Sermon Tone Analysis

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

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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.