1 & 2 Chronicles
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The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy. Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels. He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.’ ”
Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels. He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 36:15-22
The name of Chronicles in the Greek translation of the OT means - “the things omitted concerning the things of Judah.”
The Hebrew translation means, “the matters/events of the days.” This actually provides a better understanding of the purpose of the book. The Chronicler did not just write this expansive book to provide what had been left out of Samuel and Kings.
I Chronicles focuses primarily on the history of Judah, the southern kingdom. The reign of David and his desire to worship and build the temple takes up the majority of the book.
Although there is some repetition from these other sources, 1 and 2 Chronicles has it own purpose and provides it’s own theological themes which we will get to in a little bit.
Facts About 1 & 2 Chronicles:
Originally written as One book
•Originally written as one book.
Modern English title derived from Luther’s 16th century title “Chronicle of the Entire Sacred History.”
•Modern English title derived from Luther’s 16th century title “Chronicle of the Entire Sacred History.”
•Chronicles concentrates on the 450-year period of the monarchy when kings ruled Israel.
•Primary focus of 1 and 2 Chronicles it the royal line of David.
I . Author and Setting
I . Author and Setting
A. Author
A. Author
The author of 1 & 2 Chronicles is unknown. No Author is ever mentioned throughout either one of the books. Due to the fact that Ezra-Nehemiah picks up where Chronicles leaves off, Ezra has been suggested as a likely author, however we just do not know because the author is not identified, therefore God chose not to reveal to us who the author is.
The author is
Since the author is unknown, he is often referred to as “the chronicler.”
B. Recipients and Date
B. Recipients and Date
Chronicles was written sometime after 538 B.C. to the people of Judah who were returning from the Babylonian exile. The chronicler was writing to encourage the remnant returning after the exile. He wanted to remind them of the promises of God and God’s faithfulness through times of fear, frustration, defeat, and even bondage. He reminds them of God’s provision of kings, and protection of His people. He also reminds them of God desire for His people to worship Him rightly, according to God’s rules. He reminds them of their need to call out to God in prayer and repentance which brings about God’s mercy and grace. He reminds them of the glory of God they had experienced int the temple of God.
Bibliotheca Sacra Volume 144 Audience and Setting
According to internal evidence the chronicler was writing for all the returned remnant. Especially significant in this regard is the chronicler’s repeated use of phrases such as “all the house of Israel” and “all the tribes of Israel.” Over 40 times he employed the term “all Israel.” Clearly the chronicler was appealing to (and for) a new united Israel.
C. What Type of Genre?
C. What Type of Genre?
1 & 2 Chronicles was written as historical narrative, with a heavy dose of genealogical records of course. The chronicler recorded these historical events in order to teach God’s people how they might learn from the lessons of the past both the positive examples and the negative.
The books of 1 and Second Chronicles were written for this purpose; that God may be shown as supreme and sovereign over all kings, all nations, and all things. He is worthy of worship; and has from the beginning had a master plan to deliver His people through one mighty King!
Next let’s look at a high level outline of 1 and 2 Chronicles.
1 Chronicles
I. Genealogies of God’s People Ch. 1-9
II. Saul’s Reign Ends Ch. 10
III. David’s Reign Ch. 11-29
2 Chronicles
I. Solomon’s Reign Ch. 1-9
II. The Reign of the Rest of the kings Ch. 10-36
II. Main Themes and Doctrines
II. Main Themes and Doctrines
A. Main Characters
A. Main Characters
God
Throughout these two books the Chronicler points to God as he he lovingly, mercifully, and justly dealt with the people of Israel, the kings of Israel, and other pagan nations. He is revealed a;
A God who answers prayer
A God who is like no other
A covenant keeping Go
A promise keeping God
A forgiving God
A God who justly uses war to judge and to reward.
A glorious God
A holy God
A
The one true God who is worthy of worship.
David
David is anointed as God’s chosen King in chapter 1 Chronicles chapter 11. Then in chapter 12 David begins to be the mighty conquering king God has chosen for Israel. After David and his mighty men regain Jerusalem, David worships in chapters 15-17. David continues to be God’s conquering king in chapters 18-20.
In chapter 21 David sins by taking an unauthorized census but after worship through repentance David and the people of Israel are restored.
David begins his work in chapter 22 as he prepares Solomon to build the temple. Through chapter 28 David is essentially preparing the people to do the work of the LORD. In Chapter 29 David pray’s, Solomon is anointed and David passes.
Solomon
In the first Chapter of 2 Chronicles the book opens as Solomon worships and prays for wisdom. Solomon goes to work building the temple in chapter 2 and completes the temple in chapter 5. Solomon worships as he dedicates the temple through a prayer of praise, pleading, and confession in chapter 6 and the glory of the Lord fills the temple in chapter 7.
Chapter 8 recaps all of the work Solomon did as king.
Thus was accomplished all the work of Solomon from the day the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed.
2 Chronicles
Chapter 9 recounts a foreign women who was amazed by Solomon’s wealth, and at the end of Chapter 9 Solomon was buried in the city of David.
Now there are many other kings mentioned in chapters 10-36 but their names are not as important as the way they reigned.
This is where we will begin to dive into the main Themes in the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. The way I am going to approach these is a little different tonight. When you have so many chapters to cover it can be a challenge, however as I read, studied, and meditated on these books I found that almost every chapter can fall into 1 of three primary themes. Some chapters may be a mix of two of these themes, and some may have all three. As we considered the characters you may have already heard me mention these themes.
Here they are, the three themes that are in almost every chapter of these two books are:
I. War
II. Work
III. Worship
At a high level think about what we have already mentioned. In the genealogies might men of war are listed. David’s reign begins after Saul commits suicide in war. David conquers enemies in war. David worships God after God gives them victory. David then works to move the ark, David works to prepare for Solomon to build the temple. Solomon works to build the temple, worships, the glory of the Lord fills the temple. Solomon’s works are recounted in chapter 8. All the kings following Solomon either worship God or idols. If they worship God rightly they are victorious in war. If they worship as Pagans they are defeated in war.
Do you see the themes in that fly over?
Now let’s begin by looking at the theme of War in the Chronicles.
B. War
B. War
The important thing for us to see over and over is that the chronicler presents God as sovereign over war.
We see this early in 1 Chronicles, even in the genealogies.
The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him. They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile.
1 Chronicles 5:
We see the exact opposite of trusting in God in war from the half tribe of Manasseh.
1 Chronicles 5:
But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.
Not only was God Sovereign over war the genealogies are the records of God selecting men for war.
Their kinsmen belonging to all the clans of Issachar were in all 87,000 mighty warriors, enrolled by genealogy.
1 Chronicles 7:
All these were the sons of Jediael according to the heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty warriors, 17,200, able to go to war.
Azariah fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub,
1 Chronicles
1 Chronicles 7:
We remember from the previous surveys that Saul died in war because he had a breach of faith and did not seek the Lord and consulted a medium. It was at that time that David was anointed king. The first thing he did was take the people of Israel and go to Jerusalem where the Jebusites said “You will not come in here.” And David said, hide and watch, he issued a challenge saying the first one to strike the Jebusites will be my chief commander, Joab led the charge and became chief.
Notice what the Chronicler records next,
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. This is an account of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time. And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite. He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the Lord saved them by a great victory.
1 Chronicles 11:
This is repeated over and over as the LORD continues to grant victory to David and strengthen him and his mighty men. Now we let’s fast forward to the exact opposite God granting victory in war to seeing God administering judgment through war.
When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. And the people were without number who came with him from Egypt—Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 12:1-4
Let me give you one more example of God’s judgment through war.
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done,
Just so you know how evil Ahaz was, he:
2 Chronicles 28:
walked in the ways of the kings of Israel
worshipped Baals
burned his sons in the Valley of Hinnom
made sacrifices in the high places.
Therefore the Lord his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force.
2 Chronicles 28:
We have just scratched the surface of the theme of war in the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. But here is the point. In the days of God’s Old Testament people Israel He displayed His sovereignty and providence over war in victory and defeat. He selected mighty men of valor who trusted him to fight for and protect the people of God. He also used war as a means of judgment to bring His people to repentance, faithfulness, and obedience.
We will come back to that but first let’s look at the second theme, Work.
C. Work
C. Work
This the theme of work is woven in throughout both of these books. Like theme of war, the chronicler begins documenting early the works of David. He begins telling of David’s works in the temple of God.
These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there.
And their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
1 Chronicles
You may be thinking is that work or is that worship, I would say it is both. But the point is that the writer of the book of Chronicles wants us to see the way David took charge and appointed men who were gifted to work in different manners in service of the tabernacle to lead the people of God in worship.
He continues in
Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer; besides their kinsmen, heads of their fathers’ houses, 1,760, mighty men for the work of the service of the house of God.
Who did God choose for the work of the service of the house of God? Mighty men…Men who would lead in right worship, men who would protect God’s people from idolatrous practices, and men who would stand in the gap to protect the glory of God!
1 Chronicles 9:1013
Not only are God’s workers listed in the genealogies David’s work begins after seasons of war in Chapter 15. This is when David worked to build his own house and a place for the the ark of God.
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. Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:
Do you see all the ways in which David worked to fulfill the will of God. He was not just sitting on a throne throwing out orders, but he was working to accomplish what God had called him to do.
To continue to show you the importance of understanding the theme of work throughout these books let’s jump to Chapter 22. Here I want us to see that God’s work is not only accomplished by His chosen king, but also by his chosen and gifted people.
David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David.
1 Chronicles 15:1-
To continue to show you the importance of understanding the theme of work throughout these books let’s jump to Chapter 22. Here I want us to see that God’s work is not only accomplished by His chosen king, but also by his chosen and gifted people.
David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.
1 Chronicles 22:2-
Notice what David does, he calls or commands the resident aliens and stone cutters to prepare the stones for the house of God.
David provided from his own stash, iron, and bronze, so much you could not measure it. He provided logs for building.
He also called in Sidonian and Tyrian loggers to bring in great quantities of cedar. How often do loggers get recognition in the Scriptures? But David is preparing for this great work and it is important to see that all of these goods are not for his own gain but for what?
1 Chronicles 22:
For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.
David wanted Solomon to build this house for the glory of the Lord. He wanted the house that Solomon built to be a display of the majesty and beauty of God so that His fame might go throughout all the lands.
David did all he could to prepare his son to fulfill God’s covenant with David. In Chapters 22-28 David continues his work for God by:
Preparing the preists
Dividing the Sons of Aaron for their duties
Organizing the musicians
Dividing up the gatekeepers, treasurers, and officers.
Dividing the military
Commanding Israel and Solomon to obey the Lord!
Does that sound like working for the glory of God took up much of David’s life?
As we move to 2 Chronicles we see the theme of work continue in the life of Solomon. Now that David has prepared him to build the temple he must get it done.
Solomon's work is recorded beginning in Chapter 2 of 2 Chronicles.
Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the Lord, and a royal palace for himself. And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to oversee them.
2 Chronicles 2:
How about that for a construction crew. Just to put this into perspective our entire company only has a little over 3000 employees with 600 Foremen and we are scattered all over the country. Solomon gathers a workforce of 150,000 with 3,600 Foremen to oversee them to work on one construction project.
Again what is the purpose for Solomon’s work?
The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?
2 Chronicles 2:
He is working because His God is worthy. He is pouring forth all of his efforts into the work God has called him to do because His God has called Him, made a covenant with His Father, and he desires to honor his God through working for Him with an attitude of humility understanding that he is not worthy to work for Him and the house he builds cannot contain Him!
So like his father Solomon called in,
Metal workers, textile workers, engravers, and more loggers.
Listen to this response to Solomon’s call for skilled workers.
Then Hiram the king of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, “Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you king over them.” Hiram also said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.
2 Chronicles 2:11-
Not only is Solomon’s work motivated by worship, other kings are beginning to respond in worship recognizing who God is, praising His name and joining in working together to build the house of God!
Solomon goes on to complete the house of God in Chapter 5 and in Chapter Solomon’s works as king are recounted.
Look, like the theme of war we could go on and on expounding the chroniclers records of the work that David and Solomon executed. But I want to get to our third theme, because this is where I want us to really focus. If you don’t remember anything else tonight I want you to know that 1 and 2 Chronicles provides the people of God with more than stories of war, and records of work not that those are not significant, but most importantly these two books provide God’s people with great instruction on the doctrine of worship!
D. Worship
D. Worship
1. Obedience in Worship
1. Obedience in Worship
Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.
1 Chronicles 15:
We all remember what happened the first time David’s men when to move the ark. They tried transferring it on the Ox cart or cow trailer. This is not how it was supposed to be moved and when it shifted Uzzah grabbed it and the Lord struck him down. God had made it clear how the ark was to be moved and the men thought they knew better. Yea it would be easier to put the ark on a trailer and let the ox do the work, but God has specifically designed it with rings and poles for carrying. This time David commanded the men to get it right. To consecrate themselves and carry the ark as Moses commanded them!
Any time we approach the presence of God it is an act of worship we must approach him as His word commands us to. God’s people are to worship and serve him in a humble and holy obedience.
Not only does the book of 1 Chronicles reveal to us the importance of obedience in worship, it also provides an example of,
Singing as Worship
Singing as Worship
When we get to chapter 16 the ark is finally home. They have placed in in the tent David had prepared in Israel.
David offered burnt offerings and peace offering before God. He blessed the people and distributed food to all Israel in an act of worship.
Then we read in,
Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers.
1 Chronicles 16:4-
David appointed that praises be sung to the Lord, that Asaph and those who were the musicians appointed to the temple were to play and sing in honor, praise and thanksgiving to God.
I encourage you when you have time go back and read David’s song of worship in Chapter 16:8-36. Here is a summary of what we learn from David Thanksgiving song. God’s people should sing:
Offering thanks to God,
Remembering the works of God,
Offering glory to God,
Seeking the strength of God,
Remembering the covenant of God,
Remembering our unworthiness before God,
Singing of the salvation of God,
Declaring the glory of God,
Exalting the attributes of God,
Ascribing glory to God,
Worshiping in the splendor of the holiness of God!
David writes a God exalting song of thanksgiving that should inform us on how we should sing in the light of God’s merciful work in His Son. He has delivered and redeemed us out of the bondage of sin and death. We ought to desire to sing songs of thanksgiving and praise to Him so that all the surrounding neighborhoods and nations would hear of His great name!
We have seen God’s people worship through obedience, through song, now I want us to see the place and priority of,
Prayer In Worship
Prayer In Worship
In David expresses his desire to build a house for the Lord to the prophet Nathan. Nathan tells him to do as he pleases, but the LORD comes to Nathan that night and tells him that David is not to build a house for the LORD but that his son will. Then the LORD makes his covenant with David through the prophet Nathan, promising David that
He would subdue all of his enemies,
He will build David a house,
He will raise up offspring after David,
He will establish his throne forever,
He will not take his steadfast love from him,
When David got word from Nathan of God’s covenant with him, he turned to God in prayer! Listen to just a portion of David’s prayer.
Then King David 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 thus far? And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant. For your servant’s sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. There is none like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
1 Chronicles 17:
This is not even half of the humble God exalting prayer that David prayed in response to God’s gracious covenant he made with David. Now, if you and I are in Christ we are partakers of the New Covenant. When we worship through prayer do we approach God with this humility and vertical worship that David does? Do we recognize that we have no claim on God’s goodness and love and that He is a God that is like no other, greater than any other?
This is not the only example of prayer as worship in 1 and 2 Chronicles.
Solomon offers a beautiful prayer as he prays vertically exalting God and all of His attributes.
Here is just a portion,
and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart, who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day.
2 Chronicles 6:14-
After Solomon exalts the Lord he then turns and prays for the forgiveness of God’s people if they sin.
And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
Throughout this prayer of repentance Solomon recognizes all the ways the people may sin,
22 “If a man sins against his neighbor”
“If your people sin”
24 “If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned”
26 “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you”
36 “If they sin against you---for there is no one who does not sin” -
The point is Solomon takes serious the truth that all of God’s people sin and he desires to seek forgiveness for the people of God. He knows God is a merciful God who must punish unrepentant sin. Therefore, he pleads with God to forgive his people who repent in an act of worship!
The theme of worship is all through 1 and 2 Chronicles. There are examples of right worship resulting in joy, strength, restoration and blessing from the Lord. There are records of wrong ordered worship resulting in defeat, destruction, and disease.
But I want to give you one more example of faithful worship by not just the king, but all of God’s people.
Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished. When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.
Do you see the beauty and power of a consecrated assembly of God who gather offering a sacrifice of praise, a song of praise, and are united in their desire and commitment to worship the one True God according to His standard!
III. Message of 1 & 2 Chronicles
III. Message of 1 & 2 Chronicles
A. Main Point
A. Main Point
There is a twofold purpose to Chronicles. The first is to offer “covenantal hope” to the post exilic Jews who would read this book. Their hope had been all but shattered following their exile and destruction of Jerusalem. They knew God had made a covenant with David, to eternally have a Son of David sitting on the throne, but instead they were under the reign of a Persian king. However, at the end of 2 Chronicles they would read,
2 Chronicles
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.’ ”
Hope had not been lost, they were about to have the opportunity to see the City of David rebuilt. Right worship would be restored and God’s people would have the opportunity to return to their promised land.
Andrew Hills explains, “THE PURPOSE OF Chronicles is only secondarily to rekindle hope through the retelling of the history of Israel, especially the story of Hebrew kingship. Its primary purpose is to tell the story of the God of history, more specifically, the biography of the God of Israel’s history.”
The book of Chronicles is about God, it is about his sovereignty throughout the warring history of Judah, His authoritative instruction calling His people to work and build a place that they might worship Him. A place that His glory might be seen. Throughout this book God shows His mercy, His goodness, His faithfulness, and His righteous judgment.
However, at the end of the book God’s people are left without a king, they are sent back to work on the city and temple of God, that they might have a place to worship the One True God!
This brings us to the,
B. Message of Jesus
B. Message of Jesus
How do we get to Jesus through the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles
1. Jesus is the promised, eternal Son of David.
1. Jesus is the promised, eternal Son of David.
But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
2. Jesus is the conquering Warrior King
2. Jesus is the conquering Warrior King
Vaughan Roberts explains, “As God had ruled through a king in the days of the old covenant so he would do again in the new-covenant era. The prophets build on the promise God had made to David that an eternal, universal king would come from his line. The salvation of God’s people and the fulfillment of all God’s promises depend on the coming of this anointed one, the son of David:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah
3. Jesus has completed the work of building the Temple.
3. Jesus has completed the work of building the Temple.
John 2:19-
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
4. Jesus is the One whom we are to Worship.
4. Jesus is the One whom we are to Worship.
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation
Back to the questions at the beginning; If you are in Christ, a member of His body, and beneficiary of His work;
How much time and effort do you spend waging war against the sin He has defeated?
How much time do you spend working as not just for your good but for His glory?
How much time do you spend worshiping him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom of priest?
Genealogy Adam to Abraham
Genealogy of David
Descendants of David
Descendants of Judah, Simeon
Descendants of Reuben, Gad, Half Tribe of Manasseh
Descendants of Levi
Descendants of Isaachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Asher
Descendants of Asher
Genealogy of Saul
Genealogy of Returned Exiles
The Death of Saul and His Sons
David Anointed King
The Mighty Men who Helped David In War
The Ark Moved, Uzzah Died
David’s Family, Philistines Fall, Fame and Fear of David
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem the Right Way, David’s Dance
The Ark Placed in the Tent, David’s Thanksgiving Song (Worship)
The Lord’s Covenant with David, David’s Prayer
The Lord Gives David Victory Over all his enemies.
David Defeats the Syarians
The Ammonites and the Six Toed Giant Destroyed
Census Incited By Satan-David Repents and Worships
David Prepares Solomon to Build the Temple
David Prepares the Priest to Work in the House of the LORD
David Divides up Sons of Aaron for their Duties in the House of the LORD.
David Organizes the Musicians
David Divides up the Gatekeepers, Treasurers and other Officers
David Divides up the Military
David Commands Israel and Solomon to Follow the LORD and Finish the task
David’s Prays, Solomon Anointed, David Passes