READING FOR JUNE 13, 2025: 1 CHRONICLES 21, GALATIANS 6, PSALM 54 1 CHRONICLES 21 Yesterday’s reading from 2 Samuel 24 was the parallel version of the same event recorded in this chapter: David taking a census of the people. Some of the differences between the accounts were noted in our reading guide yesterday. What is a bit surprising is that this event is included by Ezra at all in Chronicles. Normally he focuses on the positive events from David’s history. One possible reason it is included given by Win Corduan is that this story concludes with a reference to the future site of the temple, which all the exiles were in the midst of reconstructing. Thus, it had total relevance to what the returning exiles were doing at the moment. This may sound contrived, but, in this writer’s experience, almost every part of the Bible has direct application to what is happening in our lives in 2025. It may take some meditating upon the passage to determine the application, but it’s likely there.
Joab in verse 3 immediately understood that David’s command to take a census of the people would “cause guilt to Israel.” Sure enough, we learn in verse 7 that “God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel.” The nature of God’s strike we learn later was a plague killing 70,000. Yet, nowhere in this passage nor in 2 Samuel 24 does the text explain why this was such a great sin worthy of such great punishment. In fact, the late pastor Tim Kellar of New York City, one of the great preachers of this century, could not offer a clear reason in his sermon on this text. Back to our friend Win Corduan of Alexandria, Indiana. He suggests David violated God’s command from Exodus 30:12-13 at the very least: “When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary.” Wisdom from Madison County.
This chapter concludes with David offering a sacrifice on property purchased from Ornan. We learn in the first verse of chapter 22 this spot will later be where the temple is built and later rebuilt by the exiles: “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
GALATIANS 6 There are three ways for a church to handle a situation when one of its members has been found to be at fault. Two wrong ways are 1) ignoring the issue (common today) or 2) correcting it too harshly (read the Scarlet Letter). The one good way is to approach the person gently and with humility. The goal should be instruction and reconciliation, not lasting enmity. In general, church members should be alert to anyone carrying heavy personal loads or too much responsibility and offer to assist as appropriate. All such exchanges and assistance should take place with total humility among all parties. Also, those not pulling their own weight or serving for reasons of personal visibility should examine themselves and seek a
READINGS FOR JUNE 13, 2025 CONTINUED: GALATIANS 6, PSALM 54 better way. Those who minister by teaching the word should be adequately supported by the body, through prayer, cooperation, and yes, money. Realizing that sometimes the word takes time to bear fruit, the church needs to be both patient and persistent in its sharing the truth. God’s blessing is promised. Pray for our church to generously sow and reap.
Paul seems to have written some or all of this letter without the help of a secretary. His mention of his using large letters might suggest his eyesight was not good. (Anybody know about this condition?) He can’t help but get in one more swipe about the pointlessness of circumcision, especially compared to being a new creation in Christ after we are born again. Are we convinced yet? He must be a bit weary at this point because he tells them not to trouble him again about this. He emphasizes that he has suffered physically for the Gospel, so their messing it all up must have been terribly disappointing to him. Let’s get it right.
PSALM 54 This appears to be David’s prayer to God about a situation described in 1 Samuel 23. The Ziphites, part of the tribe of Judah, informed Saul that David was hiding among them. By this time, David had been chosen by God to be the next king. Thus, Saul was working against God’s purposes in trying to kill David. David prays to be saved by the name and power of God from the Ziphites, fellow tribesmen but acting as if they are strangers to David. (Ever been betrayed by those you thought were friends?)
David had reason to believe the Ziphites were not walking with the Lord (vs 3). He contrasts their apparently non-existent faith with his complete trust in God (vs. 4). The destruction he predicts will happen to them is because of their evil and God’s faithfulness. They are not just David’s enemies, but God’s. David ends this Psalm with an expression of praise rooted in his understanding and past experience of God’s goodness. The idea of making requests of God while praising and thanking Him anticipates Philippian 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
