Through the Bible Update

If you have been reading through the Bible with Ken and me, you’ll know that we just completed I Chronicles. And in the last two chapters, I was struck with the way King David conducted himself right before he died. It paints a different picture of David than that of 1 Kings 1:1 (there, he appears old and decrepit, shivering under the covers with aches and pains)! But in these last chapters, King David rallied his strength and “rose to his feet and said: ‘Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it.'”

Did you catch that? Back in the Old Testament, David was excited that his people would have the chance to worship at God’s footstool. But think of the far greater access we enjoy because of Christ, for we join the angels in worshiping God before his throne in heaven (Hebrews 4:16). And what’s more, Jesus says in Revelation 3: 21, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne , just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Ken and I closed the Bible after yesterday’s readings and sat there, amazed at the grace we have because of Jesus. And right now, I can’t find a better expression of praise and thanksgiving to God than what old King David said before the assembly (in fact, this would be great to memorize):

“Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name… Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (1 Chronicles 29:10-14). Onward and upward into our next readings…