365 Reflections

In the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles, the genealogy of Simeon follows Judah. This is interesting as Simeon was the second born son of Jacob and Judah was the fourth son. History has shown Judah will indeed be royalty among the tribes of Israel and the large portion of the text dedicated to it is understandable. But why is Simeon second? To answer that we should remember a bit of history about Simeon.  First, the son of Jacob, Simeon was taken by Joseph as a pledge that his brothers would return with Benjamin back in Genesis 42. If we read that story we find out Judah promised on oath to safely bring Benjamin and Simeon back at cost of his own life when Jacob resisted the venture back to Egypt.  Fast forward to the assignment of the plots of land in Israel after the conquest. We see that Simeon's territory overflows into the territory of Judah. We should remember back to Jacob's curse over Simeon and Levi that did not come to pass because of the territory of Judah.  ...

Prayer gets answered. That much is true when you familiarize yourself with scripture. In fact, God is so committed to answering our prayers sometimes the scripture interrupts us with a short story to inform us just how often prayer gets answered. The story is familiar to many Christians. The name has been in the title of books and sermons. It's the one name that stands out other than David in the first 4 chapters of the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles. 1 Chronicles 4:9–10 (ESV) Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. This text comes alive when you consider its context. The list of names goes on and on. The order and delivery were hugely important for Israel to f...

I bet there have been som good seasons and some bad seasons in your life. I bet there were some really good and really bad seasons in your life. Are you still here? Guess what that is: God's faithfulness.  In the long chapters of the 1 Chronicles' Geneology section, we come to the royal line of David's sons through Solomon who had the privilege of sitting on the throne of Judah as the nation slowly ebbed into pagan idolatry.  I know it is not exactly stirring literature but it holds a wonderful truth. 1 Chronicles 3:10–17 (ESV) The son of Solomon was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 14 Amon his son, Josiah his son. 15 The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 16 The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son; 17...

Do you feel like a stranger in a strange land? As Christians, that feeling should come standard. Why? Because we are NOT of this world, as Jesus said in John 17:14, 16. Because, as Paul says, we are "citizens of heaven and we eagerly await our Savior from there." (see Philippians 3:20).   So if you feel strange, do not be alarmed. That's a good sign you belong somewhere else. But what are we to do in the meantime? Because after all, it's not like any of us are going to heaven tomorrow unless Jesus comes. The early chapters of 1 Chronicles holds a key.  The genealogical records move from the patriarchs of the faith (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) in chapter one and moves to the dynastic records related to King David. Chapters 2 and 3 of 1 Chronicles centers on David's ancestors and descendants.  1 Chronicles 2:1–4 (ESV) These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 3 The sons of Judah: ...

1 Chronicles 1:1–4 (ESV) Adam, Seth, Enosh; 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; 3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech; 4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. I was tempted to skip over the long and seemingly ambiguous genealogical records of the first several chapters of 1 Chronicles. But I remember "all scripture is God-breathed and profitable." So here we are and in four verses I get an idea of what is happening in 1 Chronicles from the start.   Israel will produce the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles during their return from Exile in Babylon. The narrative of 1 & 2 Kings ends with the nation cast into exile and we aren't given the contextual details of 1 Chronicles on the first page because Israel had greater issues to deal with as they made their way back to the Promised Land after 70 years.  How do you live again where you once died?  To answer that question, Chronicles takes Isreal's exiles on a journey to where they come from. We must note the book does not open with Abraham but rather...

For all the spiritual decline that runs throughout the narrative of 2 Kings, the end of the book is particularly shocking. Judah's last king, taken captive into Babylon and imprisoned for decades is graciously released at the hand of Evil-Merodach and set up for a life of peace and security. 2 Kings 25:27–30 (ESV) And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. 28 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, 30 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived. Why would kings end like this? Why would God allow the wicked lineage of king...

God is the final and righteous Judge of all.  There's an assumption that God is only interested in making peace for us. He's the problem solver that we turn to when we are in a mess. Or He's the answer-giver when we do not know what to do. But that is not the whole picture scriptures presents of the Lord. He is for peace. He is our peace. He has the answer. He is the answer.  But He is the God of judgment against sin. We see this most clearly at the end of Judah's kingdom as they are judged for years of sin and rebellion against the Lord.  2 Kings 24:2–4 (ESV) And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldeans and bands of the Syrians and bands of the Moabites and bands of the Ammonites, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the Lord, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, 4 and also ...

Josiah is a king like no other before him or after him in the Old Covenant. His reforms clean house in a nation utterly corrupted. His passion to obey God was unparalleled even by David and Hezekiah. He not only brought Israel to national repentance, but he also restored the sacred meal that signified who they were.  2 Kings 23:21–23 (ESV) And the king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” 22 For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem. The Passover for Israel was what the Lord's Supper is for us. It is the meal that God's covenant people ate with their deliverer (Jesus for us/Moses for them). Both meals were inaugurated on the night before the death of the firstborn (of God for us/of Pharoah for the...