1 Chronicles 1 - David's Family Tree

LINK: 1 Chronicles 1

It really helps to listen to an audio version of this chapter so you can let someone else try to pronounce all those obscure names!

BACKGROUND 

1 and 2 Chronicles were once one book. It was split into two during the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament, in about 200 B.C. Jewish tradition suggests that Ezra wrote it, but there is no way we can know for sure. We will just call the author "the chronicler."  Many things indicate that it was written based on earlier written sources because more than half of 1 and 2 Chronicles parallels 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. It was believed to be written around 430 B.C. 1 Chronicles recorded events from 1000 - 960 B.C. and 2 Chronicles recorded events from 970 B.C. to 586 B.C. (the Babylonian captivity). 

The way they differ from the books they parallel is that they are priestly recollections and interpretations of the history of Israel from the reign of David to the Babylonian captivity. 1 Chronicles records the religious history of Judah and Israel. It especially recounts the reign of David in Judah and the Levitical line.  2 Chronicles highlights the importance of the temple and the religious revivals of Judah but almost completely ignores Israel. 

1 Chronicles 1 - 9 will be a short review of the history we covered in YEAR ONE of the BBC from Adam to Saul.  1 Chronicles 10 will be a look forward with the genealogy after the exile. David's reign is the subject of the last 19 chapters of 1 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 11-29). 

These nine chapters are very important because it is important for God's people to know their ancestral line. It is also vital for The Scarlet Thread of Redemption.  You might remember the many times God made promises to people and their descendants. Two important ones he made were to Abraham in Genesis 12. God said that in him "all the families of the earth will be blessed." God wanted to bless all peoples through Abraham and Abraham's seed (JESUS!). In Genesis 15, Abraham was promised offspring so even though he and Sarah were old, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness (15:6, he was right with God because of his faith). The offspring would lead right to Jesus (Galatians 3). That is why it was so important for Israel to know where they came from and where they were going. 

Another example is in 2 Samuel 7. David wanted to build a permanent structure in which the Lord could dwell among His people. Through the Prophet Nathan, God told David that there was not yet a need for a permanent structure but that he would build a house for David that would be a royal house that would never end (7:16). The kingdom of David and his throne would be forever. This is . . . 

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption!!!!!!

This promise fulfills the earlier Abrahamic Covenant blessing that the patriarchs would be the father of kings (Genesis 17:6; 16; 35:11). Later Judah, the great-grandson of Abraham, was given the pledge that a promised ruler would come from Judah (Genesis 49:10). David was from the tribe of Judah and part of the Messianic line that would result in a divine descendant and King (Psalm 2:6-7; 110; 89:3-4). We will see in our study of the prophets that they attested to the Davidic Messiah who would rule over all and forever on his throne. Of course, that Messiah is . . .

JESUS!!!! (Luke 1:31-33)  

This is why genealogies are so important! 

If you have been reading since Genesis, I am sure many of the names sound familiar to you. Here is a little summary with references for you:

Adam to Noah's Sons (1:1-4): Genesis 2-9
Noah's Sons to Abraham (1:5-27): Genesis 10-11
Abraham to Jacob (1:28-54): Genesis 12-36

We will spend the rest of January in Job. This is the only poetry book we did not cover (or start in the case of the Psalm) last year. It was written during the time of the patriarchs in Genesis, but I did not want to interrupt the flow of history since it is a very long book. So, we are reading it during this history review time. 

APPLICATION

See the rich heritage you have because you are part of the family of God in Galatians 3:29; 4:7; Titus 3:7; James 2:5; 1 Peter 1:3-4. There are great promises for those who are in Christ Jesus! 

PRAYER

Lord, thank You that our heritage is great in Christ Jesus. Thank You for bringing us into Your family because of Him!  WOOHOO! Amen.