READING:
One-year plan: 1 Chronicles 23-25
Two-year plan: Psalms 105, 1 Corinthians 7:25-40
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To be honest, I suspect that the last name “Lawless” shows that somewhere in my ancestry was someone who was less than law-abiding. On the other hand, I have learned that far in my background on both sides of my family were folks who served the Lord. For most of us, genealogical lines lead us both to scoundrels and saints.
Today’s reading is a listing of the various people and offices who would help Solomon build the temple and lead worship there. In the midst of the description of the divisions of the priests, though, are these words about Aaron’s sons: “Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests” (1 Chron 24:1-2). The writer of Chronicles only briefly mentions the names of Nadab and Abihu, and he omits details that most Jewish readers would have already known: God judged them with death when they offered “unauthorized fire” in the early days of the sacrificial system (Lev 10:1-3).
Through this judgment, God had warned all the priests to follow His directions precisely. One would hope that they would have always heeded the warning, but such was not always the case. Somehow, we simply don’t learn what we should from the disobedience of others and the corresponding results of their sin.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: What have you learned from others who have fallen?
PRAYER: “Father, teach me to learn from others—and to be a good example for others.”
MONDAY’S READING:
One-year plan: 1 Chronicles 26-29
Two-year plan: Psalm 106, 1 Corinthians 8
MEMORIZATION VERSE (May 1-15):
“Give thanks to the Lord; call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples.!” (1 Chron 16:8)
