Bible Reading Reflection from 1Chronicles 1-9

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙:𝟛𝟚

"The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine, whom she bore, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan."

Abraham married Keturah after Sarah died! And had begotten Midian through that marriage.

Moses married a Midianite woman. However, later, Israelites were prohibited to have any relationship with the Midianites!

A lot of children of Abraham through many wives, and much bloodshed! He should have married only Sarah. Then, there would be no such people, and Muslims (not the people but the false religion developed through Ishmael), huh! 😂

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚:𝟙𝟟

"Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite."

We often see a non-Israelite, being part of the great program of God. Jesus’ ancestry includes Moabite, prostitute, illegitimate son, etc.

Amasa was a son of an Ishmaelite. Does that mean it was okay to have intermarriage? No. It was a sin. And whatever is against the scriptural teaching is sin, till today, and forever will be.

What it shows us is that God, still, is sovereign even over sins. And God, still, loves each individual.

What if God rejects all the children of Bathsheba because it was an illegal marriage? Are the children responsible for their parent’s sins? Should you kill a son of a prostitute or of a raped victim? What wrong has that son done? Doesn’t he have all the rights and opportunities as any other child? We can't look down on them because of their parents. God didn't, does not, and will not.

That's what we learn from such a scandal of ancestry.

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟛:𝟚𝟙

"The sons of Hananiah were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah."

Why a list of dead people? We never know some of them, never heard of them apart from this chapter?

In itself, this chapter, including 1 and 2 is boring!

But it is written as proof that God had preserved His promise to raise up Messiah from the descendants of David [and Abraham], no matter how challenging it had been.

It shows the faithfulness and power of God!

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟜:𝟙𝟘

"Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!’ And God granted him what he requested."

In this list of names, suddenly there's a mention of prayer, and God answered that prayer. Interesting! 👍

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟝:𝟚𝟘

"They were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him."

The narrative suggests that they were losing but when they put their trust in God and cried out to God, they were helped by God.

‘Trusted’ and ‘cried’ are the keywords here – what they did. And what God did were, help them, and deliver the enemies into their hands. Wow!

Let's be fervent in prayer all the time!

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟞:𝟞𝟜

"So the sons of Israel gave to the Levites the cities with their pasture lands."

This chapter gives a lot of consideration to the concerns [needs] of the Levites. And so, as Moses commanded them, they gave cities to the Levites!

When we have little, giving a little of what we have is not that tough. But I have heard from lots of people that when you have much, to give proportionately from what you have is really tough!

Giving 10 out of 1000 is 0.1 percent.

To give 0.1 percent when you have millions is another thing!

But some things are commanded and must be fulfilled. Israelites were commanded, and so, so far, so good! 👍

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟟:𝟙𝟛

"The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah."

The chronicle of the tribe of Naphtali is very short. It's obvious there were not many significant people from this tribe. Even Jacob's blessing in Genesis 49 is short.

Would people remember you and your descendants after you die?

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟠:𝟜𝟘

"The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons and grandsons, 150 of them. All these were of the sons of Benjamin."

This chapter is devoted to the descendants of Benjamin. Indeed, they were mighty people of war. Gifted, skilled, and even brave. Even the first king of united Israel was from the tribe of Benjamin, King Saul.

Even the great Apostle Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin, Saul of Tarsus.

 

𝟙 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟡:𝟚

"Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites and the temple servants."

This chapter focuses on the return of the worship team from exile.

The worship team is essential for Worship, Community, and Livelihood. The worship team includes the Priests and the Levites. BTW, the worship leader is not the guy with the guitar, it's the man with the Bible [I agree with John Piper]. The worship leader of any church is the teaching pastor!

Singing is just a tiny part of worship. Remember that!