Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ▫ Read 1Chronicles 19–20
Questions from the Scripture text: What happened in v1? What did David plan to do in response (v2)? Who said what in response to this (v3)? What did Hanun do (v4)? How did David respond (v5)? Who saw what (v6)? How did they try to deal with this (v6–7)? How did David respond (v8–9)? What did Joab see (v10)? What was his strategy for this situation (v10–12)? But what is his hope, in this strategy (v13)? How did the battle go (v14–15)? How did the Syrians respond to that (v16)? And with what did David counter (v17)? How did the battle go (v18)? With what ongoing result (v19)? What account is given of the events in 2Sam 11 (20:1–3)? What happened later (v4)? Who did what in that war? How did it turn out? What happened again in v5? Who did what in that war? What happened again in v6? Who was especially formidable? What did he do, and what happened to him (v7)? What summary does v8 give of these events?What is good to do in YHWH’s sight? 1Chronicles 19–20 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that it is good in YHWH’s sight to establish and complete the kingdom of Christ.
There are many overlaps between the experience of the Israelites who had returned from the exile, awaiting the coming of the Christ, and the experience of Christians today, who await the coming again of Christ. They may have their genuinely loving intentions and actions misconstrued by others. They may find themselves in overwhelmingly difficult circumstances. They may endure dreadful moral failures of leaders in the church. They may experience repeated conflicts with formidable foes. This had happened before, during the reign of David. The exiles needed to learn from this for their own circumstances. And so do we.
Loving intentions misconstrued. David says, “I will show loyalty…” (v2). This word, when used of God, refers to His covenanted, steadfast love. It is a reflection of His character in the relationships of men. The accusation of the princes (v3) is extremely unjust. Perhaps you have experienced or observed similar. But, in our passage, we see that what they intended for evil, God intended for the good of expanding and exalting the kingdom of His anointed. When you, or the church, or Christ, are slandered, know that YHWH is yet building the kingdom of His Anointed.
Overwhelmingly difficult circumstances. By the middle of ch19, Israel is facing Ammon, nearby Syria, and the “Syrians” (the name can be used more broadly of people from the northeast) of the nearer half of Mesopotamia. By v16, David was facing the armies of all of Mesopotamia, indeed much of the military might of the world at the time. But it was these overwhelming circumstances that the Lord was using to make so much of the world into David’s servants (v19). And with the Syrians out of the way, YHWH was providing the Ammonites to David as an army of laborers (20:3). This is directly related to provision for the temple. When we face, or the church faces, overwhelmingly difficult circumstances, yet we may know that YHWH is establishing the kingdom of His Anointed.
Dreadful moral failures of leaders in the church. In the context of 1Chronicles, 20:1–3 looks like an explanation of how the Ammonites became lumberjacks, carpenters, and miners for the temple work (v3). And it is. But the most surprising thing about this account is what is not there. This is the same event as recounted in 2Samuel 11, which even the casual Bible student knows for David’s great sins. But, given after the return from the exile, 1Chronicles is more focused on the Lord’s continued establishing of the kingdom of His Anointed. David’s sin is not relevant; the main point is the divine determination to build the church. It is, perhaps, when leaders in the church sin, that we most need to be sure that Christ is building His church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.
Repeated conflicts with formidable foes. The main features in v4–8 are how formidable is the enemy and the repetition. Again, and again, and again there was war with the Philistines. Every time, there was a giant. And, every time, the Lord’s Anointed prevailed. It may seem like the Christian, or the church, is fighting the same daunting battle over and over again. But however many times it repeats, and however formidable the foe, Christ shall finish the work that He has begun. Both in the believer and in His church as a whole!
The Lord has promised to establish the kingdom of His Anointed. Behold what He did in David’s reign, displaying the certainty and power of that promise. Even after the exile, that promise was sure. And how much more confident ought we to be, now that Christ has come! The call to faithfully serve the kingdom, even against the difficulties and disasters that threaten to discourage us, continues today.
This was the hope that Joab and Abishai shared in v12–13. They employed wisdom, they encouraged one another, they devoted themselves to the cause, and they exerted great effort. But, ultimately, their hope was, “May YHWH do what is good in His sight.” And what is good in His sight is to build the kingdom of His Anointed.
By whom have you been betrayed? What overwhelming circumstance do you face? What moral failures, in yourself or in the churches, threaten to discourage you? What daunting battle do you face again and again? What is your hope in the face of all of these circumstances?Sample prayer: Lord, we praise You for the power and the wisdom with which You are building Christ’s kingdom. Forgive us for how discouragement, distraction, and laziness often hinder us from serving that kingdom with zeal and participating in it with diligence. Strengthen and gladden us in Him, and in the confidence that You are making all things to serve the gathering and perfecting of His church, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP72B “Nomads Will Bow” or TPH405 “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord”
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