Read 1 Chronicles 1:1–2:2
Questions from the Scripture text: What is the first word in the book (1 Chronicles 1:1)? To which three men do 1 Chronicles 1:1-4 trace? Whose descendants do 1 Chronicles 1:5-7 trace? Whose descendants do 1 Chronicles 1:8-16 trace? Whose descendants do 1 Chronicles 1:17-23 trace? Whose ancestors do 1 Chronicles 1:24-27 trace? To which sons (1 Chronicles 1:28)? Whose descendants do 1 Chronicles 1:29-31 trace? And whom do 1 Chronicles 1:32-33 trace? Whose line does 1 Chronicles 1:34 begin to trace? Focusing on whom (1 Chronicles 1:35-37)? Whose line had reigned in Edom before the line of Esau (1 Chronicles 1:38-42)? Whom do 1 Chronicles 1:43-54 focus upon, in the land of Esau’s people? What sort of succession occurs in the kingship there? To which child of Isaac does 1 Chronicles 2:1 now turn? What name does it use for him (cf. 1 Chronicles 1:34)? Whom do 1 Chronicles 2:1-2 list?
What is God doing, when His church is weak? 1 Chronicles 1:1–2:2 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fifty-six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, even when His church is weak, God is carrying out His redemptive plan, surely and steadily.
1 and 2 Chronicles were originally one book. Chronicles was written after the Persian decree that the temple should be built. The book’s emphases on the line of Aaron, and on the Levitical temple assignments, strongly suggest that preparation for the rebuilt temple was one of the purposes of the book.
This occurred at a time when the people of God were few in number. The Lord had brought them back from exile, but the lines of David and Aaron seemed nearly extinguished. The question of the day seemed to be: does God still have a purpose for Israel? When the purposes of God seem to take a long time, we may forget that God is always active in history, working out His purpose to redeem.
So, this first chapter of the Chronicles reminds us that God's purpose did not begin with the land of Judah. It did not begin with the temple. It did not begin with David and his family.
God's purposes were in control at the beginning, with Adam (1 Chronicles 1:1). The text traces from Adam to Noah (1 Chronicles 1:1-4), but it does not go straight to David. In addition to going backward, to include all humanity, at each covenantal juncture, it also extends broadly to include the rest of humanity. It does not trace only the line of Shem (1 Chronicles 1:17-23); it also traces the lines of Japheth (1 Chronicles 1:5-7) and Ham (1 Chronicles 1:8-16). It does not trace only the line of Isaac (1 Chronicles 1:34); it also traces the line of Ishmael (1 Chronicles 1:29-31) and the sons of Keturah (1 Chronicles 1:32-33). It does not trace only the line of Jacob; it also traces the line of Esau (1 Chronicles 1:35-37), and the line of Seir (1 Chronicles 1:38-42, in Edom), before focusing on the kings of Edom (1 Chronicles 1:43-54).
By this broad focus on God’s work in all humanity, the text reminds us why He had begun to focus upon Israel in the first place—which assures us that He is not finished with Judah or with Israel. God is still carrying out His plan for all humanity. There are at least three lessons here: God's plan is for all the nations; God's plan is specific (He focuses on His visible church, through whom He brings Christ to the world); and, God’s plan endures.
God’s plan is for all the nations. Whatever God does in Israel is for all of the children of Adam and Noah. This was also emphasized to Abraham, in whom all the families of the earth would be blessed—a promise that was extended to Isaac, and then Israel.
We would be greatly mistaken if we found Israelite genealogies to be boring. They are a shorthand for the history of each name, and an index for the history of God’s bringing Christ into the world. Even now, what the Lord does in His church is for the rest of the world, to whom He is bringing Christ, through His church.
God’s plan is specific. He is focused upon Christ. The Davidic line isn’t significant merely because they are kings (Edom had kings, long before Israel, 1 Chronicles 1:43-54), but because Christ comes from it. The series of Edom's kings is haphazard. Each one's reign is replaced by another man from a different family in a different place. There is a sense in which this is a microcosm for all the kingdoms of this world. There are kingdoms, and there are kingships, but they are not the rightful heirs of those kingdoms. Jesus is. They are not the rightful heirs of those nations. Jesus is. Jesus is the rightful heir to every throne on earth.
God’s plan endures. No matter how diminished they are, Israel still has a purpose and place. God does not have a plan B, because He does not need a plan B. He is always sovereignly and powerfully carrying out His plan A.
This is vital for each of us to remember in our own life. Each of us connects back to Adam. We share the same problem of sin and death. Each of us is called to be a subject of Christ. He is our rightful Lord and King. Each of us is offered sure hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Every reader of Chronicles should recognize that the genealogy with which it begins is his genealogy. Dear reader, this is your genealogy. It starts with your ancestors. It shows you that it was through your extended family that Jesus came into the world. Some branches are closer to the main line that goes from Adam to Christ, but this is your family, and Jesus is a Savior for you. Furthermore, the Lord intends to gather all of His elect people into one church, with one King and one great High Priest.
Just as with post-exilic Israel, even so now in postmodernity. God has not lost track of His church, His kingdom, His priesthood. And He certainly has not lost track of His saving purpose for the elect. History feels long to us because we have short lives. History feels overwhelming to us because we are weak. But history is not long or overwhelming to God. The Lord Jesus is King. The Lord Jesus is the temple. The Lord Jesus is the Priest. The Lord Jesus is our Savior. The Lord Jesus is our purpose.
As God’s people were in a low condition and struggling to get their bearings, Chronicles grounded them in their place in the saving and redemptive purpose of God throughout all of human history. When you struggle to find your bearing and your purpose—when you wonder what you are even doing—Scripture grounds you in the fact that you are in a particular place in His redemptive plan, with Jesus as your King, Jesus as your priest, and Jesus as your purpose.
How do you conscientiously locate your own life in the redemptive plan of God? In what ways are you subject to Christ as King? How are you depending upon His mediation as your Priest? What is your purpose every day? When do you have the hardest time remembering this?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for reminding Your people of their history, and indeed of all the history of Your work in the world. Forgive us for forgetting Your sovereign, gracious rule. Forgive us for getting caught up in our own purposes, rather than devoting everything to You, in dependence upon You. Thank you for bringing Jesus from our family, the family of men, so that He might be to us another Adam—the beginning of a new humanity. We pray that You would give us to be subject to Him, to trust in Him, to come to you through Him, and to devote ourselves to Him by His own life and righteousness—we ask through Him and His blood, Amen!
Suggested songs: ARP87 “The Lord’s Foundation” or TPH404 “The Church’s One Foundation”
No comments:
Post a Comment