I & II CHRONICLES – These 2 books contain a history of the kingdom of Judah beginning with David’s and Solomon’s lives and continuing to the Babylonian Captivity of the Kingdom of Judah. They were probably written by Ezra for the exiled Jews who had returned home from Babylonian captivity.
Monday, June 28, I Chronicles 1 & 2
Chap. 1:1 – The most important son of Adam and Eve we want to remember is Seth. From his descendants many years later came Jesus. Cf. Luke 3:23-38
Chap. 2:4 – Out of this immoral act between Tamar and Judah came Perez, an ancestor of the Savior. This incident in Scripture tells us that Jesus came into the world to free all sinners from their sin and bring them eternal life. Read Gen. 38 and Matt. 1:3.
Tuesday, June 29, I Chronicles 3-5
Chap. 5:20, 24-26 – While fame and toughness mean much to the world, it makes no impression upon God. God looks for faithfulness and trust in a Christian (v. 20).
Wednesday, June 30, I Chronicles 6
This chapter chronicles the Levites.
1) From vv. 4-14 we have a list of men who served in the office of high priest.
2) In v. 13 we meet Hilkiah, the priest who discovered the book of the Law in the temple during the time of King Josiah (II Kings 22; II Chron. 34; Deut. 17:18, 19). That “discovery” helped to spur a temporary “revival” in the true worship of the God of Israel.
3) In vv. 31-47 are the names of the Levites who provided music in the temple.
- 3, 28 – Two great prophets came from Levi’s descendants. They were Moses (v. 3) and Samuel (v. 28).
- 57 – The important purpose of cities of refuge is given in Numbers 35:6-28.
Thursday, July 1, I Chronicles 7-9
Chap. 9:1 – In chapter 5:26, the captivity of Northern Israel is described. In v. 1 of chapter 9, Judah was led into captivity by Babylonia. The
similarity between the 2 is that they both were unfaithful to the Lord. The difference is that God permitted the people of Judah to return after 70 years. Read II Chron. 36:21-23. The reason why God made this possible is in Jer. 23:5,6 and 29:10.
Friday, July 2, I Chronicles 10
This chapter reviews the end of King Saul’s life-terminated by suicide. Suicide is the ultimate expression of sinful hopelessness. Many times there is no chance for repentance before death; occasionally there is. God does not give us the right to end our own life. (Ps. 31:15, Job. 1:21)
- 13, 14 – God grant that our obituary never reads like Saul’s. May we be found among those John describes in Rev. 7:13-17.
Saturday, July 3, I Chronicles 11
- 2 – David is reminded of his call to “shepherd my people Israel.” Shepherding was a picture that Jesus and the apostles also used in the New Testament (John 10:1-30; I Peter 5:1-4. David also would use that picture in Psalm 23.
- 5 – Zion later became a reference to the Holy Christian Church. Read Zech. 9:9 and Matt. 21:5