The book of 1 Chronicles was written around 450 – 425 B.C.,
most probably by the prophet Ezra. When
we concluded our study of 2 Kings, we saw God’s people divided into two
separate kingdoms. Israel, the northern
kingdom was overthrown by the Assyrians, and Judah, the southern kingdom, was
taken into captivity by the Babylonians.
This book focuses on the southern kingdom of Judah, mentioning the
northern kingdom of Israel only when the story of Judah is affected by it.
After 70 years of captivity, Ezra led a group of the exiled
Jews back to Palestine in 458 B.C. It
was important for those Jewish people to know who they were, their history, and
the promises God had made to them through their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. It was important for the people to
understand the importance of their heritage, their racial purity, the laws
concerning worship, and the instructions God gave regarding the building of the
temple and the priesthood.
As a part of their lesson about their heritage, the first
nine chapters of the book are dedicated to the genealogies of the tribes of
Israel. At first glance, and to someone
reading this book for the first time, these genealogies may be tiresome and
seem irrelevant. But if you believe, as
I do, that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that
the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2
Timothy 3:16-17), then you will know that there is a reason for all these
genealogies. First of all, each tribe
(descended from the sons of Jacob) had different responsibilities and had been
given land grants for different parts of the Promised Land. For example, the Levites were given the
responsibility of the office of priests and were not given land. It was important for the descendants,
therefore, to know where they would settle once they got back to Palestine.
Secondly, it was important for the people to see how God cared for them
throughout their entire history, even before Abraham. It was important that they learn about how
God blessed their obedient ancestors and how He punished the disobedient
ones. It was also important that they
understand that they were chosen by God to be His people, different from all
the other peoples of the earth, precious to Him, and protected by Him. And finally, it is important for us today, as
Christians, because we know that we have been adopted into God’s family. We know that the promises He made to Abraham,
to Moses, and to David apply to us, as well.
We can see how God knew and cared about each person in all those
genealogies, so we can trust that He knows us, too, and that He cares for us
just as much as He did them.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of
Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You
have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him,
and the son of man that You visit him? (Psalm 8:3-4)
That the Gentiles should
be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ
through the gospel. (Ephesians 3:6)
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not
consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?
And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very
hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value
than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)
The second part of 1 Chronicles repeats the
story of the anointing of King David and of his reign, including his victories
in war, his bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, his desire to build
the temple, and his disobedience in taking a census of his kingdom. It also includes his final instructions to
Solomon and to the people, warning them to be obedient to all of God’s laws and
to worship Him only. This history lesson
was also very important to the Jewish people as they returned to
Palestine. Their failure to keep God’s
laws was what caused them to be taken captive for 70 years in Babylon, so it
was of the highest importance that they not repeat their past failures.
We and the Jewish people were taught all
these things in the books of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings. So why are these same lessons taught again
here in 1 Chronicles, written about 100 years later? Do you think that perhaps it is because the
fundamental lessons about obedience versus disobedience and blessings versus
punishment might need to be repeated often in order for them and for us to learn
their importance? Remember, the people
of Judah had been held in captivity for 70 years, so during that time they were
highly influenced by those people who had taken them captive. That influence included their religious
practices, the worship of idols and the failure to worship God. The same lessons are important to us
today. We live in a world that is full
of influences that are contrary to the worship of God. In some parts of the world, the worship of
the One True God can lead to persecution, even to the point of death. In other parts of the world, even where the
idea of freedom of religion is championed, the uninhibited, unrestrained
worship of God can lead to ridicule, intimidation, marginalization, and disdain. No matter where we are, no matter the
political or social atmosphere, we are never to allow our surroundings to
influence us to the point that we fail to worship God and God alone.
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who
walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who
seek Him with the whole heart! . . . How can a young man cleanse his way? By
taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh,
let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart,
that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:1-2, 9-11)
And do not be conformed to this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that
good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
We can see Christ in each section of 1
Chronicles. In the genealogies, we see
his lineage all the way back to Adam. It
was His genealogy that qualified Jesus Christ, the son of Mary and stepson of
Joseph, to be The Messiah, the King of Kings, The Lion of the Tribe of
Judah. That is why His genealogy is
repeated in the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke.
And I will establish him in My house and in
My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever. (1 Chronicles
17:14)
The time is coming, declares the Lord, when
I will raise up a righteous descendant from David’s line, and he will rule as a
wise king. He will do what is just and right in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5)
It is also important that the genealogy of
Jesus Christ be traced back all the way to Adam. He was called The Son of Man, The Second
Adam. Although He was fully God, at the
same time, He was fully man, fully tested as all mankind is tested, tempted at
we are tempted, yet without sin. For
that reason, He is the only One who could fulfill the promise that God made to the
deceiver, the serpent, in the Garden of Eden:
So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed
more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you
shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put
enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall
bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15)
Seeing then that we have a great High
Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold
fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with
our weaknesses, but was in all points
tempted as we are, yet without
sin. (Hebrews 4:14-15)
Christ is also foreshadowed in the
sixteenth chapter of 1 Chronicles in David’s song of thanksgiving. This is the song he wrote to celebrate the
return of the Ark of the Covenant to the tabernacle.
Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice
before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the
earth. (1 Chronicles 16:33)
But why do you judge your brother? Or why
do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10)
So this week, as I pray for you and for
myself, I will refer to David’s song of praise.
I hope you will join me as I pray:
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
. . Save us, O God of our salvation; Gather us together, and deliver us from (danger and harm), to give
thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise. (1
Chronicles 16:34-35)
All scripture is from New King James
Version.
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