Chronicles

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      In II Chron 36:23, the last verse in the book, some of the Israelites were allowed to go reclaim their land. This puts the original readers in the land of Israel during the Persian Empire as verse 23 says. Throughout first and second Chronicles mostly the kings of Judah are mentioned. This tells us that this book was written to the kingdom of Judah and not the northern kingdom.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      Most believe Ezra to be the author of Chronicles. This could be possible because he was a priest and he focuses on the priests and the Levites in these two books. He had to be well educated and had to have access to the historical books he speaks about. The book of the kings of Israel and Judah (I Chron 9:1), the book of Samuel the seer, the book of Nathan the prophet, the book of Gad the seer (I Chron 29:29 and so on. He knows and understand a lot about Israel, because of all the events and even cultural things he knows. His focus is much different than the author of Kings. His approach gives a much more positive light on Kings David's reign and Israel's history. He only shares one of David's shortcomings (I Chron 21).

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

     The first 9 chapters of I Chronicles are genealogies and they can be found throughout the two books as well as other lists. A repeated idea I saw was worship. From I Chron 15:14-16:36 David appointed Levites to sing and play music as the Ark of God is brought to Jerusalem. In that passage there is also a song of thanksgiving written by David. Other instances of worship can be found in       I Chron 25:6-8, 28:9, 29:10, 20, II Chron 7:1-6, and II Chron 29:27-28. God uses the prophets many times to call Israel back to him (II Chron 30:9). The Levites and the temple are focused on much more in this book than in the books of Kings as I mentioned before. It's a repeated idea, but also a main theme for Chronicles.  Mostly we see a much more positive feel than in Kings and how God truly loves His people.  His main goal was to redeem them and bring them out from idol worship. 

Summary: God's identity giving, redemption giving, hope giving story of His continued persistence for His people.

What is the primary reason this book is written?

      The primary reason this book was written is to remind Israel of their identity. They have been brought into exile, and are now being let back into their land. They were stripped of their land and their customs (feasts, celebrations, sacrifices, worship). They needed to be reminded of who they were and who their God was. God showed them their past through the time of the kings. God makes it clear that He didn't leave them, but tried to redeem them time after time. Another main reason this book could have been written is to remind the people to worship Him and not worship any other gods. The prophets are a testimony to this warning.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      God was very involved in David's battles. We see in I Chron 14:10-15 that God is the one who won the battles. God fought for Israel. In I Chron 16:8-36 David sings a song of thanksgiving to God. David describes God as being great (v8), strong (v11), just (v14), a protector (v21-22), one who saves (v23), creator (v26), holy (v29), good and faithful (v34), and everlasting (36). God is the one who brought peace to Israel (I Chron 23:25). God is a good father who disciplines His children in order to teach them. He is concerned about their obedience and their growth (II Chron 12:7-8). God allowed the people to choose whether they would serve Him or not. He allowed them to be free to choose. He was quick to pour on blessings and slow to curse them. (II Chron 15:2-3). God was always looking to redeem His people and was extremely persistent. He sent prophets to each king urging them to follow Him. In II Chron 33:10 Manasseh ignored God's warnings.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      God speaks through Nathan in I Chron 17:10-14 and prophesies of one who is coming through the line of David. He says that “I will be his father, and he will be my son...I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time.” (v.13-14).

     Each of the the prophets sent is part of God's redemption plan for Israel. They would go off course and God would send a prophet to bring the people back to Him. God was always trying to redeem His people, but in most cases the people rejected Him. We see that the prophets are only a band-aid for a much bigger problem. The answer to that problem is described in the passage in I Chron 17. Even at the end of II Chron in 36:23, there is hope. Some of the people of Judah are allowed back into their land. It's a spark of hope for the people. God has not abandoned them, but is still there.

Personal Application

I honestly don't know what I would have answered had God asked me for anything I wanted. I think it would depend on the day. It's an amazing question. It's better than a genie lamp and it doesn't come with a price like magic. I'm kind of hoping for a dream like this some time.

To me Solomon answered with what was deep in his heart. He didn't have the luxury of being awake and conscious to be able to think about his answer. He answered in a dream and to me that means that he answered based on what his deepest desire was at the time. If I didn't have time to come up with an answer that sounded good and I only had a moment to come up with an answer, what would it be? It's something I have to think long and hard about and something we should all know the answer to. I don't want to just know the right things to say or the right way to act as a christian, but I want to wholeheartedly love God. I want to seek after things that actually matter. I want to be like Solomon and desire wisdom over any earthly pleasures. I want the deepest part of me to be free from sinful desires. It's hard to explain, but basically it just made me think about what my deepest desires really are. Am I truly seeking God because I love Him with everything I have or have I just been trained really well to fake it?

Point of Passion (Bronx, NYC)

      I remember after 9/11 how the city of New York came together as family. They faced adversity and it seemed they found a new found faith in God. This was the silver lining to a horrible tragedy. People started to care about one another and to put others before themselves. They remembered that there was someone above who was there to comfort and bring them through this time of darkness. I'm not saying that this was punishment on the city, but it reminds me of how God brought punishment on His people so that they would look back to Him. It wasn't out of anger but out of the love a father has for His children. Sometimes discipline is the most loving thing God could do for the Israelites. The only relation to these two things I am making is that people began to look at God. In New York, people began to look to God, in Israel people began to look to God after a tragedy. Again, New York has been faced with dark times. Over 50 people dead and the city has been destroyed in some areas. It doesn't mean that this is punishment, but I hope it turns the peoples eyes back to God. To remember that He is their help, their savior, their Prince of Peace.