The lawful use of genealogies - Myths & Genealogies (Part 4)

GENEALOGIES: AN INTRODUCTION AND APPRECIATION HOW DO WE USUALLY RESPOND WHEN WE ENCOUNTER A GENEALOGY IN SCRIPTURE? fi 1 Chronicles 1:1–10 (ESV) Adam, Seth, Enosh; 2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; 3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech; 4Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 5The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 6The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 7The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. 8The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. 9The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 10Cush fathered Nimrod. He was the rst on earth to be a mighty man. HOW DO WE USUALLY RESPOND WHEN WE ENCOUNTER A GENEALOGY IN SCRIPTURE? ‣ disappointment ‣ boredom ‣ bewilderment ‣ avoidance ‣ resignation Why are we even talking about genealogies tonight? fi 1 Timothy 1:3–8 (ESV) As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make con dent assertions. 8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, What is the lawful use of Genealogies? DOES 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 APPLY TO GENEALOGIES? 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) fi All Scripture is breathed out by God and pro table for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. fi WHAT IS A PHONE BOOK GOOD FOR? ‣ phone numbers ‣ business advertisements ‣ doorstop ‣ paperweight ‣ make-shift high chair ‣ target practice ‣ bug smasher ‣ re starter ‣ historical record Genealogies Are Like Bridges that connect . . . the reader to the historicity of the Bible the original audience to their own history the persons listed to their family trees certain family trees to God’s promises certain family trees to speci c consequences the original audience to God’s purpose(s) for them at that stage of human and redemptive history the current readers to the message of that book of the Bible fi the reader to God’s character Genealogies connect the reader to the historicity of the Bible. Genealogies Are Like Bridges that connect the persons listed to their family trees. Is the Lamech in Genesis good or bad? Are we talking about the Lamech in the genealogy in Genesis 4? Genesis 4:17–24 (ESV) Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. . . . 18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19And Lamech took two wives. . . . 23Lamech said to his wives: . . . I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. 24If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.” Are we talking about the Lamech in the genealogy in Genesis 5? Genesis 5:6–31 (ESV) 6When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 9When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 12When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 15When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 18When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 21When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 25When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. Genesis 5:6–31 (ESV) 28When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” Genealogies Are Like Bridges that connect the original readers to the point of that book of the Bible. What is the point of 1-2 Chronicles? Where would we nd the point of 1-2 Chronicles? fi At the very end of the book. fi fi 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 (ESV) Now in the rst year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be ful lled, 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: 23“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.’ ” What was the writer of Chronicles calling his original audience to do? 23“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.’ ” Why did the writer of Chronicles take 65 chapters including 9 chapters of genealogies to say, “God wants you to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild His temple”? How do 9 chapters of genealogies help the Chronicler make his case? What was the most recent big event in Israel’s history before Cyrus’s degree to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem? 2 Chronicles 36:17–18 (ESV) 17Therefore he [the LORD] 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. 18And 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. fi fi fi 2 Chronicles 36:19–21 (ESV) And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with re and destroyed all its precious vessels.20He 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, 21to ful ll 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 ful ll seventy years. What is the point 1-2 Chronicles? Despite our multiplied failures and the passage of much time, our promise-keeping God calls us to return to Him in fellowshipping worship. How do 9 chapters of genealogies help the Chronicler make his case that God will be with His people if they will return to Jerusalem and rebuild His temple? Genealogies Are Like Bridges that connect the original audience to God’s purpose(s) for them at that stage of human and redemptive history. The genealogy of 1 Chronicles 1-9 gives a running start to the command to “go up” and return from Babylon to Jerusalem. The genealogies remind us that God’s presence enables us to do His will in the present regardless of our personal past, our family history, or our nation’s failures. 2 Chronicles 36:23b (ESV) Whoever is among you [nations] of all his [Yahweh’s] people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.’ ” 1 CHRONICLES 1-9 & THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE-TUNNEL THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE-TUNNEL 28.3 km (17.6 miles) long WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU’RE DRIVING ON THE BRIDGE? WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU’RE READING 1 CHRONICLES 1-9? WHY SUCH A LONG BRIDGE? TO SAVE TIME The bridge–tunnel saves motorists 153 km (95 miles) and 2.5 hours. WHY SUCH A LONG GENEALOGY? TO SAVE TIME 1 Chronicles 1-9 covers approximately 3,500 years of human history in 9 chapters. How long does that take to read? 40+ minutes What’s the alternative? Reading all or parts of . . . Genesis (50 chapters) Exodus (40 chapters) Numbers (36 chapters) Deuteronomy (34 chapters) Joshua (24 chapters) Judges (21 chapters) 1 Samuel (8 chapters) The alternative = 213 chapters Happily, there are overlooks and scenic viewpoints. 9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow [lit. pain]. 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. (1 Chr. 4:9-10) How would a story about painful and sorrowful childhood with a prayer to be spared grief in adulthood be relevant to the original readers of Chronicles? 2 Chronicles 36:17 (ESV) 17Therefore he [the LORD] 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 [the LORD] gave them all into his hand. 9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow [lit. pain]. 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. (1 Chr. 4:9-10) fi fi 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 (ESV) Now in the rst year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be ful lled, 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: 23“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.’ ” 18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war. 19 And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. 20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him. (1 Chr. 5:18-20) 25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them. 26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, (1 Chr. 5:25-26) fi fi 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 (ESV) Now in the rst year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be ful lled, 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: 23“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.’ ” 1 Chronicles 7:20–27 (ESV) The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, 21Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to raid their livestock. 22And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. 23And Ephraim went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son. And he called his name Beriah, because disaster had befallen his house. 24His daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah. Hymn # 399: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus