"OVERVIEW OF CHRONICLES"
Notes
Transcript
What do you all know about Chronicles?
Background info –
Author – unknown
Although the text does not identify the author, several facts seem to support the tradition in the Jewish Talmud that Ezra the priest was the author. The content points to a priestly authorship because of the emphasis on the temple, the priesthood, and the theocratic line of David in the southern kingdom of Judah. The narrative also indicates that Chronicles was at least written by a contemporary of Ezra. Chronicles is quite similar in style to the Book of Ezra, and both share a priestly perspective: genealogies, temple worship, ministry of the priesthood, and obedience to the law of God. In addition, the closing verses of Second Chronicles (36:22–23) are repeated with minor changes as the opening verses of Ezra (1:1–3). Thus, Chronicles and Ezra may have been one consecutive history as were Luke and Acts.
Ezra was an educated scribe (Ezra 7:6), and according to the apocryphal Book of Second Maccabees, chapter 2, verses 13–15, Nehemiah collected an extensive library which was available to Ezra for his use in compiling Chronicles. Many of these documents and sources are listed in the book (see “Author” in Second Chronicles). Scholars of Israel accumulated and compared historical material, and the author of Chronicles was actually a compiler who drew from many sources under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 100). T. Nelson.
Audience – Judah
Theme – “God’s View of David and the Kings of Judah”
1 Chronicles is essentially reiterating the positive events that took place in 1 and 2 Samuel
2 Chronicles is essentially reiterating the positive events that took place 1 and 2 Kings
That brings us to another question – What is the purpose of Chronicles then?
You see Samuel and Kings were written from a prophet’s perspective, where as Chronicles is written from a priestly/spiritual perspective. With that being said Chronicles does not mention all of the wicked stuff outlined in Samuel and Kings. (Specifically with David and Solomon) The reason for this is b/c Chronicles focus primarily on the spiritual things.
For the Chronicler the lasting contribution of the kings was religious. Samuel and Kings condemn sin and urge repentance, but Chronicles encourages the faithful to make a new start. Mathews, K. A. (1998). The Historical Books. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary: Simple, straightforward commentary on every book of the Bible (D. S. Dockery, Ed.) (156). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
First Chronicles overlooks the moral defeats and highlights the victories of David to draw attention to God’s sovereignty in his life. God succeeded in using David to fulfill His purposes for him. Chronicles challenges today’s Christians to trace the high points of God’s working in their own lives. Our hope is that the One who began a good work in us will complete it (Phil. 1:6).[ Mathews, K. A. (1998). The Historical Books. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary: Simple, straightforward commentary on every book of the Bible (D. S. Dockery, Ed.) (162). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Chronicles primarily focuses on the positive that is where the nation of Israel and the kings were following God. Why is this? The nation has just come back from Captivity and God’s desire is for them to forsake their past life and be committed to following God.
Now, as we seek to develop the big picture of Chronicles you must remember what has happened to Judah and Israel –
Israel is the Northern Kingdom - once divided all wicked kings – 722 BC the Assyrians destroyed
Judah is the Southern Kingdom - once divided some of both – 586 BC the Babylonians took captive
The Babylonian Captivity lasted for 70 years. They were taken captive in 586 BC the captivity lasted until about 516 BC.
As the people return from captivity remember that the reason that God did not allow the nation of Judah to be destroyed was b/c of the Davidic Covenant – the book of Chronicles deals with the southern kingdom which is Judah -
The books of First and Second Chronicles cover the same period of Jewish history described in Second Samuel through Second Kings but the perspective of Chronicles is different. These books are no mere repetition of the same material, but rather are a divine editorial on the history of God’s people. While Second Samuel and Kings give political history of Israel and Judah, Chronicles gives a religious history of the Davidic dynasty of Judah. The former were written from a prophetic and moral viewpoint, the latter from a priestly and spiritual perspective. The Book of First Chronicles begins with the royal line of David, then traces the spritual significance of David’s righteous reign. Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 99). T. Nelson.
The Book of Second Chronicles parallels First and Second Kings but virtually ignores the northern kingdom of Israel because of its false worship and refusal to acknowledge the temple in Jerusalem. Chronicles focuses on those kings who pattern their life and reign after that of godly king David. It gives extended treatment to such zealous reformers as Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah, and Josiah. The temple and temple worship are central throughout the book, as befitting a nation whose worship of God is central to its very survival. The book begins with Solomon’s glorious temple, and concludes with Cyrus’ edict to rebuild the temple more than four hundred years later! Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 108). T. Nelson.
As we are reminded about King David and the other Kings in Judah we will examine three specific things – 1) God’s Sovereignty, 2) Faithfulness of men and 2) Failures of men -
Interrogative question - How are you being used by God?
King David – 1 Chronicles 11-29
King David – 1 Chronicles 11-29
9 David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.
What positive things did David do?
13:1-2 – Desired to have the ark of God brought back
1 Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader. 2 David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the Lord our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may meet with us;
14:10 – David inquires of God
10 David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” Then the Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.”
15:1-4 – Followed protocol for transporting the Ark
1 Now David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.” 3 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place which he had prepared for it. 4 David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:
16:37 – Ministered before the Lord
37 So he left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required;
17:7-10 – Davidic covenant reinforced
7 “Now, therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel. 8 “I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. 9 “I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and not be moved again; and the wicked will not waste them anymore as formerly, 10 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I tell you that the Lord will build a house for you.
17:16 – David pray’s to the Lord
16 Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?
This is just a few of the things that you will find in 1 Chronicles – the thing that I want you to notice is that as a result of David’s faithfulness to the Lord He provided for him.
King Solomon – 2 Chronicles 1-9
King Solomon – 2 Chronicles 1-9
1:8 – Prays to God
8 Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place.
2-4 – Builds the House for the Lord
5:2 – Had the Ark brought into the Temple
2 Then Solomon assembled to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.
6:14 – Prays to the Lord
14 He said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart;
Again this is by no means and exhaustive listed of what you will find in Chronicles regarding Solomon. But again the point is this as a result of his faithfulness God used and provided for him.
10:1 – Rehoboam comes to the throne
1 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
10:11 – Increases the work
11 ‘Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’ ”
10:15 – God is the one who allowed all of this to happen
15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events from God that the Lord might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
12:1-2 – Forsakes the Lord
1 When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him forsook the law of the Lord. 2 And it came about in King Rehoboam’s fifth year, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem
12:14 – Evil
14 He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.
13:1 – Abijah comes to the throne
1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.
13:15-16 – God delivered Jeroboam into his hands
15 Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, then it was that God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 When the sons of Israel fled before Judah, God gave them into their hand.
Asa – 14:16:14
Asa – 14:16:14
14:1-2 – Asa comes to the throne
1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days. 2 Asa did good and right in the sight of the Lord his God,
14:7 – The Lord is doing the work
7 For he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.
15:8 – Asa was obeying the Lord
8 Now when Asa heard these words and the prophecy which Azariah the son of Oded the prophet spoke, he took courage and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the Lord which was in front of the porch of the Lord.
15:15 – God is working
15 All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So the Lord gave them rest on every side.
Jehoshaphat – 17-20:37
Jehoshaphat – 17-20:37
17:1-3 – He did what was right in God’s eye’s
1 Jehoshaphat his son then became king in his place, and made his position over Israel firm. 2 He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had captured. 3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals,
17:5 – The Lord was working
5 So the Lord established the kingdom in his control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.
18:31 – The Lord was working
31 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God diverted them from him.
20:3-4 – Sought after the Lord
3 Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.
20:15 – God is working
15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
20:18 – Response to the Lord
18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.
Jehoram –
Jehoram –
21:1 – Jehoram rises to the throne
1 Then Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place.
21:6 – Seeks after the Lord
6 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did (for Ahab’s daughter was his wife), and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.
21:7 – Lord is in control
7 Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.
22:1 – Ahaziah comes to the throne
1 Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men who came with the Arabs to the camp had slain all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.
22:4 – Does what is evil
4 He did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.
22:7 – God is in control
7 Now the destruction of Ahaziah was from God, in that he went to Joram. For when he came, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
25:2 – Does what is evil
2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.
25:15 – Lord is angry with him
15 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?”
Joash –
Joash –
24:1 – rises to the throne
1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah from Beersheba.
24:2 – obeys the Lord
2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
24:24 – The Lord is working
24 Indeed the army of the Arameans came with a small number of men; yet the Lord delivered a very great army into their hands, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.
Hezekiah – 29-32:33
Hezekiah – 29-32:33
29:1 – Comes to the throne
1 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
29:2 – does what is right in the eyes of the Lord
2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.
Josiah – 34-35:27
Josiah – 34-35:27
34:1 – comes to the throne
1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
34:2 – obeys
2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
A recurring theme in Chronicles is faithfulness to God’s covenant. In 2 Chronicles the kings of Judah are judged on the basis of their fidelity to Moses’ commandments (6:16; 7:17–18). Those kings who were faithful prospered in their reigns, such as the reformers Asa (14:4), Jotham (27:6), Hezekiah (31:20–21), and Josiah (34:31–33; 35:26). The kings that were unfaithful to the law of Moses met with disaster. Jehoram experienced disease and defeat (21:12–20), Joash was assassinated (24:24–25), Uzziah suffered leprosy (26:16–21), Ahaz was humiliated (28:19, 22), and Manasseh was imprisoned (33:7–11). The presence of a Davidic king by itself did not guarantee God’s favor on Israel. Obedience was the Lord’s requirement. Mathews, K. A. (1998). The Historical Books. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary: Simple, straightforward commentary on every book of the Bible (D. S. Dockery, Ed.) (163). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
2 Chronicles reflects God’s intervention (6:5–6; 7:17–22; 9:8; 13:5–12; 20:6–7; 32:6–8; 34:24, 28). The Lord established kings (17:5; 20:15; 26:5), aroused enemies (21:16; 28:5; 33:11; 36:17), and afflicted or delivered kings (13:15; 21:18; 32:21–22). Mathews, K. A. (1998). The Historical Books. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary: Simple, straightforward commentary on every book of the Bible (D. S. Dockery, Ed.) (164). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete.
tells us why the captivity was 70 years –
SO WHAT??
Dever – “The core of sin is to love what is not God as if it were God”
The sovereignty of God – Nothing happens outside of His plan
Faithfulness of men – Does your life demonstrate faithfulness to the Lord?
Failures of men – Does your life demonstrate continue failing of the Lord and His Word?
Remember this - No person is ever exempt from the possibility of sinning regardless of how spiritual they are! (does not matter if you are poor, rich, a manager, a ceo, a pastor, or the united states president you are susceptible to sin)