Good people are hard to find. Every business I walk by seems to have a sign out, offering better wages and stronger employment packages. Issues created by a lack of quality employees pops up regularly. Interestingly, King David and his administration faced a similar issue.

In a long list of officials serving the king and kingdom, and we discover a comment about their desire for capable workers: In the fortieth year of David’s reign search was made and men of great ability among them were found at Jazer in Gilead.

I wonder how they went about their search? What list of criteria were used? Did they survey the surrounding countryside? Interview prospective candidates? Then, what happened in that region to facilitate the growth and development of so many talented people? What was in the water in Jazer of Gilead?

As a result of his search, King David found 2,700 men of great ability, and appointed them to leadership of their region, overseeing everything pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.

David didn’t know what he had out there far from the capital. But people of great ability exist in places we overlook. A glaring need led to the search in the first place, and the Lord’s goodness provided the leaders necessary to serve the kingdom for years to come.

This brief parenthesis in a book filled with lists reminds me to notice the talented people around me that perhaps I’ve overlooked.

1 Chronicles 26 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Shivendu Shukla

My wife and I walked into a fancy kitchen store yesterday just to look around. She’s an excellent baker, and commented as we entered, “this is like a candy store for me.” Well, we didn’t buy any candy, but she left with lots of ideas. I’ll soon be the recipient of good things coming from the oven.

Bakers only gain expertise by kneading the dough and baking the bread. Sometimes things don’t turn out as planned. The bread fails to rise or distractions lead to a scorched loaf. It’s challenging and messy and frustrating, and at times you throw dough across the room. But only dirtying up the kitchen leads to skill and expertise and hope.

Paul wrote words of encouragement to a church in the midst of the messy and frustrating: We boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

I return to this passage over and over. To know that suffering moves me toward fresh perseverance which then builds deeper character opens my eyes to the long view of life. Then to understand hope eventually emerges helps me grasp a bit more of God’s immense love toward me.

I think of the Holy Spirit like the aroma wafting from freshly baked bread (which is probably terrible theology). But as promise and joy and goodness infuse a room when bread comes from the oven, the Holy Spirit now infuses my life, strengthening and promising joy and goodness from the Lord.

Paul reminds me that my suffering—my time in the oven—pays off through perseverance, character and hope, always underscored by the Holy Spirit’s work.

Romans 5 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Theme Photos

Some good news is better than others. When I hear the St. Louis Cardinals won a close game against the Chicago Cubs, that’s good news. But when I hear from an old friend I haven’t talked to in years, that’s truly good news.

Jesus began his public ministry by traveling throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people (Matthew 4:23).

What good news did Jesus announce in all those houses of worship? The Kingdom of God is near, and hope dawns on the horizon. To prove his point, Jesus restored as he preached.

Jesus healed people sick from pain, seizures, debilitating illnesses and demon possession. He didn’t just mend a few ankles. Jesus cured epilepsy and stage 4 cancers, freeing people from crushing, incurable diseases. Why? Because a new kingdom—the kingdom of God—broke into the world.

The prophet Isaiah predicted this coming kingdom: the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2).

Jesus began to teach the values of this new kingdom, which we read in Matthew chapters five, six and seven—the Sermon on the Mount. Such a divergent kingdom brought ideas we continue to wrestle with today. Love you enemies? What was counter-cultural in Galilee remains counter-cultural today.

This good news (or gospel) reminds us the kingdom of God is here. Among us and around us. The good-est news is that the kingdom in its full splendor arrives soon.

Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

Photo by Oliver Hihn

Have you ever made a bad decision after you finally got over the result of a previous bad decision? My wife once baked a chicken pot pie on a cold winter day. Unfortunately, the dish turned out less than excellent. To ensure she never tried it again, she wrote across the page: BAD POT PIE RECIPE—DO NOT COOK! That’s one way to avoid a repeat mistake.

Late in his life, after massive fallout and pain from previous bad decisions, David decided to count the fighting men of Israel and Judah. While a census was not sinful in itself, this situation represented the height of ambition and pride in David. Joab his commander found the order odious, but David overruled him.

A prophet named Gad revealed the Lord’s anger to David. The consequences of his sin followed when a plague struck the land, killing thousands. David responded with humility and remorse: I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.

As king, David’s bad decisions cost the lives of innocent people. Just as powerfully, his contrition stayed the hand of the Lord. My decisions, while not as far reaching, imprint those around me. Every decision of consequence influences others, for good for for ill. The ripples carry farther than we imagine.

I notice the pushback from Joab as well. A good friend speaks truth into our rash decisions. Although pride pushes me forward, pausing to consider words contrary to my plans usually results in a better decision, or rethinking a bad idea.

What do I learn from David? To avoid one bad decision after another. But when I rush forward and pay the price, I realize that humility and remorse mark the only path out.

2 Samuel 24 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Lubo Minar