365 Reflections

We come to the 11th chapter of 1 Chronicles.  1 Chronicles 11:10 (ESV) Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. There's something to be said about great leaders. They create great men/women that serve under/behind them in absolute devotion. I'm a firm believer that your life is not defined by what you become but by the people you leave behind. The investments you make in people resonate throughout eternity. The 11th chapter of Chronicles enumerates and details the exploits of the mighty men David led during the rise of Israel's monarchy. We should take special note of their actions so that we might see the evidentiary characteristics of those who seek to serve the true Christ.  We first hear of Jashobeam: 1 Chronicles 11:11 (ESV) This is an account of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three. He wiel...

You have to wonder why the Chronicler did not spend any time discussing David's rise, victory over Goliath and the several years running from the swords and spears of Saul. The first thing to be recounted after the long genealogical account is Saul's demise, Israel's defeat, and David's anointing from 1 Chronicles 10 to 1 Chronicles 11.  1 Chronicles 10:13–11:2 (ESV)  So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. 14 He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. 1 Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD your God said to you, ‘ You shall be shepherd of my people Israel , and you shall be prince over my people Isra...

The resettling of Israel in the land of promise after their exile in Babylon begins in 1 Chronicles 9.  1 Chronicles 9:2–3 (ESV) Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. 3 And some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem: We note the first tribe mentioned in the last tribe taken captive - Judah, the royal and ruling tribe of Israel. They inhabited Jerusalem, the place where God's temple was located. Judah was consistently first in Israel's endeavors. First into the war for the land, first into the military exploits of the monarchy, and now first to resettle the city of God upon Israel's return. No wonder Jesus comes from this tribe. He's the ruler of heaven and Earth who also serves as author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The second thing the chapter wants us to see is that the priests are the main ingredient in the resettling of the l...

Incredibly, the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles ENDS with a revisit to the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin with particular reference to Israel's first king, Saul. We are meant to see the specific emphasis the Chronicler makes of both the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, the only tribes that gave Israel her appointed kings.  1 Chronicles 8:1–2 (ESV) Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, 2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. The list of names the Chronicler runs through are filled with good men and women, pagan followers and worshippers of Baal, and of course, Israel's most notorious king Saul.  1 Chronicles 8:33–34 (ESV) Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal; 34 and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal was the father of Micah. Why the emphasis on Benjamin? It could be because of their prominent place in the rebirth of the nation as worshippers of Yahwe...

God would have you mighty and making war. If you don't believe me, consider the fast-hitting numeration of the Israelite tribes in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles: 1 Chronicles 7:1–2 (ESV) The sons of Issachar : Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. 2 The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers’ houses, namely of Tola, mighty warriors of their generations, their number in the days of David being 22,600. 1 Chronicles 7:6–7 (ESV) The sons of Benjamin : Bela, Becher, and Jediael, three. 7 The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, five, heads of fathers’ houses, mighty warriors . And their enrollment by genealogies was 22,034. 1 Chronicles 7:9 (ESV) And their enrollment by genealogies, according to their generations, as heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty warriors , was 20,200. 1 Chronicles 7:11 (ESV) All these were the sons of Jediael according to the heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty warriors , 17,200, abl...

1 Chronicles 6:1 (ESV)  The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The Tribe of Levi is central to the genealogical record in 1 Chronicles. This pattern reflects the central location of the tribe in their placement among the other tribes and dispersed around the tabernacle. The priestly tribe of Israel was to have a key function in mediating the presence of God for the people of God. First Chronicles not only outlines the genealogical records but also the roles and responsibilities of the families within the Levite tribe. There are three families in the tribe of Levi as we see from verse 1. Gershon was responsible for the care and furnishing of the tabernacle. They were also the largest family of Levites. The Kohathites were responsible for the services of the tabernacle - sacrifices, and offerings. Aaron's family (the high priests) descended from them. The Merarites were responsible for the structure of the tabernacle. They carried the pillars, bars, bases, and accessories....

Sometimes we make a false choice in the Christian faith. We believe God can only use people totally weak and helpless because any strength offered by man would boast of man's glory and take from God's glory. But is that the picture the totality of Scripture paints?  Yes, Paul talked about how strength comes from our weaknesses.  2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV) For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. In back to back verses, Paul refers to God's strength in places of great weakness. Yet remember the context. He was speaking of his heavenly vision and the thorn in the flesh given him so that he might not grow proud and arrogant. In spite of that thorn...