1 Chronicles 29: 21-30

It is a thing of beauty to see this orderly transfer of power from David to Solomon. Somebody commented to me about the contrast with the transition from Saul to David. There was Saul greedily grasping the throne; clutching it tightly to his chest. He was unwilling to let it go and fearful of the man God had chosen. But it wasn’t like that with David. He was only too thankful for his long ‘innings’ (26 – 28) and only too happy for his son to replace him at the ‘crease’. Behind this smooth change of leadership we can clearly discern the over-ruling activity of Almighty God, who does all things well (22a, 23a, 25).

There are no perfect leaders or perfect people. All have sin and sins that require forgiveness (21, 22). There is an abundance of sin in the world. There was an abundance of wickedness in just this one nation of Israel (21) at that time. But there was also an abundance of sacrificial provision. Where sin abounded, grace did much more so. However, these multiplied sacrifices had to be repeatedly offered throughout the Old Testament era. They were a temporary measure. They could not remove sin; they could only cover it. But they all pointed forward to the one, perfect and final sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, who offered His own spotless life to God on behalf of all people. (The book of ‘Hebrews’ speaks eloquently to this subject.) So, in the Old Testament we see an abundance of imperfect sacrifices; in the New Testament we see one perfect sacrifice by which God has made abundant provision for the potential forgiveness of all. No wonder we too eat and drink with great joy in the presence of the LORD each time we take communion, and how much more so! Aren’t you glad that every time you come to worship you don’t have to bring an animal with you? We have Jesus, and He is enough!

In reading (22b – 24) I see a parallel with our experience of King Jesus. We come to know Him and pledge our submission (24) to Him. We want Him to be Lord of our lives and we tell Him this is the case. However, there may come a point where we feel the need to reaffirm His Kingship over us (see 1 Sam.11:4). Because of our sinful tendency to slip away from our moorings, our anchorage in Christ and drift, we might need to acknowledge Him as King a second time (22b). It’s possible we may have to do this a third time and a fourth…and so on. If you have asked Jesus to be your King, but you are aware today of areas of your life that are not under His Kingship; regions that are in revolt, surely this is the day to reaffirm the kingship (1 Sam.11:4)?

One final thought: God is able to put great honour upon certain people. If He chooses to do this it is His business. He has His own reasons. He is Sovereign, and it will always be for His own glory that He does such a thing. As we have seen, in a passage that deals with two great political leaders, God is seen to be the greatest, and the One in charge. So, as someone wisely observed: If the Lord’s going to raise you up, let Him raise you up. But whatever you do, don’t raise yourself up!