1 Chronicles | Nathan Nall | 2023 1 Chronicles 11-12 | Sunday June 7th, 2026 When I’ve had the privilege to fill in, I have been teaching from 1 Chronicles. I know we are a verse-by-verse teaching church, so I need to warn you this study in Chronicles is different in pace and style than what Kyle has been doing through John's letters. It will be more big picture or thematic rather than detailed verse by verse. We are going to cover 11 & 12, and I’m not going to read every verse. Recap of Chronicles When : Post-exile. (timeline) Who : Jews who had come back to the promised land. What : Covers the history of the monarchy pre-exile (1 & 2 Samuel/Kings) Why was it written? To give hope. When the Jews rebuilt the temple, the messiah didn’t come; things were not going great. They were expecting complete restoration but didn’t get it. Things were not what they thought they would be. They needed hope. They needed to remember their biblical expectations, and the writer of Chronicles does this by pointing ppl back to God and His Word The specific lesson I taught last time was about Israel’s first King – Saul. 1 Chronicles 10:13–14 (NASB95) 13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse. If you can’t tell, it was 14 tough verses that ended in tragedy. But the message in those 14 verses is clear. Saul had a clear calling from God, clear instruction from God, and God’s enabling power, but Saul ignored all that and instead trusted in himself, looking to creation to fill only what God can—and that always ends tragically. The story is not over. The writer of Chronicles wants to remind his audience, and you, that a life lived in fellowship with God may not be perfect on your end, but God’s plans are perfect. 1 Chronicles 11:1–3 (NASB95) 1 Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 “In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be prince over My people Israel.’ ” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord through Samuel. The rest of the chapter goes through and talks about how David selected his commander and the mighty men who came to support him. That continues all the way through chapter 12 At the end, David has the support of over 300k men from all the tribes. All united, ready to move forward. Why aren’t we reading it all and looking at the details? I wanted to! First, notice in V1 “all Israel” - this phrase is used several times (11:1, 4, 10; 12:38, and many more in the following chapters) to demonstrate unity. Second notice V2: “In times past... you were the one.” If we read all the verses, you would clearly see the support for David. My question: was it really that clear in the moment? (times past/the years leading up to it) Is this “all Israel” unity the story we see in 1 Samuel? 1 Samuel 17:3–4 (NASB95) 3 The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. 4 Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 1 Samuel 17:9 (NASB95) 9 “If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.” 1 Samuel 17:22–23 (NASB95) 22 Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers. 23 As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them. 1 Samuel 17:26 (NASB95) 26 Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:28–29 (NASB95) 28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.” 29 But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question?” What is Eliab’s view of David? Is the story of David and Goliath before or after David is anointed king? In my head and most likely yours, we think after Goliath, you know, because in our natural state/flesh, we tend to think that David had to prove himself before God could use him! But in reality, God had already told them privately David would be king in 1 Sam 16 1 Samuel 23:16–17 (NASB95) 16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God. 17 Thus he said to him, “Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.” 1 Samuel 23:26 (NASB95) 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to seize them. Men with David and with Saul. In times past, was it clear to “all Israel, the 12 tribes” who was king? 1 Samuel 27:1–2 (NASB95) 1 Then David said to himself, “Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines. Saul then will despair of searching for me anymore in all the territory of Israel, and I will escape from his hand.” 2 So David arose and crossed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. Saul and his men have been hunting David, conservatively, between 1.5 and 15 years. To the extent that David is leaving his homeland and thinking he will die. Notice how many men he had with him at this point—600. How many join him when he becomes king? Over 300k. Seems to me like it might not have been clear to “all Israel” in the moment. So, there’s tension; the perspective of the author of Chronicles saying, “all Israel knew,” does not seem to reflect the perspective of 1 & 2 Samuel. Why? Because there are 2 ways to see life, from the human viewpoint and the eternal viewpoint. The writer of Chronicles is writing to remind people of what God is doing and to give them hope from the bigger perspective. Our hope is not in our view, our work, or our faithfulness. Our hope is in God’s view, His work, and His faithfulness. The post-exile Jews needed to know that, and so do you. You and I experience what the post-exile Israelites experienced. We try to live the Christian life, and then life smacks you! We need to be reminded that God is at work. We need to see from the eternal perspective. Romans 8:28–29 (NASB95) 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; God is causing all things to work for good. What’s the good? To be like His Son! Starts at salvation—Gospel of grace—and continues with God’s daily grace. His undeserved favor in making you like Christ. When you live with an eternal perspective, those things that annoy you become God’s grace to you. Those things that stop you from accomplishing your to-do list today become God’s grace. That spouse, parent, sibling, boss, customer, student, or person you didn’t want to talk to becomes God’s amazing grace—because God wants to change you completely and make you like Him. His grace towards you says, “I’ll use everything to refine you into the image of Christ.” He does not call bad good or sin righteousness. He says I’ll use it for good. You can have confidence that God is staying true to His Word and accomplishing His plan to make you like Christ. Just as God stayed true to His word and united the nation under David. Psalm 56:1–4 (NASB95) 1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me. 2 My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me. 3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. 4 In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? Psalm 56:9–12 (NASB95) 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, In the Lord, whose word I praise, 11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. Psalms written by David in the midst of adversity. In the time when he had been anointed to be king but was not yet king. Be gracious—man has trampled me (pain/suffering) I’m afraid - I will put my trust in you (emotion) This I know: God is for me. (Do you know that?) Your vows (promises) are binding—I will offer thanks (truth over feelings) That is a person who is seeing the bigger picture. That is a person who understands the bigness of God. That God saw him in his suffering and that He could be trusted. Psalm 62:5–8 (NASB95) 5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. When David was being hunted by Saul, he repeatedly refused to go against God’s anointed king. How/Why? Because it was not time yet. David, in the moment, was able to see beyond the immediate because he looked from an eternal point of view. David did not know the day or hour when he would stop being hunted, when he would become king. So he had to over and over again take refuge in the Rock. He didn’t fall into hopelessness. I am not saying tough times weren’t tuff. Read the psalms he wrote during this period. Read/see/feel the emotion behind them. The ups and downs. Notice the relationship, not just the theology Psalm 73:28 (NASB95) 28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works. GOD’s nearness is my good! David’s hope-biblical expectation- was in God. God was His Rock. God’s Word was true no matter the circumstance. Saul looked through the human view. Go read the psalms of Saul. You don’t know when you will see Christ face to face. You don’t know what’s next in the day-to-day; hold on to the Rock! When you look from God’s perspective, things aren’t falling apart; they are falling in place. David, in the midst of adversity, stuck with God’s Word. God’s truth and lived in response, not perfectly, but it guided him along. God’s perfect plan for David according to His Word—make him king and unite all Israel God’s perfect plan for you according to His Word - For you to be like Christ! And for you to be united with Him forever. 1 Chronicles 11:9 (NASB95) 9 David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him. 1 Chronicles 11:14 (NASB95) 14 They took their stand in the midst of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great victory. 1 Chronicles 12:18 (NASB95) 18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was the chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David, And with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, And peace to him who helps you; Indeed, your God helps you!” Then David received them and made them captains of the band. 1 Chronicles 12:22 (NASB95) 22 For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army like the army of God. What do you need to see? If God is in it, He brings the people, He supplies the power, and He accomplishes the plan. Could you imagine the dread, anxiety, and fight-or-flight response that David’s life must have consisted of? If you read the full chapter, you will see the names of those God called, moved, and equipped to serve His perfect plan. David could not have done that! Only God. God brought David the mighty men, and David had to live day by day trusting God, living in response to His Word, and little by little becoming what God declared he would be. The years spent fleeing from Saul were not wasted. Think about this: Who, in your life, has God called, equipped, and moved into your personal bubble to serve His perfect plan in making you like Christ? Who has He brought into your life that is being “God’s help” in knocking all the stuff that doesn’t look like Christ off you? Today! Ask God to help you see things the way He sees. You’re asking for wisdom. Today! Ask God for His grace. You’re asking for your kingdom to be destroyed and for His kingdom to be established. Does not mean everything will be crystal clear in a situation. But it does mean you can have clarity that God is working for eternal purposes, sending His help to make you more like Christ. 1 Chronicles 12:38 (NASB95) 38 All these, being men of war who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one mind to make David king. All Israel is united under David, not because perfect men did perfect things and perfectly made it happen. It is because there is a perfect God, who has perfect wisdom and power to accomplish His perfect plans through the equipping and empowering of imperfect people. Our hope is not in our view, our work, or our faithfulness. Our hope is in God’s view, His work, and His faithfulness. Trust God. If He is in it, He brings the people, He supplies the power, and He accomplishes the plan. And He will accomplish what He has set out to do. 1 Corinthians 15:49 (NASB95) 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. God has big plans for you! Live like it.