Jerusalem - God’s Chosen Place of Worship

I Chronicles 8:1–40
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The writer drew a distinction between those people who lived in Jerusalem and those who lived in Gibeon. There were Benjamites who lived in Jerusalem and others who lived in Gibeon. Gibeon was where the central sanctuary stood during most of Saul’s reign and from then until Solomon built the temple. It was not God’s chosen place of worship, and the ark was never in the sanctuary at Gibeon. Rather, the Gibeon site was the people’s and Saul’s choice. God’s choice was Jerusalem (II Chron. 6:6). God did not choose Saul or Gibeon, but He had chosen David and Jerusalem. David and Jerusalem are the two major pieces in God’s plan of salvation and blessing in Chronicles. 

1.     The Descendants of Benjamin (vv. 1-32). One reason the writer had an interest in the tribe of Benjamin was that it was the only tribe other than Judah to remain loyal to the Davidic line.

2.  The Descendants of King Saul (vv. 33-40). Saul came from the tribe of Benjamin but not from the tribe of Judah that God had promised to provide the leader of the nation.

Application

The choices that we make in life can be very important. It will make a huge difference of whether I choose to go God’s way or my way in the many decisions that I must make in life. Three of my most important choices in life have been: 1) Who I am going to live my life for? (God or self) 2), Who am I going to live my life with? (Life mate) and 3) What am I going to live my life doing?