2 Chronicles 2

2 Chronicles 2

2 Chronicles 2:1 Solomon decided to build a house[1] for the name of Yahveh and a royal house for himself,

2 Chronicles 2:2 so he assigned 70,000 men as porters, 80,000 men as stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 as supervisors over them.

2 Chronicles 2:3 Then Solomon sent word to King Hiram of Tyre: Do for me what you did for my father David. You sent him cedars to build him a house to live in.

2 Chronicles 2:4 Notice[2] I am building a house for the name of Yahveh, my God, in order to dedicate it to him for burning fragrant incense before him, for displaying the rows of the Bread of the Presence continually,[3] and for sacrificing ascending offerings for the morning and the evening, the Sabbaths and the New Moons, and the appointed festivals of Yahveh our God. This is ordained for Israel permanently.[4]

2 Chronicles 2:5 The house I am building will be great, because our God is greater than any of the gods.

2 Chronicles 2:6 But who is able to build a house for him, since even the sky[5] and the sky of skies cannot contain him? Who am I then that I should build a house for him except as a place to burn incense before him?

2 Chronicles 2:7 Therefore, send me an artisan skilled in engraving to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and with purple, crimson, and blue yarn. He will work with the artisans with me in Judah and Jerusalem, appointed by my father, David.

2 Chronicles 2:8 Also, send me cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your slaves know how to cut[6] the trees of Lebanon. Notice that my slaves will be with your slaves

2 Chronicles 2:9 to prepare logs for me in abundance because the house I am building will be great and complicated.[7]

2 Chronicles 2:10 Notice I will give your slaves, the woodcutters who cut the trees, one hundred thousand bushels of wheat flour, one hundred thousand bushels of barley, one hundred ten thousand gallons of wine, and one hundred ten thousand gallons of oil.

2 Chronicles 2:11 King Hiram of Tyre wrote a letter and sent it to Solomon: Because Yahveh cares for[8] his people, he set you over them as king.

2 Chronicles 2:12 Hiram also said, “Praised[9] be Yahveh, God of Israel, who made the sky and the land!” He gave King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who would build a house for Yahveh and a royal house for himself.

2 Chronicles 2:13 I have now sent Huram-abi, a skillful man who has understanding.

2 Chronicles 2:14 He is the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan. His father is a man of Tyre. He knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, with purple, blue, crimson yarn, and fine linen. He knows how to do all kinds of engraving and execute any design that may be given to him. I have sent him to be with your artisans and the artisans of my lord,[10] your father, David.

2 Chronicles 2:15 Now, let my lord send the wheat, barley, oil, and wine to his slaves as promised.

2 Chronicles 2:16 We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, and bring them to you as rafts by sea to Joppa. You can then take them up to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 2:17 Solomon took a census of all the foreign guests[11] in the land of Israel after his father David’s census, and the total was 153,600.

2 Chronicles 2:18 Solomon assigned 70,000 porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors to make the people work.[12]

[1] בַּיִת = house, (family, home, temple), inside. 2 Chronicles 2:1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12; 3:1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15; 4:4, 11, 16, 19, 22; 5:1, 7, 13, 14; 6:2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 20, 22, 24, 29, 32, 33, 34, 38; 7:1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 16, 20, 21; 8:1, 11, 16; 9:3, 4, 11, 16, 20; 10:16, 19; 11:1, 4; 12:9, 10, 11; 15:18; 16:2, 10; 17:14; 18:16, 26; 19:1, 11; 20:5, 9, 28; 21:6, 7, 13, 17; 22:3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12; 23:3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20; 24:4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 21, 27; 25:5, 19, 24; 26:19, 21; 27:3; 28:7, 21, 24; 29:3, 5, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 25, 31, 35; 30:1, 15; 31:10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 21; 32:21; 33:4, 5, 7, 15, 20, 24; 34:8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 30; 35:2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 20, 21; 36:7, 10, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23.

[2] הִנֵּה = notice. 2 Chronicles 2:4, 8, 10; 6:18; 9:6; 13:12, 14; 16:3, 11; 18:12, 22, 24; 19:11; 20:2, 10, 11, 16, 24, 34; 21:14; 23:3, 13; 24:27; 25:19, 26; 26:20; 27:7; 28:9, 26; 29:9, 19; 32:32; 33:18, 19; 34:24, 28; 35:25, 27; 36:8.

[3] תָּמִיד = continual(ly). 2 Chronicles 2:4; 9:7; 24:14.

[4] עוֹלָם = permanent/ly, ancient, future. 2 Chronicles 2:4; 5:13; 6:2; 7:3, 6, 16; 9:8; 13:5; 20:7, 21; 30:8; 33:4, 7.

[5] שָׁמַיִם = sky. 2 Chronicles 2:6, 12; 6:13, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 30, 33, 35, 39; 7:1, 13, 14; 18:18; 20:6; 28:9; 30:27; 32:20; 33:3, 5; 36:23.

[6] כָּרָת = cut, establish, cut down. 2 Chronicles 2:8, 10, 16; 5:10; 6:11, 16; 7:18; 15:16; 21:7; 22:7; 23:3, 16; 29:10; 34:31.

[7] פָּלָא = complicated, overwhelming. 2 Chronicles 2:9; 26:15.

[8] אָהֵב = care about, care for. 2 Chronicles 2:11; 9:8; 11:21; 19:2; 20:7; 26:10.

[9] בָּרָךְ = empower, endorse, praise, kneel. 2 Chronicles 2:12; 6:3, 4, 13; 9:8; 20:26; 30:27; 31:8, 10.

[10] אָדוֹן = lord, 2 Chronicles 2:14, 15; 13:6; 18:16.

[11] גֵּר = foreign guest. 2 Chronicles 2:17; 30:25.

[12] עָבַד = slave for, make work, work for. 2 Chronicles 2:18; 7:19, 22; 10:4; 24:18; 30:8; 33:3, 16, 22; 34:33; 35:3.

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The 2 Chronicles shelf in Jeff’s library

2 Chronicles 1

2 Chronicles 1

2 Chronicles 1:1 Solomon, son of David, strengthened[1] his hold on his kingdom. Yahveh[2] his God was with him and highly exalted him.

2 Chronicles 1:2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains[3] of thousands and hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader[4] in all Israel – the family heads.

2 Chronicles 1:3 Solomon and the whole congregation[5] with him went to the high place in Gibeon because of God’s conference[6] tent, which Yahveh’s slave[7] Moses had made in the open country,[8] was there.

2 Chronicles 1:4 But[9] David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had set up for it because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem,

2 Chronicles 1:5 but he put the bronze altar, which Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, in the face[10] of Yahveh’s tabernacle. Solomon and the congregation inquired of him there.

2 Chronicles 1:6 Solomon offered sacrifices on the bronze altar at the conference tent in Yahveh’s face, a thousand ascending[11] offerings.

2 Chronicles 1:7 That night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him: “Ask. What should I give you?”

2 Chronicles 1:8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great covenant faithfulness[12] to my father David, and you have made me king in his place.

2 Chronicles 1:9 Lord God, let your promise to my father David now come true. Because you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the land.[13]

2 Chronicles 1:10 Now grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people, for who can judge this great people of yours?”

2 Chronicles 1:11 God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or an impressive appearance,[14] or for the throat[15] of those who hate you, and you have not even requested long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may judge my people over whom I have made you king,

2 Chronicles 1:12 wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will also give you riches, wealth, and an impressive appearance, unlike what was given to the kings who were before you or will be given to those after you.”

2 Chronicles 1:13 So Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place in Gibeon, facing the conference tent, and reigned over Israel.

2 Chronicles 1:14 Solomon gathered[16] 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, placed[17] in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 1:15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills.

2 Chronicles 1:16 Solomon’s horses came from Egypt and Kue. The king’s traders would get them from Kue at the going price.

2 Chronicles 1:17 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for fifteen pounds of silver and a horse for nearly four pounds. In the same way, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram through their agents.

[1] חָזָק = be strong, strongly, catch. 2 Chronicles 1:1; 7:22; 8:3; 11:11, 12, 17; 12:13; 13:7, 8, 21; 15:7, 8; 16:9; 17:1; 19:11; 21:4; 23:1; 24:5, 12; 25:3, 8, 11; 26:8, 9, 15, 16; 27:5, 6; 28:15, 20; 29:3, 34; 31:4; 32:5, 7; 34:8, 10; 35:2.

[2] יָהְוֶה = Yahveh (God’s name). 2 Chronicles 1:1, 3, 5, 6, 9; 2:1, 4, 11, 12; 3:1; 4:16; 5:1, 2, 7, 10, 13, 14; 6:1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 41, 42; 7:1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22; 8:1, 11, 12, 16; 9:4, 8, 11; 10:15; 11:2, 4, 14, 16; 12:1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14; 13:5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 20; 14:2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14; 15:2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15; 16:2, 7, 8, 9, 12; 17:3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 16; 18:4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 27, 31; 19:2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; 20:3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 37; 21:6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18; 22:4, 7, 9; 23:3, 5, 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20; 24:2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24; 25:2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 27; 26:4, 5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21; 27:2, 3, 6; 28:1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25; 29:2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 27, 30, 31, 32, 35; 30:1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22; 31:2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16, 20; 32:8, 11, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26; 33:2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23; 34:2, 8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31, 33; 35:1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 16, 26; 36:5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23.

[3] שַׂר = captain. 2 Chronicles 1:2; 8:9, 10; 12:5, 6, 10; 16:4; 17:7, 14, 15; 18:25, 30, 31, 32; 21:4, 9; 22:8; 23:1, 9, 13, 14, 20; 24:10, 17, 23; 25:5; 26:11; 28:14, 21; 29:20, 30; 30:2, 6, 12, 24; 31:8; 32:3, 6, 21, 31; 33:11, 14; 34:8; 35:8, 9; 36:14, 18.

[4] נָשִׂיא = leader, general. 2 Chronicles 1:2; 5:2;.

[5] קָהָל = congregation. 2 Chronicles 1:3, 5; 6:3, 12, 13; 7:8; 20:5, 14; 23:3; 24:6; 28:14; 29:23, 28, 31, 32; 30:2, 4, 13, 17, 23, 24, 25; 31:18.

[6] מוֹעֵד = conference, appointed. 2 Chronicles 1:3, 6, 13; 2:4; 5:5; 8:13; 30:22; 31:3.

[7] עֶבֶד = slave. 2 Chronicles 1:3; 2:8, 10, 15; 6:14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 27, 42; 8:9, 18; 9:4, 7, 10, 12, 21; 10:7; 12:8; 13:6; 24:6, 9, 25; 25:3; 28:10; 32:9, 16; 33:24; 34:16, 20; 35:23, 24; 36:20.

[8] מִדְבָּר = open country. 2 Chronicles 1:3; 8:4; 20:16, 20, 24; 24:9; 26:10.

[9] אֲבָל = certainly, but. 2 Chronicles 1:4; 33:17.

[10] פָּנִים = face, before. 2 Chronicles 1:5, 6, 10, 12; 2:4, 6; 3:4, 8, 13, 15, 17; 4:19, 20; 5:6, 9, 14; 6:3, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 42; 7:4, 7, 14, 17, 19, 20; 8:12; 9:7, 11, 23; 10:2, 6, 8; 12:5; 13:7, 13, 14, 15, 16; 14:5, 7, 10, 12, 13; 15:2, 8; 18:9, 20; 19:2, 7, 11; 20:3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21; 23:17; 24:14; 25:8, 14, 17, 21; 26:19; 27:6; 28:3, 9, 14; 29:6, 11, 19, 23; 30:9; 31:20; 32:2, 7, 12, 21; 33:2, 9, 12, 19, 23; 34:4, 18, 24, 27, 31; 36:12.

[11] עֹלָה = ascending (offering). 2 Chronicles 1:6; 2:4; 4:6; 7:1, 7; 8:12; 13:11; 23:18; 24:14; 29:7, 18, 24, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34, 35; 30:15; 31:2, 3; 35:12, 14, 16.

[12] חֶסֶד = covenant faithfulness. 2 Chronicles 1:8; 5:13; 6:14, 42; 7:3, 6; 20:21; 24:22; 32:32; 35:26.

[13] אֶרֶץ = land. 2 Chronicles 1:9; 2:12, 17; 6:5, 14, 18, 27, 28, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38; 7:3, 13, 14, 21, 22; 8:6, 8, 17; 9:5, 11, 12, 14, 22, 23, 26, 28; 11:23; 12:8; 13:9; 14:1, 6, 7; 15:5, 8; 16:9; 17:2, 10; 19:3, 5; 20:7, 10, 18, 24, 29; 22:12; 23:13, 20, 21; 26:21; 30:9, 10, 25; 32:4, 13, 17, 19, 21, 31; 33:25; 34:7, 8, 33; 36:1, 3, 21, 23.

[14] כָּבוֹד = impressive appearance, reward, honor. 2 Chronicles 1:11, 12; 5:14; 7:1, 2, 3; 17:5; 18:1; 26:18; 32:27, 33.

[15] נֶפֶשׁ = throat (life). 2 Chronicles 1:11; 6:38; 15:12; 34:31.

[16] אָסַף = gather. 2 Chronicles 1:14; 12:5; 24:11; 28:24; 29:4, 15, 20; 30:3, 13; 34:9, 28, 29.

[17] נוּחַ = place, allow.2 Chronicles 1:14; 4:8; 6:41; 9:25; 14:6, 7; 15:15; 20:30.

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The 2 Chronicles shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Chronicles 29

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1 Chronicles 29

1 Chronicles 29:1 Then King David said to all the congregation, “My son Solomon — God has chosen him alone — is an inexperienced boy. The task is great because the building will not be built for a human but for Yahveh God.

1 Chronicles 29:2 So to the best of my ability I’ve made provision for the house of my God: gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx, stones for mounting, antimony, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and a great quantity of marble.

1 Chronicles 29:3 Again, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the house of my God over and above all that I’ve provided for the sacred house:

1 Chronicles 29:4 100 tons of gold (gold of Ophir) and 250 tons of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the houses,

1 Chronicles 29:5 the gold for the gold work and the silver for the silver, for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who will volunteer[1] to consecrate himself to Yahveh today?”

1 Chronicles 29:6 Then the captains of the households, the captains of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave voluntarily.

1 Chronicles 29:7 For the service of God’s house they gave 185 tons of gold and 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 4,000 tons of iron.

1 Chronicles 29:8 Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of Yahveh’s house under the care of Jehiel the Gershonite.

1 Chronicles 29:9 Then the people enjoyed themselves because of their leaders’ voluntary giving, for they had given to Yahveh wholeheartedly. King David also rejoiced greatly.

1 Chronicles 29:10 Then David praised Yahveh in the sight of all the assembly. David said, may you be praised, Yahveh God of our father Israel, from the last age to the next age.[2]

1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the sky and on the land belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.

1 Chronicles 29:12 Riches and reward come from you, and you are the influencer[3] of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.

1 Chronicles 29:13 Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as voluntarily as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand.

1 Chronicles 29:15 For we are aliens and foreign guests in your face as were all our ancestors. Our days on the land are like a shadow, without hope.

1 Chronicles 29:16 Lord our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building you a house for your sacred name comes from your hand; everything belongs to you.

1 Chronicles 29:17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present here giving joyfully and voluntarily to you.

1 Chronicles 29:18 Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, guard this desire permanently in the thoughts of the hearts of your people, and confirm their hearts toward you.

1 Chronicles 29:19 Give my son Solomon an undivided heart to guard and to carry out all your commands, your reminders,[4] and your prescribed tasks, and to build the building for which I have made provision.

1 Chronicles 29:20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praised be Yahveh your God.” So, the whole assembly praised Yahveh God of their ancestors. They knelt low and paid homage to Yahveh and the king.

1 Chronicles 29:21 The following day they offered sacrifices to Yahveh and ascending offerings to the Lord: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, along with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.

1 Chronicles 29:22 They consumed and drank with great joy in Yahveh’s face that day. Then, for a second time, they made David’s son Solomon king; they anointed him as Yahveh’s ruler, and Zadok as the priest.

1 Chronicles 29:23 Solomon sat on Yahveh’s throne as king in place of his father David. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.

1 Chronicles 29:24 All the captains and the mighty men, and all of King David’s sons as well, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.

1 Chronicles 29:25 Yahveh highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been bestowed on any king over Israel before him.

1 Chronicles 29:26 David, son of Jesse, was king over all Israel.

1 Chronicles 29:27 His reign over Israel was forty years; he reigned in Hebron for seven years and in Jerusalem for thirty-three.

1 Chronicles 29:28 He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and reward, and his son Solomon became king in his place.

1 Chronicles 29:29 As for the words of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, note that they are written in the Words of the Seer Samuel, the Words of the Prophet Nathan, and the Words of the Seer Gad,

1 Chronicles 29:30 along with all his reign, his might, and the incidents that affected him and Israel and all the kingdoms of the surrounding lands.

[1] נָדָב = volunteer. 1 Chronicles 29:5, 6, 9, 14, 17.

[2]מֵעוֹלָ֣ם וְעַד־ע֭וֹלָם = from the last age to the next age. 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 103:17.

[3] מָשַׁל = influence. 1 Chronicles 29:12.

[4] עֵדוּת = reminder. 1 Chronicles 29:19.

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Maranatha Daily Devotional – Tuesday, December 1, 2020

The 1 Chronicles shelf in Jeff’s library

OUR FATHERS

OUR FATHERS

1 Corinthians 10:1-6 NET.

¹For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the

cloud, and all passed through the sea, ²and all were baptized into Moses

in the cloud and in the sea, ³and all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴and

all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock

that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. ⁵Nevertheless, with most

of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the

wilderness. ⁶Now these things took place as examples for us, that we

might not desire evil as they did.

There are some texts of Scripture when God pulls back the curtain and lets us see the spiritual dangers that lie beneath the surface of religious activity. First Corinthians 10 is one of those passages. Paul has just finished telling the Corinthians that following Christ requires discipline, intentionality, and self-control. He compares the Christian life to a race, to an athlete training, to a fighter who refuses to swing aimlessly. He is urging them to take their faith seriously.

But now, in chapter 10, Paul turns to the history of Israel to give a sobering warning. He reminds the Corinthians that the Jewish people—“our fathers,” he calls them—had every spiritual privilege imaginable. God’s presence surrounded them. They experienced God’s miracles. They participated in God’s rituals. They ate the manna. They drank from the rock. They walked through the sea. They were part of the covenant community.

And yet, despite all of that, most of them fell in the wilderness. They died under judgment. They never reached the Promised Land.

Why?
Because they confused participation with conversion, and ritual with relationship, they thought that being part of the religious community was enough. They assumed that showing up, going through the motions, and doing the rituals meant they were safe. But God was not pleased with them, because their hearts were never truly His.

Paul is warning the Corinthians—and us—that merely playing along leads to catastrophe. It is possible to be surrounded by spiritual blessings and still be spiritually lost. It is possible to be in the crowd but not in Christ. It is possible to be religious but not redeemed.

And on this Father’s Day, Paul’s warning takes on added weight. Because the failures of the Jewish fathers became the failures of their children, their lack of genuine commitment shaped the next generation. Their hypocrisy became their children’s inheritance. Their spiritual laziness became their children’s downfall.

We must ask ourselves:
What kind of fathers and mothers are we becoming?
What kind of believers are we becoming?
Are we founding fathers of faith—or failing fathers who pass down empty religion?

Paul gives us five principles from Israel’s history—five truths that can protect us from repeating their mistakes and help us pass on a living faith to the next generation.

1. Just Being There Does Not Make You a Leader.

“Our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.” (v. 1)

Paul begins by reminding the Corinthians that all the Israelites were “under the cloud”—God’s visible presence—and all “passed through the sea”—God’s miraculous deliverance. They were present for the greatest acts of salvation in the Old Testament. They saw things we can only imagine. We can only dream of being there and having the kind of experiences they did.

But being present did not make them faithful. Being there did not make them leaders. Being part of the group did not make them godly.

They mistook proximity for spirituality. They assumed that being around God’s people meant they were right with God. They thought that being part of the crowd meant they were part of the covenant.

But God is not impressed with mere attendance. He is not fooled by proximity. He looks at the heart.

And parents, this is especially important for us. Being physically present in our homes is essential—but it is not enough. Being in church with our families is essential—but it is not enough. Leadership is not about just being there; it is about guiding, shaping, modeling, and living out the faith in front of those who follow us.

Being there is good. Leading there is better.

2. Just Doing the Ritual Does Not Identify You With the Reality Behind It.

“All were baptized into Moses… all ate the same spiritual food… all drank the same spiritual drink.” (vv. 2–4)

Paul continues by pointing out that the Israelites had their own versions of baptism and communion. Passing through the sea was like a baptism. Eating manna and drinking water from the rock were like spiritual meals. They participated in the rituals God gave them.

But the rituals did not save them. The rituals did not change them. The rituals did not make them faithful.

They thought that because they had gone through the motions, they were safe. They believed that outward participation equaled inward transformation. But God is not fooled by empty ritual.

And the same danger exists today. Baptism does not save. Communion does not save. Church attendance does not save. Religious habits do not save.

These things are important—but only if they reflect a heart that truly belongs to God.

Parents, your children need to see more than rituals. They need to see reality. They need to see a parent who prays, not just one who attends church. A parent who repents, not just one who participates. A parent who loves Christ, not just one who identifies with Him.

Rituals are symbols—not substitutes—for faith.

3. It Takes Courage to Trust God When You Cannot See Where He Is Leading.

“For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” (v. 4)

Paul says something remarkable here: the Rock that provided water in the wilderness was Christ Himself. Jesus was with them. Jesus sustained them. Jesus provided for them even when they doubted Him.

But the Israelites struggled to trust God when the path was unclear. When the wilderness grew dark, they panicked. When the future was uncertain, they complained. When they could not see where God was leading, they assumed He had abandoned them.

Faith is not proven in clarity but in times of uncertainty. Trust is not tested when the path is smooth, but when it is confusing.

And parents, this is where our children learn courage. They learn it by watching us trust God when life is hard. They learn it by seeing us pray when we don’t have answers. They learn it by watching us obey when obedience is costly. They learn it by seeing us walk by faith, not by sight.

Courage is not the absence of fear—it is the presence of trust.

4. It Is One Thing to Acknowledge God; It Is Another to Seek to Please Him.

“With most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” (v. 5)

This is one of the most sobering verses in the New Testament. The Israelites believed in God. They never denied His existence. They saw His miracles. They heard His voice. They acknowledged Him.

But they did not please Him.

They believed in Him but did not obey Him. They acknowledged Him but did not pursue Him. They wanted His blessings but not His lordship.

And Paul says that because of this, “most of them” were overthrown in the wilderness. They died under judgment. They never reached the Promised Land.

Belief is not enough. Acknowledgment is not enough. God is not looking for people who merely believe He exists. He is looking for people who seek to please Him.

Parents, our children need more than a parent who believes in God. They need parents who seek God. Parents who obey God. Parents who please God. Parents whose lives are shaped by the desire to honor Christ.

Acknowledging God is easy. Pleasing God is costly.

5. As Parents, We Can Be Good Examples or Bad Examples.

“These things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.” (v. 6)

Paul ends this section by telling us why he brought up Israel’s history: it is an example for us. A warning. A lesson. A mirror.

Israel’s fathers failed because they desired evil more than God. They wanted comfort more than obedience. They wanted idols more than intimacy. They wanted the world more than the Word.

And their children followed in their footsteps.

Every father is an example—good or bad. Every father is building something—a foundation or a stumbling block. Every father is leaving a legacy—faith or failure.

The question is not whether you are influencing your children. The question is how you are influencing them.

Are you a founding father of faith—building a legacy of devotion, obedience, and trust?
Or a failing father—passing down empty religion, half-hearted commitment, and spiritual inconsistency?

We can be founding fathers of faith—or failing fathers of empty religion.

CONCLUSION: WHAT KIND OF PARENTS WILL WE BE?

Paul’s warning is clear:
Merely playing along leads to catastrophe.

Israel’s fathers failed because they:

Relied on rituals instead of relationship
Trusted in proximity instead of obedience
Believed in God but did not seek to please Him
Modeled fear instead of faith
Religion passed down instead of devotion

But we can choose differently.

We can be fathers—and believers—who:

Lead with courage
Worship with sincerity
Trust Christ our Rock
Seek to please God
Pass down a living, vibrant faith

This is the calling of every Christian. This is the legacy we must build. This is the faith we must pass on. The good news for all of us – parents and children alike – is that our God is a God of grace and mercy. Whatever relationship we have had with him in the past, we can change that today. His grace is available to turn us from just being present to being committed. And all it takes is his grace. That is all it has ever taken.

LORD, strengthen our resolve to dedicate our lives to honestly holding the faith we profess—faith in Christ our Rock—and passing that faith on to the generations after us.

1 Chronicles 28

1 Chronicles 28

1 Chronicles 28:1 David collected all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem: the captains of the tribes, the captains of the divisions in the king’s ministry, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials, the fighting men, and all the most efficient soldiers.

1 Chronicles 28:2 King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of Yahveh’s covenant and as a footstool for our God. I had prepared to build,

1 Chronicles 28:3 but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’

1 Chronicles 28:4 “Yet Yahveh God of Israel chose me out of all my father’s house to be king over Israel permanently. For he chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah, my father’s house, and my father’s sons, he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.

1 Chronicles 28:5 And out of all my sons — because Yahveh has given me many sons — he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of Yahveh’s kingdom over Israel.

1 Chronicles 28:6 He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who is to build my house and my courts, because I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

1 Chronicles 28:7 I will establish his kingdom permanently if he stays strong in keeping my commands and my judgments as he is doing today.’

1 Chronicles 28:8 “So now in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and guard all the commands of Yahveh your God so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants permanently.

1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and slave for him wholeheartedly and with a willing throat, because Yahveh searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.

1 Chronicles 28:10 Realize that Yahveh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it.”

1 Chronicles 28:11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the house and its buildings, treasuries, upstairs rooms, inner rooms, and a room for the atonement cover.[1]

1 Chronicles 28:12 The plans contained everything that was in his breath for the courts of Yahveh’s house, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of God’s house, and the treasuries of sacred things.

1 Chronicles 28:13 Also included were plans for the divisions of the priests and the Levites; all the work of service in Yahveh’s house; all the articles of service of Yahveh’s house;

1 Chronicles 28:14 the weight of gold for all the articles for every kind of service; the weight of all the silver articles for every kind of service;

1 Chronicles 28:15 the weight of the gold lampstands and their gold lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; the weight of each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the service of each lampstand;

1 Chronicles 28:16 the weight of gold for each table for the rows of the Bread of the Presence and the silver for the silver tables;

1 Chronicles 28:17 the pure[2] gold for the forks, sprinkling basins, and pitchers; the weight of each gold dish; the weight of each silver bowl;

1 Chronicles 28:18 the weight of refined gold for the altar of incense; and the plans for the chariot of the gold cherubim that spread out their wings and cover the ark of Yahveh’s covenant.

1 Chronicles 28:19 David concluded, “By Yahveh’s hand on me, he enabled me to understand everything in writing, all the details of the plan.”

1 Chronicles 28:20 David told his son Solomon, “Be strong and tough and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for Yahveh God, my God, is with you. He won’t leave you or abandon you until all the work for the service of Yahveh’s house is finished.

1 Chronicles 28:21 Notice the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of God’s house. Every willing person of any skill will be at your disposal for the work, and the captains and all the people are at your every command.”

[1] כַּפֹּרֶת = atonement cover. 1 Chronicles 28:11.

[2] טָהוֹר = pure. 1 Chronicles 28:17.

links:

Attention, witnesses!
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Thursday, December 1, 2022
surrendering sovereignty
Who makes the choices- – Devotions

The 1 Chronicles shelf in Jeff’s library