is put away. This will be the place where Solomon will build the temple to God’s Name.

2 Samuel 20–21, 23:8-23 | 1 Chronicles 20:4-8, 11:10-25

In these passages we see a recounting of the mighty men of David’s army, who each did great feats of valor against the enemies of Israel. There is also a short rebellion against David, led by a Benjamite named Sheba, and David is continually at war with the Philistines throughout the rest of his life. David is growing old, and his own generals tell him that it is time for him to stay home from the many battles they are fighting.

Psalm 3 | 2 Samuel 18-19

David and his followers are at war with his son Absalom, and the armies of Israel, however Absalom is defeated and killed. In spite of his son’s treason, David loved him, and was devastated at the news of his death.

All of Israel acknowledges David as king, and brings him back to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 15-17

After being restored to his father and king, Absalom began a campaign of deceit to win over the hearts of the people to himself, with the intent to be named king in David’s place. After some time he moves into the ultimate stage of rebellion against the king, and David is forced to flee Jerusalem for his life.

David leaves friends and spies in Jerusalem to report on the plans of Absalom, and he crosses over the Jordan River (east of Jericho and Jerusalem) with all of those who went with him from the Capitol city. In fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy to David (2 Samuel 12:11), Absalom openly takes David’s concubines in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 13-14

Here is the story of Absalom, whose sister Tamar is raped by Amnon, their half brother (all children of David). Absalom exacts revenge and kills Amnon after 2 years, and is then exiled from David’s presence for a number of years.

Through the assistance of Joab (David’s general of the army, and his nephew), Absalom is eventually restored to Jerusalem, and reunited with David. However, even though David loves his son Absalom, things are not going to go well between them…

2 Samuel 11-12 | 1 Chronicles 20:1-3 | Psalm 51

Here is the tragic story of David’s sin against God with Bathsheba, and his murder of her husband Uriah. It’s an interesting thing to consider the indictment that God made against David through the prophet Nathan. Even though David was guilty of a horrible sin against Bathsheba and Uriah, the Lord’s first and greatest complaint was against David’s disregard for all that God had given him.

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!
- 2 Samuel 12:7-8 NKJV

David immediately understood that his primary sin was against God, which he declared in his prayer of Psalm 51. In the mercy that could only come through the (future) sacrifice of Jesus, God sets aside David’s sin, even though he was guilty of intentionally breaking the law of God, for which there was no sacrifice available. Even though David’s sin was forgiven, he would experience great troubles for much of the rest of his life.

2 Samuel 8-10 | 1 Chronicles 18-19 | Psalm 60

The Lord is with David against all of the enemies of Israel that come against them, including the Philistines, the Moabites, the Midianites, the Ammonites, and the hired armies that are brought in from Mesopotamia. Even though David and his generals are victorious in all of these conflicts, we see in Psalm 60 that David is continually looking to the Lord for their protection and victories. Even though we know that David is flawed, we do not see pride welling up in his heart against God, to where he ever says “I’ve got this”.

We also have the great story of David wanting to bless the descendants of Jonathan, and he brings the crippled Mephibosheth into his own household, so that even though he brings no contribution to the king’s house or administration, he is treated as equal to all of the kings sons. Mephibosheth is a picture of us, who have been invited to sit at the king’s table, and be treated as equals to His Son, even though we deserve nothing, and we contribute nothing to the success of His kingdom. The Lord pours out his grace and mercy upon us, just like David did with Mephibosheth.

Psalm 105 | 2 Samuel 7 | 1 Chronicles 17

At a time when David experienced peace with all of the enemies of Israel, he wanted to build a temple for the Lord in Jerusalem, however God sent the prophet to tell him that such a work would not be done by him, but it would be done by his son. Because of David’s heart to serve God, the Lord promised to bless him with descendant who would be kings in Israel, and ultimately the Messiah would come from among his descendants.

1 Chronicles 17 provides a similar account of this exchange, however there is a flavor in this chapter that more clearly points to the future kingdom that Jesus will establish, which will never be destroyed.

Even though David is not given permission to build the temple in his lifetime, he goes before the presence of God to bless and thank Him for all that He has done, and for all that He has promised for his posterity.

1 Chronicles 15-16 | 2 Samuel 6:12–23 | Psalm 96

King David organizes the transportation of the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem, which occurs with the pomp and circumstance that would be given a conquering king. David displays unbounded joy and rejoicing as the procession makes its way to Jerusalem, and he also made sure that all were following the law of Moses in how the ark was supposed to be moved.

David moves the ark to a tent on mount Zion, however the Tabernacle of Moses remains at Gibeon, where the priests are left to perform the sacrifices and daily duties commanded in the law. This sets up a very interesting time in the history of Israel, where the ark of God’s presence is outside of the tabernacle of Moses, and there is an entirely different regimen of worship before God that David establishes for the duration of his reign. In the days of Solomon the temple in Jerusalem will be built, and then the ark will again be placed behind the veil within the Holy of Holies.

In Acts 15 the apostle James quotes from Amos 9:11, where God promises to restore the tabernacle (or tent) of David, indicating that the church age, and open access to the presence of God is a fulfillment of that prophecy.

2 Samuel 22; Psalm 18

This psalm of David appears in both 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18, which he wrote at the time of his deliverance from Saul, and his enemies. This would have been written about the time that he was named king in Judah, when he was 30 years old.

It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord for all the things He has done for us, and to take time to recall His righteous acts on our behalf, just like David was in the habit of doing. How many times does the Lord deliver us from great difficulties, and we forget to give Him praise and thanks?

It was at 30 years of age that David transitioned into His God given role in Israel, and it was at 30 years of age that Jesus likewise left His private life to fulfill His public ministry in the world.

2 Samuel 5-6:11 | 1 Chronicles 11:1-9, 12:23-40, 13-14:17

After the death of Ishbosheth, all of Israel goes to David at Hebron and unanimously make him king over the entire nation. Almost 350,000 men of war, from all of Israel, submit themselves to David’s leadership. Twice the Philistines attempt to fight David and his army, but twice he consults with God about what to do, and in both cases the Philistines are defeated.

After reigning as king in Hebron for 7 1/2 years, David goes up against the stronghold of the Jebusites, and takes the city of Jerusalem, where he will then reign as king for another 33 years. David enjoys an alliance with Hiram, the king of Lebanon, who provides cedar for David’s construction projects in Jerusalem.

David attempts to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, but he fails to follow God’s laws pertaining to the transportation of the ark, and God strikes Uzzah dead for touching the ark when it might have fallen off the cart it was riding on. David parks the ark in Obed Edom’s garage for several months, and God blesses Obed Edom’s house while it is there.

2 Samuel 2 - 4

David and his men move to the city of Hebron, and all of the tribe of Judah make him king of Judah, although the rest of Israel chose Saul’s son to be their king. For several years there is war between Judah and Israel, until the death of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul who was (a weak) king in Israel.

Two of David’s nephews, Joab and Abishai (sons of David’s sister), murdered Abner, who was the power behind Ishbosheth’s throne in Israel, after he had made peace with David. Joab and Abishai will remain as key figures in David’s army, but he will never fully trust Joab again, and declares a curse upon both of them for their unrighteous act against Abner.

1 Samuel 30 - 31 | 1 Chronicles 10 | 2 Samuel 1

These chapters record the final days of king Saul and his sons. At the same time that Saul and the army of Israel was fighting against the Philistines, David and his men destroyed the Amalekite army that had done great damage in Judah, and burned the city of Ziklag, where David and his men had been living.

David retrieved their wives and families that had been taken captive, and took back much spoil, which he shared among the cities where he and his men went in and out.

The Philistines party strong over the death of Saul and Jonathan and the army of Israel, and David finds out about these events from an Amalekite who retrieved Saul’s crown, and who claimed to have put him out of his misery.

1 Samuel 26 - 29 | 1 Chronicles 12:1 - 7, 12:19 - 22

Saul continues to pursue David in the wilderness of Israel, but God gives him favor and protects him in whatever he does. David is steadfast in refusing to bring any harm to Saul, since he had been anointed king at God’s command, rather choosing to let God work out His timing for the future.

Can we find a better example of faith in God’s Providence for us to follow? The Lord is far better in managing our future than us, even though there may be times when it seems like He has forsaken us.

David finally goes down and spend a year and four months with Achish, a Philistine leader, and even there God gives him favor.

The Philistines gather for war against Israel, and Saul is unable to get any response from God in his queries, so he resorts to divination. The witch of Endor conjures up the spirit of Samuel from the grave, but his words do nothing to calm Saul’s fears, and he tells him that his end is upon him as he goes forth to fight the Philistines.

1 Samuel 24 | Psalm 57 | 1 Samuel 25

David has opportunity to kill Saul in the cave, but he refuses to lift his hand against the king that God had anointed. This will be his position as long as Saul is king in Israel.

Nabal is a foolish man who offends David in his pride, but his wife Abigail is a wise lady who intervenes before David takes revenge on her husband. Within 10 days Nabal is dead at the hand of God, and David takes Abigail as one of his wives.

God said that vengeance belongs to Him (Deuteronomy 32:35), and this was true in the life of David, and it is true for us. Paul said in Romans 12:19 that we should not avenge ourselves, but give God that responsibility when we have been wronged or harmed.

1 Samuel 22 - 23 | 1 Chron. 12:8-18 | Psalms 52, 54, 63, 142

Saul kills 85 priests of God, including Ahimelech, the high priest, thinking that they were conspiring against him with David. Only Abiathar escapes and goes to David, and he will be high priest in the place of his father.

David remains faithful in heart to the king, even though he is now on the run for his life. David rescues the city of Keilah from the Philistines, but they are willing to betray him to Saul, so he flees again. Some in Israel take sides with Saul against David, but many brave men align themselves with him as he is on the run.

Throughout all of these years of running from Saul, David continually relies upon the Lord, and God is faithful to always protect him.

1 Samuel 20 - 21 | Psalms 34 & 56

A breach has now occurred between David and Saul, which will not be mended. Saul seeks to kill David, and he flees from him after getting confirmation from Jonathan.

David is still a young man at this time, but he is already famous in Israel, and is well known among Israel’s enemies. David goes to the Philistines, but has to feign madness in order to keep from being discovered.

David is writing these wonderful psalms even while on the run from Saul, and when he is still young. David is a man after God’s own heart, and that is reflected in what he writes, and how he will trust God, even though there are many on all sides who seek to kill him.