The Old Testament readings for this week conclude the Chronicler's account of the reign of David, reminding the post-Exilic people that proper worship of God and God's promises to David were to be the foundation of the restored people of God. The New Testament readings are in 1 Thessalonians, Paul's letter of encouragement and follow-up to a newly planted church.
1 Chronicles
Readings – Week of August 14
This week's Old Testament readings in 1 Chronicles can be divided into three sections regarding David’s reign, all of which are focused in different ways on laying the groundwork for the Temple. Recall that the Temple is one of the touchstones for the restored covenant community.
Readings – Week of August 7
Last week’s Old Testament readings collapsed most of David’s rise to power and consolidation of his throne—issues covered from 1 Samuel 16 through 2 Samuel 6—into three chapters. In this week’s readings, comparably speaking, the Chronicler spends more time on David moving the ark to Jerusalem and preparing to build the Temple for the LORD. The readings culminate with David’s psalm of praise in 2 Chronicles 16:7-36, God’s promise to give David an eternal house in 17:1-15 (cf. 2 Sam. 7) and David’s resultant psalm of praise in 17:16-27.
Readings – Week of July 31
Having completed the genealogies that reconnect God's people to their history going back to Adam (1:1-14) and Noah (1:5-27) and to God's covenantal and providential dealings with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (1:34-7:40), this week's Old Testament readings in 1 Chronicles this week transition to the reign of David. The New Testament readings for this week covers the First Missionary Journey of Paul and Barnabas (chs. 13-14) and its immediate aftermath, leading to first church council, the Council of Jerusalem (ch. 15).
Covenantide 