Year 1, Week 34, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 34, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Chronicles 3; Psalm 49; 84-85; 87.

Today’s reading continues with some genealogical matters related to David. 1 Chronicles 3 picks up on David, who was introduced in the previous day’s reading from 1 Chronicles, and lists the descendants of David. The Chronicler’s list can be put into three parts, starting with sons, and one daughter or David (1 Chronicles 3:1-9), continuing on with the Davidic line of kings from Solomon to Zedekiah (1 Chronicles 3:10-16), before concluding with a succession of Davidic descendants through the period of Israel’s exile and some time into Israel’s return from captivity (1 Chronicles 3:17-24). The Psalms from today’s reading each have the ascription that groups them as being by the “the sons of Korah.” Psalm 49 reflects on the fate of the wicked and is a wisdom Psalm: "My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre” (Psalm 49:3-4). Psalms 84 and 87 are commonly labeled as Psalms of Zion, as they focus on the glories of Jerusalem, while Psalm 85 is of a very different tone in that it expresses the need for the LORD to restore His people, as they had been unfaithful and thus, possibly removed from the land. However, the bold prayer expresses confidence that the LORD would respond to His people’s cries: “Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land” (Psalm 85:9).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the strong theme that emerges concerning the desirability of the LORD’s presence: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God” (Psalm 84:1-2). The Psalmist knows that his need is the LORD and thus, his strength is found in the presence of the LORD: “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion” (Psalm 84:5). The presence of the LORD is the source of the Psalmist’s happiness and that happiness overflows into praise: “Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!” (Psalm 84:4). Therefore, the Psalmist can’t think of being in any better of a place, but in the presence of the LORD: “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10). And since the LORD’s presence would reside in the Temple, as it would be built in Jerusalem, the Psalmist’s eye are toward the city of Zion: “On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God” (Psalm 87:1-3).

Therefore, to be away from the city of Zion, was to be far from the presence of the LORD: “Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation” (Psalm 85:4-7). The Psalmist acknowledged the LORD’s past faithfulness: “LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger” (Psalm 85:1-3). And the Psalmist also acknowledged His confidence in the LORD’s further faithfulness: “Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way” (Psalm 85:12-13). While it was not the present experience of the Psalmist, he described what he longed for: “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky” (Psalm 85:10-11).

The Psalmist has experienced the blessed status of the presence of the LORD, but also the difficult situation from not being near to the LORD. Based on the Psalmist’s knowledge that he needs the presence of the LORD, his outlook on life is shaped. The presence of the LORD instills the wisdom that the Psalmist needs to make sense out of the state of the wicked: “Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit” (Psalm 49:5-9). The hope of the wicked is empty. The apparent prosperous ways of the wicked is merely a temporary arrangement: “For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names” (Psalm 49:10-11). The wicked would be cut off from the presence of the LORD. Thus, for the Psalmist, he longs for a future with the presence of the LORD: "But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me” (Psalm 49:15).

As 1 Chronicles 3 traces the descendants of David, some of them will walk in the presence of the LORD, while others will know nothing of the glory of God’s presence. Some would seek the LORD, while others would chase after other things. But the Psalms were available to instruct them, giving guidance to humbly seek the LORD: “Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish” (Psalm 49:12); as well as: “Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish” (Psalm 49:20).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe