Life changes after we pray the “Save Me, Jesus” prayer. What was dark is full of light. We can see where we are going! The Bible gives us direction on how to “live for the Lord.”

His Guidance

Psalms 19:7, 9, “The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced. …9) The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just.” New English Translation

Remember His Faithfulness

Psalms 138:2, “I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your name, because of your loyal love and faithfulness, for you have exalted your promise above the entire sky.” NET

Psalms 143:5, “I recall the old days. I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on your accomplishments.” NET

We Always Have a Choice

1 Chronicles 21:1, “An adversary opposed Israel, inciting David to count how many warriors Israel had.” NET

An adversary incited him but David still had the choice. (God told Moses when he took a census, each man had to pay a ransom for his life, so there would be no plague among them, Exodus 30:12.)

“While the census seems appropriate, David sinned because he was proud of the size of his army.”

New English Translation note on 1 Chronicles 21:1-15

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He Knows Our Name

“…This two-volume work is epic in its sweep, covering a period of roughly four hundred years. …”

NET Introduction to 1 Kings, p. 453

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Over those 400 years, there were many with the same name.

1 Kings 1:8, “But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s elite warriors did not ally themselves with Adonijah.” NET

“…Shimei. Not the Shimei of 2:8, 46; 2 Samuel 16:5-8; perhaps the same as Shimei son of Ela (4:18).”

New International Version Study Bible note on 1 Kings 1:8

The first Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite cursed David as he left Jerusalem, 1 Kings 2:8. Shimei, son of Ela, 1 Kings 4:18, was a district governor for Solomon, 1 Kings 4:7. Maybe it was Shimei, the Levite, the son of Gershon, 1 Chronicles 23:7. Or Shimei, the Ramathite who was in charge of the vineyards, 1 Chronicles 27:27.

God knows which Shimei is listed in this verse. He knows me even when I am in a room full of women named Pamela.

God Offers Peace and Quiet

1 Chronicles 22:9, “Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. Indeed, Solomon will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.” NET

Our Purpose is to Praise Him

1 Chronicles 23:5, “4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments I supplied for worship.” NET

There were as many Levites working on the security team as there were on the worship team. These teams worked in shifts. Psalms 134 was a blessing for the night shift.

Since Levites no longer carried the items from the temple, they became the temple caretakers. They kept it and the courtyards clean. They purified the holy items and made the bread and cakes that were offered to the Lord.

They each had a designated place to stand morning and evening to give thanks to God and praise His name. On holy days, they offered sacrifices with the descendants of Aaron.

“Every Levite had a place and a purpose in the temple.”

NET note on 1 Chronicles 23:1-5

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“…This verse shows Levites who thanked and praised God every morning and every evening. …How can you, like the Levites, establish a habit of prayer and praise? Pray for the determination to do this.”

NET note 1 Chronicles 23:30

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Sunset leaving Tel Aviv over the Mediterranean Sea.

His Blessings

1 Chronicles 26:5-6, “The sixth Ammiel, the seventh Issachar, and the eighth Peullethai. (Indeed, God blessed Obed-Edom.) 6) His sons Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders of their families, for they were highly respected.” NET

1 Chronicles 26:8, “All these were descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were respected men, capable of doing their responsibilities. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom.” NET

The world seeks money, power, and fame. True blessings are children and grandchildren who are leaders, respected, capable, and responsible.

1 Chronicles 28:9, “And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.” NET

How do you live for the Lord? Serve with a submissive attitude, willing spirit, and good motives. Take the time to seek Him.

1 Chronicles 29:12, 14, “You are the source of wealth and honor; you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all. …14) But who am I and who are my people that we should be in a position to contribute this much? Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours.” NET

God gives us everything. We honor Him by giving back.

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