Month: November 2010

1 Chronicles 19; Psalm 20

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Boast In The Lord.

“Some nations boast of their armies and weapons, but we boast in the LORD our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.” ­– Psalms 20:7-8 NLT

The New King James version translates these verses this way: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (Psalms 20:7-8). To remember the name of the Lord is to invoke His name in prayer. To pray to Him is to place your trust in Him. That is what this Psalm is all about. In the midst of the battles David was going to face, like the one described in 1 Chronicles that he fought against the Ammonites, David sought the Lord. He remembered who God was and all that He had done for him over the years. He remembered God’s power and His promises. He remembered God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. He remembered God’s guidance and direction as they navigated the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. He remembered God’s involvement in the victory at Jericho.

Rather than put his trust in armies, chariots, horses, physical resources, or human might, David and his people would take their chances with God. David had had experience with bad odds and lopsided victories. He had taken on Goliath as a young man and won. He had survived against Saul’s hired mercenaries, who hunted David down day and night. David had seen the people of God win battles against the Philistines and other enemies when they were outnumbered and under-equipped. Chariots and horses were no match for the power of God. Just ask Pharaoh.

God is the key to victory and to survival in a harsh, violent world. We live in difficult days, just as David did. We have a real enemy who wishes nothing more than our ultimate destruction. And because he is not flesh and blood, our battle with him cannot depend on our strength or our own resources. We need God’s help. We need to remember God when faced with difficulties. Rather than boast in our own abilities, we need to boast in Him. Like the people of Israel, we need to pray, “In times of trouble, may the LORD respond to your cry. May the God of Israel keep you safe from all harm. May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem” (Psalms 20:1-2 NLT).

What are you putting your trust in today? Where is the first place you turn when times get tough? David turned to the Lord. He put His trust in God.

Father, when will I ever learn to trust You? You have never given me reason not to. You have never failed me or let me down. I have seen You step in and deliver me time and time again, but I have short-term memory loss. I forget. And when I face difficulties I begin to put my trust elsewhere. I begin to turn to other places for help. I look for the chariots and horses in my life. Forgive me. Help me to remember You and all that You have done. Only You can truly deliver. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org



2 Samuel 10

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God’s Will and Our Willingness.

“Be courageous! Let us fight bravely to save our people and the cities of our God. May the LORD’s will be done.” ­– 2 Samuel 10:12 NLT

David was a king, and kings sometimes have to fight the enemy. It’s not all royal dinner parties and leisurely days spent relaxing in the palace. David’s reign was regularly threatened and his kingdom was always under attack by the enemies of Israel. Even though God was with him, David was still expected to do his part. God didn’t fight his battles for him. God gave him wisdom, direction, and even intervened in miraculous ways, but David still had to pick up his sword, lead his army, and take on the enemy in battle. Notice the words that Joab spoke to his brother Abishai: “Be courageous! Let us fight bravely to save our people and the cities of our God.” As one of David’s military commanders, Joab knew that they were going to have to take on the Ammonites and all the mercenary armies they had hired to fight against Israel. He was calling his brother and all those under his command to fight bravely, to do their part. But then he reminded Abishai that the results were up to God. They would do what they could do and trust God to do what was in His will to do.

Waiting for God’s will doesn’t mean we sit on our hands and do nothing. Remember, this whole situation in 2 Samuel 10 began with David attempting to show sympathy to the new king of the Ammonites over the death of his father, the former king. David wants to extend an olive branch in recognition of the late King Nahash and his former loyalty to David. But the king’s son listens to the advice of his counselors and rejects David’s kind offer. He embarrasses David’s emissaries and hires thousands of mercenaries to fight against David. David is forced to respond. So he gathers his troops and prepares for war. But he and his military leaders recognize that the results of this conflict are ultimately up to God. They will do what they have to do, but the outcome is up to God. The well-being of Israel and her inhabitants is being threatened by this upstart king, so David responds with action. It is his job to protect the people of Israel. He has a job to do. He is not being rash or hasty. He is only responding to the actions of the enemies of Israel. He is going to do his part and trust God to do His.

Isn’t that what we are all called to do? Yet oftentimes we are lulled into a sense of complacency and inaction, thinking that waiting on God’s will means doing nothing. David was simply doing his job as king. He was performing the task that God had given him to do. And you and I have responsibilities given to us by God. We are His ambassadors and representatives on this earth. We are to make disciples. We are to carry on the ministry of reconciliation. We are to stand against the enemy and to fight the good fight. We are to spread the gospel and live as salt and light in this world. We are to love others. We are to take up our crosses daily. We have work to do, and we must do it diligently, trusting that ultimately, God’s will will be done. We are to do our part and leave the results up to Him. Like Joab, we are to fight bravely in order to save our people. We are to fight for the body of Christ all around the world. We are to do all that we can do to care for the people of God who are under attack. That is our job. That is our responsibility. That is our duty. So we must do our part and leave the results up to God. We must be willing to do what we have been called to do, and trust that the will of God will be done.

Father, we ask that Your will be done here on earth. But don’t allow us to sit on our hands waiting for You to do it all. You have chosen us, empowered us, equipped us, and commissioned us to do great things here on earth. May we be busy doing what You have called us to do, and trusting in the reliability and accuracy of Your will to be done. May we see ourselves as partners with You as we live out our lives on this planet. Give us courage to do our part, because we know You are going to do Yours. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org



Psalms 60; 75

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With-full Thinking

“With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.” ­– Psalm 60:12 NLT

Things didn’t always go well for David. His reign wasn’t always easy. It was marked with war and not all the battles went his way. And there were times when he wondered just exactly what God was doing, what He was up to. Psalm 60 records just such a time. From David’s perspective, it felt as if God had turned against him.

“You have rejected us…” (Vs 1)

“…broken our defenses…” (Vs 1)

“You have been angry with us…” (Vs 1)

“You have shaken our land and split it open…” (Vs 2)

“You have been very hard on us…” (Vs 3)

But in spite of the circumstances surrounding him, David fell back on the promises of God. He placed his hope in God’s faithfulness. He called out to God and reminded Him of His promises to the people of Israel. “Use your strong right arm to save us, and rescue your beloved people. God has promised this by his holiness : ‘I will divide up Shechem with joy. I will measure out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim will produce my warriors, and Judah will produce my kings. Moab will become my lowly servant, and Edom will be my slave. I will shout in triumph over the Philistines.'” (Psalm 60:5-9 NLT).

David knew he needed God’s help. He knew the answer to his problem was God and God alone. No mere man was going to be able to deliver him. His hope was to be found in God. “Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless” (Psalm 60:11 NLT). David feared the rejection of God. He knew just how serious that would be, so he refused to take God’s presence for granted. He was fully aware just how vulnerable he and his kingdom would be without God. So he appealed to God for His help. David knew that WITH God, all things were possible. There was no predicament too difficult or foe too strong. “With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes” (Psalm 60:12).

It reminds me of the words of Paul to the Philippians: “For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need” (Philippians 4:13 NLT). Do we believe that? Do we live our lives as if that is a fact and not just some empty statement we quote to someone else when they are going through difficulty? Paul believed it, just as David did. They both knew that with God all things were possible, but that without Him they were weak, vulnerable, exposed, and incapable of surviving in this world. As believers, sometimes our life with God is nothing more than our hope of eternal salvation. We believe, and rightfully so, that because of what Christ has done on the cross, we are assured of our future salvation and a place in heaven. But we tend to live our lives in this world without God. It is as if we believe that we are on our own as long as we are living on this planet. We make decisions without God. We plan our days and our lives without God. We do battle with the enemy without God’s help. We raise our children without God’s wisdom. We celebrate our successes without giving God thanks or credit. We suffer setbacks and trials without calling out to God for help or deliverance.

But the Psalmist knew that life without God is no life at all. Paul knew that success and survival were both dependent upon God. With God’s help, we can do mighty things. We can do all things with the help of Christ. For the life of a believer, the word “with” is more than a preposition. It’s the key to living the life we’ve been called to live. With God, a life of holiness is possible. With God, sinful habits can be defeated. With God, joy can be a reality. With God, Satan can be resisted. With God, abundant life can be experienced. With God, trials can be rejoiced in, not just endured. A life with God is a full life. So why not include Him in yours today?

Father, I tend to live my life too much without You. Please forgive me. Today’s reading has been a reminder of just how much I need You. But that thought needs to permeate my thinking each day, all day. Continue to remind me just how much I need You. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org



Psalms 50; 53

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Attitude Vs. Actions

“I don’t need the bulls you sacrifice; I don’t need the blood of goats. What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” ­– Psalm 50:13-15 NLT

We can get so busy doing things for God that we actually lose sight of God. We think we are giving God what He desires – acts of service, attending Bible studies, having out quiet times, going to church, giving money – but all our busyness isn’t what God needs or desires. What He wants is our hearts. He wants a relationship. According to the Psalmist, God wants our thanks. He wants us to recognize who He is and all that He has done for us. It is our thanksgiving that should produce sacrifice. Our gratefulness will result in genuine acts of service to Him. Gratitude is an attitude that results in actions. We will love Him more when we realize just how much He first loved us.

Over in Psalm 51, the writer reminds us of something else God desires from us, and once again, it isn’t our actions and efforts.  “Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you. You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:15-17 NLT). God wants a humble, repentant heart. He wants an attitude of humility and brokenness before Him. Yet what we tend to do is just get busy for Him. We do more. We sacrifice more. We get involved in more. We may even read our Bibles more, all in an attempt to please Him. But there have been plenty of times when I have read my Bible more out of duty than out of delight to hear from Him. I do it as a chore to be done, something to check off my to-do list. The same can be true of attending church. How many times do we go, but never hear from God. We sit in services and sing songs, pray prayers, and listen to sermons, but we walk away having never really heard from or having met with God.

It is this attitude that Jesus despised in the Pharisees of His day. They were the kings of religious ritual and going through the motions. Yet Jesus said of them, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away.” (Matthew 15:8 NLT). They were religious superstars, but didn’t have a heart for God. They were outwardly religious, but inwardly distant from God. Their actions did not stem from a right relationship with God.

It seems that God wants our thanksgiving and our obedience. But He wants our obedience to come from a right heart, not just some sense of religious rule keeping. Because God knows we can DO all the right things, yet have hearts that are far from Him. In fact, the Psalmist indicates that a day is coming when God will judge those who pretend to be religious: “Recite my laws no longer, and don’t pretend that you obey me. For you refuse my discipline and treat my laws like trash. When you see a thief, you help him, and you spend your time with adulterers. Your mouths are filled with wickedness, and your tongues are full of lies. You sit around and slander a brother — your own mother’s son. While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you” (Psalm 50:16-21 NLT). God knows our hearts. He knows when our actions are just that – actions without the right attitude. He knows when we are going through the motions – acting religious, yet living lives that reflect a double-standard. We pretend to be in love with God, but in reality we’re in love with the world and the things it offers.

God wants our hearts. He longs for our attitudes to influence our actions. He doesn’t need our sacrifices. He desires our hearts to desire Him. “But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me” (Psalm 50:23 NLT). Thanksgiving is a reflection of our understanding and appreciation for who God is and all that He has done for us. Obedience is an action that flows from a right attitude. We obey Him because we love Him. We serve Him because we appreciate Him. We serve Him because we are grateful to Him.

My lips will praise You, for You are holy;
My voice will ever rise before Your throne.
My heart will love You, for You are lovely,
And You have called me to become Your own.

Father, You deserve my thanksgiving. You deserve my praise. You deserve my obedience. May I learn to serve You more out of gratitude than some sense of obligation or duty. Don’t let my relationship with You turn into religion and ritual. I want to praise You with my life and my lips. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org



1 Chronicles 18

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Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

“So the LORD gave David victory wherever he went.” ­– 1 Chronicles 18:6 NLT

David subdued and humbled…

David also conquered…

David destroyed…

David captured…

David killed…

David brought…

David dedicated…

David reigned…

At first blush, it would appear that this chapter is all about David. After all, his name is mentioned 16 times, so it would seem that he is the focus of the chapter. And in a way, he is. But there is one other character who plays an even more significant role in the story being told here. And that would be God. Without Him, none of David’s exploits would have been possible. Without God, David would not even be the king of Israel. His presence in this story is what sets the reign of David apart from that of Saul and every other king who had ever ruled over a nation. The chronicler makes it clear: “So the LORD gave David victory wherever he went” (1 Chronicles 18:6 NLT). God gave the victory. David got the credit. He got to enjoy the thrill of the victory. He got to experience the rush of winning a decisive battle and watching the enemies of Israel cower at his feet. He got to see his royal coffers overflow with the plunder of each successive victory. But without God, none of it would have been possible. When David’s army defeated the Moabites, the chronicler wrote, “This was another example of how the LORD made David victorious wherever he went” (1 Chronicles 18:13 NLT).

God is the behind-the-scenes star of this story. He always is. We may not see Him, but He is always there. David was God’s man. He had chosen him to be king. He had anointed David as Saul’s replacement and now that David was on the throne, God was blessing his every move. But David had a part to play. And it was not just to be successful. David’s exploits are not nearly as important as David’s heart. God had chosen David because he was a man after His own heart. David had a heart for God and it showed up in his obedience to God. Unlike his predecessor, David sought the will of God. He asked for God’s guidance. And he seemed to know that his reign was only as strong as his relationship with God. Which is why David acknowledged God in his victories and sought God in times of defeat. As the spoil of battle began to add up, David made sure that he did not try and take credit for his victories. “King David dedicated all these gifts to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had taken from the other nations he had subdued” (1 Chronicles 18:11 NLT). David knew that he was being blessed by God for a reason. If you recall, at one point David wanted to build a temple for God, but God told David that he would not be able to do so. That job would be up to David’s son, Solomon. But David’s victories were going to pay for the construction of that temple and much of the plunder of war would be used in furnishing the temple. “Later Solomon melted the bronze and used it for the Temple. He molded it into the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the various bronze utensils used at the Temple” (1 Chronicles 18:8 NLT). David was dedicated to God. Everything he did, he seemed to do for the glory of God. Was he always perfect in this pursuit? No. But we see in this chapter a characteristic of David that truly set him apart. And it is a quality that should mark our lives as Christ-followers. We should recognize that God is the behind-the-scenes star of our life story as well. He has called us. He has chosen us to be His sons and daughters. He is orchestrating the events of our lives in order to bring us good and Himself glory. It is our job to acknowledge Him and to realize that any “victory” we experience is due to Him, not us. We cannot take credit for our successes and blame God for our failures. And we cannot enjoy the benefits of a relationship with God without realizing that the blessings of God are not just for our own benefit. God blesses us in order that we might be a blessing to others. Our victories are not for us to bask in. God blesses us for a reason. David’s successes were not for him, but for the glory of God and the good of the nation of Israel. Our successes are not for us, but for the glory of God and the good of the body of Christ. This is God’s story, not ours. He is the star. And He alone deserves the credit.

Father, You do deserve all the credit for any successes I have experienced in my life. But it is so easy for me to rob You of glory by taking the credit myself. I over-value my own self-worth at times. I forget that I am nothing without You. Any good I experience, any blessings I enjoy – all come from Your hand. Help me continue to learn to give You all the credit. Thank You for being the behind-the-scenes star of my life’s story. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org



2 Samuel 8; 9

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The Unmerited Favor of God

“And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly with David, as though he were one of his own sons.” ­– 2 Samuel 9:11 NLT

We have in these two chapters of 2 Samuel, a dramatic contrast. On the one hand, you see David, the conquering king experiencing victory after victory – all because God is with him. “So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went” (2 Samuel 8:6b NLT). On the other hand, you see David the gracious king, extending kindness to the grandson of his old nemesis, Saul. In these two contrasts we see a picture of God and His relationship with mankind. God is the conquering King, the warrior-God, before whom no king or nation can stand. He is all-powerful and nations fall before His might. Yet, He is also the gracious King who extends mercy and favor to those who do not deserve it and could never earn it. David had the hand of God upon him. He was unstoppable. He was winning battle after battle against anybody and everybody. And while he could have justified a desire to search out and destroy any descendants of Saul, thus eliminating any claim they might have to the throne, he instead seeks out Saul’s descendants in order that he might show them grace – unmerited favor.

Mephibosheth is a picture of you and me. We are crippled by sin, weak and defenseless before the mighty King. We deserve His wrath and judgment. We have inherited the legacy of our “grandfather” Adam. We are sinners just like he was. We stand before God as guilty. We are usurpers to the throne of God. And while we deserve His wrath, He instead extends to us His grace. He seeks us out. He invites us into His throne room. He gives us what we do not deserve – which is grace. And He does not give us what we do deserve – which is mercy. No, like Mephibosheth, we find ourselves standing before God as guests in His home, eating at His table, enjoying the benefits of His grace.

Those of us who are in Christ have been extended the same grace as Mephibosheth. We stand before God as His children. We enjoy the benefits of His mercy and grace each and every day. Crippled by sin and powerless to provide for ourselves, we eat at the King’s table and take advantage of His remarkable kindness. What an honor. What a privilege. What a God we serve.

Father, may I never lose sight of the magnitude of the kindness You have extended to me. May I never stop marveling that I am Your child and that I enjoy the benefits of Your grace, instead of Your wrath – all because of what Your Son did for me on the cross. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org



Psalms 33; 36; 39

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A Healthy Fear of God

“But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.” ­– Psalms 33:18 NLT

The fear of the Lord seems to be something we are afraid to talk about in the church today. I guess it just sounds so foreign to us. Fear is something we run from, not embrace. It doesn’t fit with our sanitized concept of God. Our God is loving and kind, gentle and forgiving. He is more like a kindly old grandfather figure who doles out treats to his grandchildren than a holy, righteous, and sometimes wrathful God who can and does get angry and hates sin. So we choose to reject any concept of fearing God. It makes Him seem too unapproachable and unattractive. Yet the Psalmists seemed to talk about the fear of the Lord a lot. And it seems to be a theme within the three Psalms in today’s reading.

So what is this fear of the Lord? And do we experience it? If not, why not? The Psalmist says God watches over those who fear Him, and that fear is linked to a reliance on God’s unfailing love. So the fear of God and the love of God seem to go hand in hand. They are not mutually exclusive. The Psalmist goes on to say, “For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust. He loves whatever is just and good, and his unfailing love fills the earth” (Psalms 33:4-5 NLT). He then goes on to talk about God’s creation of the world. “Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command” (Psalms 33:8-9 NLT). God is great, mighty and awesome. He is the creator God, who brought into existence everything we see. There is no other god like Him. That fact alone should create a fear and awe of Him. He is not ordinary and pedestrian. He is not normal and run-of-the-mill. He is extraordinary.

And the Psalmist goes on to speak of God’s power over the nations. “The LORD shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes” (Psalms 33:10 NLT). He is greater than any human power has ever been. He is more powerful than any nation on earth that has ever existed. And recognition of that fact changes how we view God. “We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone” (Psalms 33:20-22 NLT).

A healthy fear comes from an understanding of who God is and what He has done and is capable of doing. He is all powerful. He is in complete control. He is capable of shattering mountains and nations. He created all things and He can destroy them. And yet, He has chosen to have a relationship with mankind. He has chosen to show His love to men and women, and extend to them His love, mercy, and grace. The Psalmist recognized and appreciated this. “What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen for his own” (Psalms 33:12 NLT). That God would show love to any of us should blow us away. My love for God is directly linked to my fear of God. That a God this powerful, holy, righteous, and just should love me should astound me. And it should set me apart from those who do not love the Lord.

The Psalmist describes those who do not fear the Lord in sobering words. “Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do what is good. They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their course of action is never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil” (Psalms 36:1-4 NLT). With no fear of God, they have nothing to restrain them. They fear no consequences. Even if they believe in God, they do not think He is going to do anything. Their attitude is a lot like those described in the following passages:

“‘The LORD isn’t looking,’ they say, ‘and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.’ Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is the one who made your ears deaf? Is the one who formed your eyes blind? He punishes the nations — won’t he also punish you? He knows everything — doesn’t he also know what you are doing? The LORD knows people’s thoughts, that they are worthless!'” – Psalms 94:7-11 NLT

“‘Do you people think that I am some local deity and not the transcendent God?‘ the Lord asks. ‘Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?’ the Lord asks. ”Do you not know that I am everywhere?’ the Lord asks” – Jeremiah 23:24 NET

It is our fear of God that prompts us to obey God. It is His love for us that empowers us to obey us. Fear alone will not last. But if I can comprehend His love and balance it with my fear of Him, I will respond in grateful love and obedience in return. Without fear, I will live in open rebellion. Without an understanding of His love, I will live in guilt and with a sense of burden. But when I recognize that the holy, powerful, all-knowing God has extended His love to me, I should respond in love. My fear of Him does not go away, but it will be coupled with an astounded and grateful love for Him.

Father, may I never cease to fear You so that my love of You is never superficial and maudlin. I don’t want it to be a sentimental kind of love, but one that understand who You are and all that You have done for me. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org



Psalms 25; 29

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A God Worth Worshiping

“Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” ­– Psalms 25:4-5 NLT

Where do you turn in times of trouble? David turned to God. Why? Because He knew that God would hear him and answer. He knew his God to be compassionate, kind, loving, good, upright, truthful, trustworthy, wise, and forgiving. He knew God would lead him, teach him, and show him the right path to follow. And in the end, God would save him – from whatever difficulty he found himself in. David also knew that his God was a forgiving God who, although holy and righteous, would forgive David’s sins time and time again. Which is why David could pray, “For the honor of your name, O LORD, forgive my many, many sins” (Psalms 25:11 NLT). David had confidence that he could come to God with his sins, confess the, and God would forgive him – each and every time. In his times of difficulty and trouble, David knew he could come to God and call out for help. “Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins. See how many enemies I have, and how viciously they hate me! Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for I trust in you” (Psalms 25:16-20 NLT).

David had no problem worshiping God because he trusted in God. He had learned the compassion and mercy of God firsthand. God had proven Himself to David time and time again. David had been in trouble before, and God had delivered. David had been in distress before, and God had answered him. David had needed direction before, and God had provided it. For David, worshiping God was like appreciating a warm jacket on a cold day. It was like experiencing a cool drink of water when dying of thirst. David had experienced the character of God firsthand. He had felt the compassion of God. He had enjoyed the forgiveness of God. He had benefited from the wisdom and direction of God. This was not some esoteric and academic understanding. It was real. It was real life. And David couldn’t help but worship.

Father, may my experience of You become increasingly more real and not just academic. May I trust You more and more because I have trusted You. May I turn to You more and more because I have proven You trustworthy time and time again. May I come to You for forgiveness regularly because You always provide it faithfully. May my worship of You be based on my experience of You. You are active in my life and I am grateful. But let me express it more because I realize it more and more. May I learn to give You the honor You deserve. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org



1 Chronicles 17

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The Death of a Vision

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a temple to live in.'” ­– 1 Chronicles 17:4 NLT

David had a great idea. He wanted to do something for God that would reflect his gratitude for all that God had done for he and the nation of Israel. He would build God a permanent temple or dwelling place. Just like all the other gods of the nations had. This idea made sense to David. God had given him a kingdom and he had built himself a palace, so why shouldn’t God have a temple in which to dwell? And David knew he wanted to have God’s presence as a permanent part of his kingdom if he was going to be successful. Where did David get such an idea? Well, obviously not from God as the text makes clear. He probably got the idea from looking at the nations around him. As he conquered other countries, David would see that their capitols contained a palace and a temple, because in the Near Eastern mindset the relationship of the king and the god of that nation were inseparable. The palace was the earthly residence of the king. The temple was the earthly residence of the deity that stood behind that king. So David was simply wanting to have what the other nations had.

His desire was not necessarily wrong or evil. He was wanting to honor God and his plan was based on his understanding that his kingdom was only as powerful as his God was close. But God had other plans for David. He wanted David to be a kingdom builder, not a temple builder. He reminds David that He is the one who chose him and put him on the throne. He did not ask for a temple to be built. David did not need to build a house for God to assure himself of the presence of God. God had been with him the entire time he was hiding in the wilderness. And He was with David now.

God had a job for David to do. He was the warrior-king. He was to do battle with the Philistines and the enemies of Israel. He was the shepherd-king. He was to shepherd and care for the people of Israel by providing them with protection from their enemies. David’s desire to build God a temple would have proved to be a distraction from the very task God had called him to perform. And the same can be true for us. In our desire to do great things for God, we can miss out on the job God has called and equipped us to do. “Often we may have to accept that the work which we would dearly like to perform in terms of Christian service is not that for which we are best equipped, and not that to which God has in fact called us. It may be, like David’s, a preparatory work, leading to something more obviously grand. Recognition and acceptance of our true measure is the first and necessary step towards seeing the significance of what, in God’s purposes, we really can achieve and have achieve.”– J. G. McConville, 1 & 2 Chronicles.

By doing what God had prepared him to do, David would be establishing Israel as a powerful force in the region. He would be setting up Israel as the dominant nation in that area of the world, so that when Solomon took the throne he would enjoy a time of unprecedented peace. And it would be during this time of peace that Solomon would build the temple David dreamed of building. Sometimes our work is preparatory. We are paving the way for something else. Our work may appear less important or somehow less significant, but we must do what God has called us to do. David was going to have to die to his vision. It would be painful and disappointing. But it would prove the best thing that ever happened to David and the nation of Israel. God didn’t need a temple. God needed a man who would obediently do what he was called to do; and leave the rest to God.

Father, sometimes I can come up with all kinds of ideas for serving You. I can get all excited about my plans for making Your kingdom great. But in doing so I have often forgotten to ask You what Your thoughts are. I fail to recognize that my plans can actually get in the way of Yours. And I can lose sight of the work You have called and equipped me to do. Keep me focused on and faithful to Your will, not mine. If I have to die to my vision, give me the strength to do so, and to willingly follow Your plan over mine.  Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org



2 Samuel 7

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You Can’t Out-give God

“Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” ­– 2 Samuel 7:18 NLT

David wanted to build a temple for God – a dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant. He had been able to build a palace for himself and God had allowed his kingdom to experience a period of peace. David had been able to complete to a great degree what Joshua had begun – to occupy the land of Canaan. And now David wanted to do something for God. He wanted to build Him a dwelling place fit for the God of the universe. When you think about it, it really was a grandiose dream. How in the world could a mere man, even the king of Israel, hope to build a suitable home for God? But David’s heart was in the right place.

But God had other plans. Just when David thought he was going to do something great for God, he ends up being the recipient of God’s blessing yet again. God informs David that he is not going to get to build God a house because He does not need one. He never even asked for one. Instead, God would build a house for David, but not a literal house. No, He was going to build a dynasty for David. In this chapter we have the Davidic covenant. God promises not only to let David’s son ascend to the throne after him, but He promises to establish David’s throne forever. This does not mean that there would be an unbroken chain of David’s descendants on the throne, because that possibility was eliminated when the people of Israel and Judah went into captivity. But God was promising David that one day He would reestablish the throne of David and place on it a descendant who would reign forever. That descendant is Jesus Christ, and He will sit upon the throne of David at the time of His second coming.

Here was David hoping to build a temporal home for God and yet God was promising to build a permanent dynasty for David. Even when Solomon was given the opportunity to build a dwelling place for God, it would not last long. It would be destroyed. But the house of David would last forever. Isn’t that just like God? When we think we are blessing Him, He turns around and blesses us. We can’t ever out-give God. And David’s response was one of praise. “How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you––there is no other God. We have never even heard of another god like you!” (2 Samuel 7:22 NLT). David recognized that He could never out-give God. He could never do more for God than God could do for him. Even if those blessings were completely undeserved. And like David, we have received blessings from God that are for greater than our capacity to return the favor. God has given us eternal life and the promise of unbroken fellowship with Him. David owed everything he had and everything he was to God. Now he owed the future of his kingdom and the promise of his future house to God as well. Regardless of enemies or the sinful failings of future kings who sat on the throne of David, nothing could prevent God from fulfilling His promise that David’s throne would one day have a descendant who reigned forever. And that king is Jesus.

Father, You give and You give and You give. You have done far more for me than I could ever deserve or repay. Just when I think I am doing you some kind of a favor by my efforts on Your behalf, You remind me that nothing I do adds value to who You are or merits any worth in your eyes. You don’t need my sacrifices. You don’t need my praise. You have no needs. But my praise and my efforts on Your behalf are simply the response of a man who has been given so much – undeservedly. You have given me eternal life. You have given me forgiveness of sins. You have given me the righteousness of Your son, in exchange for my unrighteousness. How could I ever even think I could somehow repay You?  Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org