I started to read 1 and 2 Chronicles in my personal reading
plan, today. Reading genealogies is
somewhat like reading a phone book. “First and Second Chronicles,
originally one book, was written sometime after Judah began to return from the
Babylonian exile in 538 B.C.”[1]
“First Chronicles was probably written to reassure the returned exiles
of God’s faithfulness toward his people.”[2]
“The Hebrew
title of the work, Dibre Hayyamim, is
derived from 1 Chronicles 27:24 and may be translated ‘the events of the years’
or ‘annals.’”[3] “The central theme of
Chronicles is the significance of the
Davidic covenant as the enduring basis of Israel’s life and hope.”[4]
1
Chronicles starts this way: “The descendants of Adam were Seth, Enosh,” (1 Chronicles 1:1, NLT). This is the beginning of the story of
redemption. “God promises
victory over Satan by the offspring of the woman (Gen. 3:15) and of Abraham (Gen.
17:7) . . . The line of chosen offspring goes from Adam through Seth and Noah
(1 Chron. 1:4) to Abraham (vv. 27–28), Isaac (v. 34), and Israel (v. 34; 2:1),
earlier called Jacob (Gen. 32:27–28). It will culminate in Christ (Matt.
1:1–16; Gal. 3:16).”[5]
This chosen
seed, the promised offspring of Genesis 3:15 can be listed this way:
- The seed of the woman (Eve) (Genesis 3:15; 4:25)
- The seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3; 15:1-6, etc.)
- The seed of Isaac (Genesis 21:12, etc.)
- The seed of Jacob (Genesis 25:23, etc.)
- The seed of Judah (Genesis 49:8-10)
- Seed of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16)
- Seed of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
Satan has always sought to destroy this Seed (e.g., “. . . I saw a large red dragon . . . He stood in front of the woman as she was
about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born. She gave
birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod . . .” (Revelation 12:3–5, NLT).
The Good News for all of us today is that “. . . all who put their faith in
Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith”
(Galatians 3:9, NLT);
and “Through Christ Jesus,
God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so
that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith”
(Galatians 3:14, NLT).
[1] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Ch). Wheaton: Standard
Bible Society.
[2]
[3]
Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible
(p. 697). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[4] Ibid.
[5]
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