I Chronicles 28-29
Right up until his last breath, David delights in the Lord his God. As he draws all of Israel together and gives everyone a charge, the king’s mind is on the house of the Lord and the beautiful building which will be dedicated to his God.
David has already gathered many elements. Gold, silver, bronze, onyx stones, inlaid stones, stones of various colors, wood, and alabaster in abundance. He has given from his own collection of silver, gold and bronze. Then he asks if others want to contribute.
At this point, the rulers, princes, and commanders offerwillingly to bring from their treasures gold, silver, brass and iron. “Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.”(29:9)
A giving heart is always a thankful heart. When people give liberally to the Lord, they are always joyful people.
It’s interesting to me that in this account of the transfer of power from David to Solomon, none of the negative stories are related. Nothing is said about Adonijah trying to steal the crown. Nothing is said about Bathsheba having to go to David on Solomon’s behalf.
Instead, this history just includes the anointing of Solomon. God’s will – and not man’s selfish will – is being exalted in this account.
Then “David dies at a ripe old age, full of days, riches and honor, and his son, Solomon reigns in his place.”(29:28)
King David, the greatest of all the kings before him – or after him – exemplifies the favor of God on a man’s life. He made a huge mistake when he committed adultery and murder, but he was truly repentant, and God’s forgiveness was forthcoming along with his blessing.
David’s desire to honor God, his humble trust in God when challenged, and his kindness to those around him – especially to Saul’s household, are attributes which all of us should strive for.
It’s easy to see why David is called a “man after God’s own heart.”
John 9: 28-41
The encounter with the blind man is still provoking the Pharisees. He challenges them because even though he hasn’t studied the Word of God like they have, he knows that the healing he receives from Jesus is noteworthy.
The leaders, totally uncaring about the man who has received his sight, are just trying to accuse Jesus of healing on the Sabbath. This newly healed blind man knows better than they. So he is also making them angry!
In verse 39 Jesus says something which may be confusing, but which is significant (as is everything He says). He says, “for judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”
Now wait just a minute! Jesus is not going to make the Pharisees blind, is He? Of course not. So what does He mean?
I think that I know, so go with me for a minute, and see if you get the same revelation.
Do you remember right at the beginning of Genesis, after Adam and Eve sinned it says that their “eyes were opened and they saw that they were naked?”(Gen 3:7) I think that this type of sight is referring to the natural mind controlling their sight. Until their sin, Adam and Eve had been ruled by the Spirit of God which was within them. Their spiritual vision dominated. When they sinned, their natural vision took over.
So what is the difference between spiritual vision and natural vision? Spiritual vision sees beyond the natural. It incorporates faith so that it looks beyond what is there to what will become. For instance, natural vision may look at a child and see the limitations. Spiritual vision will look at a child and see the potential – the way God looks at us.
So Jesus is saying that He has come so that spiritual eyes can be opened again – the eyes that have been closed since the sin of Adam. Then when the spiritual eyes are totally open, the natural eyes won’t be dominant anymore. People will be led by faith and not by sight.
One day, as I was meditating on this, I felt the Lord speaking to me.
He said, when someone is blind, they need to know where the obstacle are so that they will not fall over things. Yet their eyes are not drawn to the obstacles. When we are led by the Spirit, we are not ignorant of obstacles, but we are not drawn to them. We are drawn to God’s purpose and His plans for us. Our spirit continues to draw us to our greater purpose, as we see with our eyes of faith.
I want to have heavenly vision – don’t you? I want God’s best for me and for those around me. That only comes with spiritual vision – being led by the spirit.