Israelite Aggressiveness

Synopsis     1Chron 4:38-5:6     11/20/2019

The chronicler concluded his description of the sons of Simeon through the time of King Hezekiah.  After this, he quickly described the line of Reuben through the time of the Assyrian exile.

In the process of introducing Reuben’s genealogy, the chronicler pointed out that Reuben lost his birthright because he laid with his father’s concubine. Because of this offense, Reuben was passed over as the leader of the tribes. And, according to the author, the birthright passed from the first-born of the sons of Leah to Joseph, the first-born of the sons of Rachel.

However, because of Judah’s aggressiveness, tribal leadership actually passed to them through the line of King David.

Israelite Aggressiveness

After a millennium of competition between the sons of Leah and the sons of Rachel, Judah emerged as the center of power and leadership over the tribes. And this happened despite the fact that both Reuben and Joseph could claim the rights of the first-born.

Perhaps this is an insight into the way God dwelt with the children of Israel. For God is a God of action. And in his dealings with Israel, God consistently rewards those who take action in faith.  Thus, David, who was a man of both faith and action, led Judah. And largely because of him, Judah led Israel – especially during the years of kingdom and empire.

Faith and Action

Like his human ancestors, Jesus Christ was also man of action. He did things. He got things done. And most importantly, He thought in terms of getting things done.

When He died on the cross – His final words were, “It is finished.”

Faith means to have a trusting relationship with some other person. If I have faith in Jesus Christ, I believe both that He is a person and a trustworthy person. In the case of Jesus, I claim that He is God, and so my trust is in both His divinity and authority.

So, true faith in Jesus produces action. In fact, the depth of my faith is evidenced internally by the strength and consistent determination of my action. And although this can’t easily be judged by others, as a person I unavoidably aware of the impulse that moves me.

So, perhaps the lesson for me is – pick up the pace.

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.” Matt 11:12

Simeon Assimilation

Synopsis     1Chron 4:21-37     11/19/2019

The chronicler described the lineage of Judah’s third son Shelah. After this, he detailed the genealogy of the tribe of Simeon. Here, it’s mentioned that most of the descendants of Simeon had only a few children. As a result, the Simeonites were a much smaller tribe than the Judahites.

Simeon Assimilation

Eventually, the tribe of Simeon was subsumed by Judah. In fact, even when the land was parceled among the tribes by Joshua, Simeon was given a tribal land that was completely surrounded by the tribal boundaries of Judah.

Something about Simeon prevented them from embracing the opportunity that God offered to all the tribes of Israel.

God has offered us an extraordinary way of life. Yes, the community of faith is intended to live in an extraordinary way.

It’s not just me. And it’s not just you. Of course, God is faithful to individuals. And clearly, God meets each of us where we are – how we are.

But still, it’s the us. The God of All Creation is about building community.

So, we will either find this together or it’s very possible we won’t find it at all.

“For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another.” Rom 12:4-5

Jabez Prayed

Synopsis     1Chron 4:8-20     11/18/2019

The chronicler continued to describe other leading clans within the tribe of Judah. This listing included Jabez.

Typically, he was remembered for living an extraordinary life despite his mother’s great pain at his birth.

Jabez Prayed

Jabez was renowned for receiving answered prayer. God granted his prayer to live a life of success and freedom from pain. So, Jabez’s true legacy is that he prayed earnestly for a specific blessing and received it.

A Life of Dependent Prayer

Prayer engages my soul in the accomplishment of something needful in this world. So, when my prayers are prayed in harmony with God’s intention, it releases His power into the material reality of my life on earth. Unsurprisingly, only a person aligned in harmony with God’s purpose can participate in this.

Knowing this, it’s interesting that I tend to think of answered prayer as somehow “miraculous”. Upon deeper reflection, I suspect the truth is that whenever anyone works to some truly good end with deliberate purpose, the outcome is really the power of God working through the prayer of a faithful man or woman.

“You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask.” James 4:2

The Royal Line

Synopsis     1Chron 3:13-4:7     11/14/2019

In this portion, the chronicler described the line of King David’s descendants who ruled over Israel and Judah. What’s more, he continued the line even beyond the rulers of Egypt into the period of exile.

The Royal Line

The line of King David’s legacy matters. And it matters not just because of the causal history of this remarkable people. Instead, it matters because it is the fulfillment of a covenant promise that God made to the great king through the prophet Nathan.

Your Royal Line

The apostle says that I am grafted into the line of Christ. And this is more than a mere hope. It is a solemn and irrevocable promise.

So, the God of all Creation – the God of solemn promises – has committed Himself to me and to you.

The only question is; What will we do with that?

“So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God” Eph 2:19

Family, Community & God

Synopsis     1Chron 2:50-3:12     11/14/2019 

The chronicler finished describing other clans from the tribe of Judah. And then, he focused his attention on identifying King David’s sons.  

Israel and Relationship with God 

The chronicler focused his attention on family relationships.  

Family, Community, and God 

There is a lot of emphasis in modern Christian understanding on the individual. As a result, evangelism has emphasized solving my concern for my salvation through accepting a personal relationship with God. And the basis for this relationship is the sacrificial death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, there is nothing wrong – and everything right – about this.  

But it’s interesting because the historical and practical challenge of relationship with God doesn’t really seem to be with the individual. For example, an individual person is either in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, or they aren’t. I’m either in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, or not. Walking out the relationship might be challenging, but the relationship is certain.

But the individual condition of my personal soul doesn’t seem to be the absolute end of God’s focus. Instead, what God seems to really want is a relationship with a community. Of course, a community is more than a collection of individuals. In fact, it starts with families. And, the ultimate Christian community is the Communion of Saints.  

So, in the end, perhaps the intended outcome of creation really is community. And if this is the case, it follows that the true goal of creation isn’t to produce a collection of holy individuals. But instead the true goal is a Holy Community. 

“You were “no people” but now you are God’s people; you “had not received mercy” but now you have received mercy.” 1Peter 2:10 

Detail and Insignificance

Synopsis     1Chron 2:30-49     11/12/2019 

The chronicler documented the sons of Judah with special care. In this case, the author described the lineage of specific family lines from peoples of southern Judah. 

Detail and Insignificance 

It always strikes me a little strange to recount the names of people memorialized in scripture whose specific stories will never be known.  

The Silent Contribution 

I left the Catholic church when I joined military service. The two occurrences weren’t specifically related. I was seventeen and confused.  

I didn’t return to the faith until I was thirty-seven years old. 

Before I made the decision to return, I began attending the morning mass. I didn’t participate in the Eucharist. Instead, I just sat in the back and observed.  

This was the parish of my birth. Remarkably, the mass hadn’t appreciable changed since I was a middle school altar server. And perhaps more remarkably, neither had the people. Those attending the daily morning mass were mostly people I recognized. Years before, they had been my teachers and the parents of my friends.  

Retired from their labors, they continued to quietly and joyfully live out their faith. They were known only to their friends and families. And that was more than enough. 

So, I’ve come to understand that I, like they, will likely live out my life below the surface of history. For the most part, in a generation or two, they will not be specifically remembered. And in a generation or two, neither will I.  

And yet, their faithfulness created the unmistakable effect of leading me home.  

“But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1Peter 2:9 

Israel’s Life and Story

Synopsis    1Chron 2:11-29     11/8/2019 

The chronicler continued to describe the genealogical line through Boaz, Obed and Jesse. And, of course, Jesse was the father of David.  

After this, the author carefully documented the family of Jesse, including David’s brothers and sisters. But the account also detailed Jesse’s extended family relations including his cousins. And many of these were to become prominent members in David’s court – especially his first cousin Joab. 

Israel’s Life and Story 

We can’t know Israel without knowing Israel’s story.  

Life and Story 

I am – God created. So, I am.  

I have essence. And therefore, I have value. 

And I am known – by others.

In fact, other people know me by the things that I have done. What’s more, my interactions with them have actually revealed aspects of who I am. And that’s important. 

But my value is not the same thing as my story. My value transcends my relationships. My value transcends even the moral and immoral things that I have done.  

And thankfully, this is how God sees me. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” John 3:16 

Lifting Up Judah

Synopsis     1Chron 1:45-2:10     11/7/2019

The chronicler described the succession of kings in Canaan And after this, he described the genealogy of Esau, Israel’s older brother. Finally, after this, he listed the twelve sons of Israel.

Now, Jacob had two wives who were sisters and two concubines. And all four women produced children from him. The wives were Rachel and Leah. The concubines were Bilhah and Zilpah.

The chronicler recorded the six sons who came from Leah first, and in their correct birth order. But he listed all of the other sons who came from Rachel and the concubines in no special order. And, although Judah was the fourth born to Jacob and Leah, the chronicler described the descendants of Jacob beginning with Judah.

Lifting Up Judah

Judah was the son of Jacob. And Jacob conferred a special blessing on the sons of Joseph. But as his death approached, Jacob also pronounced a prophetic blessing upon each of his sons. And when he blessed Judah, his blessing anticipated that the “scepter” of rulership would always be with the tribe of Judah.

So, the chronicler seems to have interpreted the genealogical record from the perspective of this prophetic anticipation. For this reason, King David’s ascension to the throne governing Israel was a validation of Jacob’s prophetic blessing.

Lift Up Your Head

My life is so different than I ever imagined. In my case, I can honestly say that it’s better than I ever imagined. But still, I could never have guessed how things have turned out based on how my life began.

And yet, in another way, I think not everyone in my family is totally surprised by my life. And some of my family might even say they could have anticipated the way things have worked out.

But, even if every human person I knew is surprised, God is not surprised. He made me with gifts and talents that are unique to me. And He placed in a space and time where I could use those gifts to create value intended to bless others. He spoke this word over me from the beginning.

And He did the same for you. So, lift up your head!

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.”Jer 1:5

Winding Genealogical Road

Synopsis      1Chron 1:21-44     11/1/2019 

The genealogical record extending from Adam to the Israelite kings meandered through the kingdoms of Canaan. So, it served as a record of the kingdoms that preceded Israel’s entering into the Promised Land.  

Winding Genealogical Road 

The chronicler skillfully used selective details of the genealogical record. In this way, he conveyed the sense that God was systematically working toward the placement of the children of Israel in the Promised Land.  

Predestination Not Determinism 

It is mysterious. God can work all things together for good without violating my free will.  

So, my free will really matters in the universe of moral decision making.

And yet, God is somehow responsive enough to interweave my moral conquests, along with my moral failures, and those of all the human inhabitants who have every graced this world, and make something good.  

 
“For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Rom 8:29 

Beginning and Kingdom

Synopsis     2Kings 25:27-1Chron 1:20     10/31/2019 

King Nebuchadnezzar kept Jehoiachin imprisoned until his death. In all, he spent thirty-seven years before being released by Nebuchadnezzar’s successor. After his imprisonment, Jehoiachin remained in Babylon but was treated well for the rest of his life.  

The book of Chronicles begins with a genealogy. The genealogy is designed to connect the kingdom of Israel with the creation of man.  

The Beginning and The Kingdom 

“Israelite” means “descended from Israel”. The Israelites understood themselves to be descended from the line of Adam, Seth, and Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This was essential to their self-understanding. 

Who Am I? 

So, am I a nobody if I’m not from the line of Abraham?  

Not so. For a child of God is one inwardly. And the line does not end until it is complete. 

“God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect.” Heb 11:40