1 Chronicles Devotionals

One for each chapter. Want to test what you read? Take the 1 Chronicles quizzes.

1 Chronicles 1: A Story That Starts with Adam
1 Chronicles opens without a story or a single word from God. It simply begins with a name: Adam (1:1). The list moves through Noah and his sons, the nations that spread out from…
1 Chronicles 2: Grace Through a Tangled Line
The record turns first to Judah, and it does not tidy up the family. Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the LORD's sight, so the LORD put him to death (2:3). Perez and Zerah…
1 Chronicles 3: A Line That Survived Exile
Chapter 3 follows the house of David. It names his sons born in Hebron and in Jerusalem, then traces the kings in a straight line from Solomon to Josiah (3:10-14). There is no…
1 Chronicles 4: Named for Pain, Heard by God
In the middle of Judah's long family list, the record slows down for one man. Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, though his mother had named him for the pain of bearing…
1 Chronicles 5: Help and Judgment from One Hand
Reuben was Israel's firstborn, but his birthright passed to the sons of Joseph because he defiled his father's bed (5:1). The chapter then follows the tribes east of the Jordan:…
1 Chronicles 6: Atonement at the Center
Chapter 6 is about the family of Levi, and near its end one sentence explains what the priests were for. Aaron and his sons served at the altar of burnt offering and the altar of…
1 Chronicles 7: Sorrow Written into the Record
Most of chapter 7 reads like a muster roll: the families of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim and Asher. Then one entry stops being a number. Ephraim's sons Ezer and…
1 Chronicles 8: Mercy for a Fallen House
Chapter 8 returns to Benjamin, and much of it traces one family: Ner, Kish, Saul, and Saul's sons (8:33). Chapter 10 will soon tell plainly how Saul's reign ends. But the list…
1 Chronicles 9: Faithful at the Gates
After eight chapters of names, the record says what went wrong and what came next. Judah was carried into exile in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness (9:1). Then the first to…
1 Chronicles 10: The King Who Never Asked
The battle on Mount Gilboa takes only a few verses. Israel flees, Saul's sons fall, and Saul, wounded by archers, falls on his own sword (10:1-6). The Philistines hang his head in…
1 Chronicles 11: Water Poured Out to God
All Israel comes to David at Hebron and anoints him king, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel (11:3). He takes the fortress of Zion, and the reason for his rise is…
1 Chronicles 12: Gathered to the Chosen King
Chapter 12 is a list of people choosing sides. Archers from Saul's own tribe of Benjamin come to David while he is still banished (12:1-2). Gadites cross the Jordan at flood stage…
1 Chronicles 13: Good Intentions on a New Cart
David's plan for the ark looks right in every way. He consults his leaders, invites all Israel, and wants to go ahead only if it is of the LORD (13:1-2). He even names what went…
1 Chronicles 14: Asking a Second Time
David understands that the LORD has established him as king for the sake of his people (14:2). Then the Philistines come looking for him. David's first move is to ask God whether…
1 Chronicles 15: Carried the Way God Said
When David tries again to bring the ark to Jerusalem, he starts with the word of God. No one but the Levites may carry the ark, because the LORD chose them for it (15:2). He tells…
1 Chronicles 16: Thanks That Never Runs Out
Once the ark is in its tent, David offers sacrifices and blesses the people in the LORD's name (16:1-3). Then he appoints Levites to give thanks and praise the LORD (16:4), and he…
1 Chronicles 17: Courage to Pray His Promise
David notices the gap between his cedar palace and the tent where the ark rests, and Nathan tells him to go ahead (17:1-2). That night God answers differently. He has never asked…
1 Chronicles 18: Spoils Turned to Worship
Chapter 18 is a summary of war. David defeats the Philistines, Moab, Zobah, the Arameans and Edom, and twice the text gives the reason: the LORD made David victorious wherever he…
1 Chronicles 19: A King Who Covers Shame
David means to show kindness. When the Ammonite king dies, he sends men to console the new king, Hanun (19:2). But Hanun's princes read the kindness as spying, and Hanun shaves…
1 Chronicles 20: Giants Fall to Servants Too
Chapter 20 moves quickly. Joab besieges and demolishes Rabbah while David remains in Jerusalem, and the Ammonite king's heavy gold crown is placed on David's head (20:1-2). Then…
1 Chronicles 21: The Sword Put Away
Chronicles opens this chapter with a stark line: Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census (21:1). Joab objects, David insists, and the command is evil in…
1 Chronicles 22: Preparing What Another Will Build
Standing where the LORD answered him with fire, David declares that the house of the LORD God will be built there (22:1). Then he throws himself into preparing a building he will…
1 Chronicles 23: Rest That Turns to Praise
David is old, Solomon is king, and the Levites are counted and organized by family (23:1-6). David explains that the LORD has given rest to his people and has come to dwell in…
1 Chronicles 24: Assignments Drawn Before the LORD
Chapter 24 divides the priests, the descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar, into twenty-four divisions (24:1-4). Eleazar's family had more leaders, yet the order of service was not…
1 Chronicles 25: Teacher and Pupil Alike
David and the army commanders set apart sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals (25:1). Their music was ministry. Jeduthun prophesied with the…
1 Chronicles 26: Blessing That Became Service
The gatekeepers are listed by family, and one family stands out. Obed-edom had eight sons, and the text gives a simple reason: God had blessed Obed-edom (26:4-5). His descendants…
1 Chronicles 27: Numbers Held by a Promise
Chapter 27 is the administration of a kingdom: twelve divisions of 24,000 men each serving a month at a time, officers over each tribe, and stewards over storehouses, vineyards,…
1 Chronicles 28: Chosen and Not Forsaken
David gathers Israel's leaders and tells them the story of God's choosing. He had wanted to build a house for the ark, but God said no (28:2-3). Yet the LORD chose Judah, then…
1 Chronicles 29: Giving Back from His Hand
David gives his personal treasure of gold and silver for the temple and asks who else will consecrate himself to the LORD (29:3-5). The leaders give willingly, and the people…