Resetting Our Focus

At times, we get distracted by the events and concerns of the day. Today’s reading from 1 Chronicles 16 reminds us of the importance of resetting our focus on God!

Scripture:       

1 Chronicles, chapter 16; Psalm 106; Matthew, chapter 19

1 Chronicles 16:8-14 (CEB):

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make his deeds known to all people! Sing to God, sing praises to him; dwell on all his wondrous works! Give praise to God’s holy name! Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the Lord!

Pursue the Lord and his strength; seek his face always! Remember the wondrous works he has done, all his marvelous works, and the justice he declared – you who are the offspring of Israel, his servant, and the children of Jacob, his chosen ones. The Lord – he is our God. His justice is everywhere throughout the whole world.

Observations: Resetting Our Focus to Praise God

Today’s reading from 1 Chronicles 16 continues to story of David’s ascension to power after Saul’s death. After the initial battles with holdovers from Saul’s court, David consolidated his power and moved his capital to Jerusalem. As part of that, he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The Ark symbolized God’s presence with His people. It was traditionally kept in the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle. The cover of the Ark was called the “mercy seat,” where God “sat” when He inhabited the tabernacle.

Bringing the Ark to Jerusalem helped to reset the Israelites’ focus. Instead of worrying about the conflict between David and Saul, and the battles which ensued after Saul’s death, they could turn their attention back to God. Verses 8-36 of 1 Chronicles 16 are titled “David’s song of praise.” Throughout this song, David reminds the people that God is the source of all their blessings. He also calls them to respond to God:

• Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name (8a)
• Make his deeds known to all people (8b)
• Sing to God, sing praises to him; dwell on all his wondrous works (9)
• Give praise to God’s holy name (10a)
• Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the Lord (10b)
• Pursue the Lord and his strength; seek his face always (11)
• Remember the wondrous works he has done, all his marvelous works, and the justice he declared (12)

Resetting Our Focus to God’s Commands

David recognized that true worship was not limited to praising God; true worship means obeying God. Jesus confirmed this: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and don’t do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). Jesus also said, in the Sermon on the Mount, “Not everybody who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matthew 7:21).

David first calls the people to remember…the justice he declared. The Israelites were victorious when they honored God’s commands. When they tried to do things their own way – the way of the world – they failed. Contrary to what we often think, God’s “justice” does not relate primarily to punishment; it relates to His call for us to be like Him. That’s why David encouraged the people to “share the news of his saving work every single day” (1 Chronicles 16:23), and to “declare his glory among the nations” (16:24).

Application: Resetting Our Focus to God’s Ways

It’s interesting that David calls the people to remember God’s justice. That justice did not relate solely to military victories over their enemies. It impacted the ways that they related to the people of the world. “Sharing the news of his saving work” would not mean much if that “saving work” meant that unbelievers would die! God called Israel to be a nation of priests, to represent Him to the people of the world.

God calls us to that same mission today. As Peter reminds us, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light” (1 Peter 2:9, emphasis added). We are not called primarily to proclaim political positions. The “holy nation” is not the United States of America; it is the people of God that we call the “Church.”

That does not mean that we should not have political views. But we are called to live as citizens of our country in ways that bring honor to God, not to ourselves. We do not exult in “our” power; we declare the power and glory of God. No earthly leader is worthy of our primary allegiance; that belongs to God. Perhaps it’s time for us to reset our focus!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for reminding us that You alone are worthy of our praise and worship. That praise is not simply lip service, but a complete surrender to You. Jesus, when we call You “Lord,” we are pledging our allegiance to You. Help us to follow Your example – to know and do the will of the Father. Show us how to live in ways that bring glory and honor to God. Amen.