GAY 103, or APRIL 13.
GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?
Our thoughts today are from 1 Chronicles chapter 2 verse 7.
The son of Karmi, Achar, who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted
things.
Now the big picture surrounding this verse.
The writer of the Chronicles could have been Ezra, who was a key character in the return
from Babylonian exile.
They were certainly written after the other historical books of Samuel and Kings, and
with them in mind, but from God's perspective.
The writer makes great efforts to record accurate genealogies, as these were vital to the Jews
especially as they returned to the Promised Land, taking their history with them.
These lists of names proved who they were, and this was vital information.
The chronicler begins with Adam and sweeps through the generations to the United Kingdom
when Saul, David and Solomon ruled.
This gives a firm foundation for the rest of the book.
And now our action step.
So many names with so few details, but the name of Achar caught my eye in chapter 2 verse
7, especially when he is described as one who brought trouble on Israel.
The account of his actions is in the book of Joshua, where his name is recorded as Achan,
but there is no doubt it's the same man whose father was Karmi.
I don't know about you, but I would prefer to be remembered for the good things I have
done rather than the bad ones, but sadly we remember Achar for one thing only, and that
was very bad.
On a general note, why is it that so many of us today have a default setting that recalls
the negative or bad?
Of course the chronicler wasn't doing this.
He was recalling the actions of Achar as part of Israel's history from God's viewpoint.
Often however, we do it just to score points or put someone else in a less than favourable
light.
Wouldn't our churches be different places if we only made positive comments?
Unreal?
Perhaps.
But how about making your first comment each time a positive one?
Try it today if you dare.