We are beginning a new series for these two months called Restoring The Fallen. One of the amazing pictures about God is that he did not send all of his prophets condemning his people for their wickedness, only to leave them forever. God sent his prophets and his people rejected God’s message. So the people were punished and taken into exile. Yet God did not leave them in their sins and in the prison of exile in Babylon. We recently studied the books of Ezra and Nehemiah where we saw God bring his people back, giving them the strength to rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem. But Ezra and Nehemiah are now gone and the people have been left in Jerusalem. Now what? What hope is there for these people who have failed God in their past? Is there a path forward with God despite all of their sinning and failures?
Introducing the Chronicles
You might be surprised to know which book was written to address these questions and give hope to a fallen people. Chronicles, which we have in our scriptures today broken into two books — 1 & 2 Chronicles, is the book written for the people to restore their hopes and to teach them how to move forward. In our copies of God’s word today, 1 & 2 Chronicles has an unfortunate placement. In the Hebrew Bible, Chronicles is the last book in the scriptures. This is a right placement because it is believed that this was the last book written before we move into the time of Christ. Due to the similarities between Kings and Chronicles, Chronicles was moved to be between the book of 2 Kings and Ezra. But in the Hebrew Bible, Chronicles is not in the section containing the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. Rather, it it is the last book. Imagine how you would read this book differently if you knew that it was the last book of the scriptures and it was not listed among the history books of the scriptures.
Unfortunately for us, due to Chronicles placement in the Christian scriptures, we skip Chronicles because we just read Samuel and Kings and think that we just read all of this and do not want to read it again. I wonder if it is the most skipped book of the Bible simply due to its location. If this were not enough, when you open to 1 Chronicles you are immediately greeted with an enormous genealogy. This then seals the deal we move on to another book. Rather than giving a new prophetic message like Haggai, Zechariah, or Malachi did, the book of Chronicles tells how to be restored to God and how to go forward with God after falling by retelling Israel’s history of the kings. It is quite the idea that we speak today that if you do not learn from your history, then you are doomed to repeat it. In this sense, the Chronicler is looking back so that we have the ability to look forward in hope.
An Inclusive Genealogy
You will notice that 1 Chronicles starts with a genealogy that begins with Adam. Immediately you will think that this is going to take forever if we are going to have a genealogy that starts with Adam. But when you start with Adam, you are starting at a very inclusive place. When we read Luke’s account of Jesus’ genealogy, noticing that it runs all the way back to Adam, we think about inclusion. Jesus is the Savior for everyone. So with this genealogy starting at Adam, we are going to be given hope about who belongs as the people of God, Israel. In fact, you can see this inclusion idea quickly in 1 Chronicles 1. Beginning in verse 38 the Chroniclers gives a lengthy genealogy for the Edomites (1 Chronicles 1:38-54). Now the Edomites were enemies of Israel. The prophetic book of Obadiah condemns them for their mistreatment and harm to Israel during the invasions. Yet here they are recorded in this history. So again we are emphasizing a curious picture of inclusion into the genealogy. You are being included in this family tree. Now I cannot read the first nine chapters for our lesson today because this would take up all the time allotted to me for this lesson. So we are going to hit the key highlights of this genealogy that will show us what God is doing with this record, what the message is, and how this helps the fallen go forward in hope.
A Failed Genealogy
Chapters 2-4 immediately show the supremacy of the tribe of Judah, just as Jacob had proclaimed as a blessing for his son (cf. Genesis 49:8-12). The genealogy quickly moves to Judah and spends chapters 2-4 setting up David as the rightful king over Israel. However, there are many accounts that are told in these chapters that tell us the purpose and direction of the Chronicler. You will notice in 1 Chronicles 2:3 that in naming the sons of Judah, Er, the firstborn is accounted for as being evil in God’s sight and was put to death. Similarly, in 1 Chronicles 2:7 we read about Achan. Notice how his sin is described. He is called “the troubler of Israel, who broke faith in the matter of the devoted things.” These two are isolated in the genealogy for their unfaithfulness. We are already seeing the theme emerge that unfaithfulness to the Lord has devastating consequences.
A Faith-Filled Genealogy
By contrast, look at what the Chronicler does in 1 Chronicles 4. After continuing to list the descendants of Judah, the Chronicler lingers over one particular person. We are told about a man named Jabez in verses 9-10. We are told that he was more honorable than all of his brothers, even though his mother gave him the name “painful.” Can you imagine calling your child, “pain”? He has a name that suggests a painful life, yet he was more honorable than his brothers. Why? Look at 1 Chronicles 4:10. Jabez called on the God of Israel. He prayed for God to bless him and be with him. Look at the end of verse 10. “And God granted what he asked.” He asked for God to be with him, bless him, and keep him from pain. God listened and brought it about. Notice that Jabez has a life that pictures a life of reversal. He is born under a curse (“pain”) but God reverses his future and blesses his life.
We are reminded in chapter 5 about Reuben’s disqualification from being the firstborn. This is why the birthright was given to to the sons of Joseph and why Judah was set forward as the one through whom the ruler of Israel would come. But Reuben is still pictured as a strong and blessed tribe of God in 1 Chronicles 5:18-26. Why? Look carefully at verse 20 of chapter 5. The tribe of Reuben is described as waging war and prevailing “for they cried out to God in battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him” (1 Chronicles 5:20). The tribe of Reuben, like Jabez, are showing faith by trusting in the Lord and seeing God respond on their behalf. This is in contrast to Er and Achan who broke faith and defied what God told them to do.
Chapter 6 of 1 Chronicles spends time on the tribe of Levi. Levi is a very important tribe in Israel’s history because these were the people devoted to serve the Lord regarding worship. Priests came from the tribe of Levi. Not only would their names be important to be able to know who belonged to the tribe and had the right to offer worship to God, but the Chronicler also has a story to tell about them. In 1 Chronicles 6:31-32 we read that they were put in chapter of the service to the tabernacle during David’s reign and continued until Solomon built the temple. “They performed their service according to the regulations given to them” (1 Chronicles 6:32). They did what they were told to do. Further, in verse 49 we read that Aaron and his sons made offerings “to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded” (1 Chronicles 6:49). Please notice the point that is being made. Atonement is being made for the people as they trust in the Lord.
A Faithless Genealogy
But come back to 1 Chronicles 5 and notice that their faith waned. We read a moment ago that the tribes trusted in the Lord in 1 Chronicles 5:20 and the Lord gave them victory. But then they forgot the Lord. The half-tribe of Manasseh broke faith with their God prostituted themselves to the idols of the land (1 Chronicles 5:24). So the three tribes that trusted in the Lord in verse 20 are destroyed by the Assyrians in verse 26 because they were unfaithful. This description becomes a representation of God’s people. It will be the path that Israel will take. They will begin in faith but eventually break faith.
The seventh and eighth chapters of 1 Chronicles quickly move some of the other tribes with a little bit of emphasis on the tribe of Benjamin. You might remember that the first king of Israel came from the tribe of Benjamin. Chapter 8 and chapter 9 bring us the genealogy of Saul. But what does the Chronicler want us to see as he rounds out his genealogical accounting? Go to chapter 9 and look at the first verse.
So all Israel was recorded in genealogies, and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their breach of faith. (1 Chronicles 9:1 ESV)
How did Israel get into this condition of exiled and punished? The answer that the historian is giving to the people is that they broke faith. Unfaithfulness to God was the reason for their outcome. He is going to make this point through the life of Saul. Chapter 9 ends by coming back to Saul’s genealogy. Turn to 1 Chronicles 10:1-13. The Chronicler tells the account of Saul’s death as king. The Philistines fought Israel and prevailed. Saul, his three sons, and his whole family died together on that day (1 Chronicles 10:6). Why did this happen to Saul? Why didn’t he remain king and establish the king dynasty through him? Look at verses 13-14.
So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. (1 Chronicles 10:13-14 ESV)
How clear is the author making this spiritual point? Saul died because of his breach of faith. He was unfaithful to the Lord by not keeping the command of the Lord. Further, rather than seeking guidance from the Lord, he looked for guidance from a medium. So God put him to death and gave the kingdom to David. He broke faith and he did not look to God for guidance. In fact, you will notice something startling in verse 9. Saul’s death is called “good news” (cf. 2 Samuel 4:10). This Hebrew word primarily means “to proclaim good news.” It is the same word that is used of the gospel proclamation (cf. Isaiah 40:9; 41:27; 52:7; 60:6: 61:1; Nahum 1:15). How could Saul’s death be “good news”? Part of the good news proclamation is that God rules and is overcoming evil. Saul broke faith with God and did not seek his guidance. So God put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David and this was good news.
God’s Purpose of Election
The telling of this genealogy is to show that God had chosen Israel. God had chosen these people to belong to him. God had chosen his king in Saul and then in David. But their election meant that they would need to be faithful. They were chosen to be faithful to the Lord. Er was evil and was put to death. Achan broke faith and died as a troubler of Israel. Judah was taken into exile because of their breach of faith. Saul died because he broke faith and did not seek God’s guidance. God’s election does not mean that we can simply rest on what God has done for us. This is a very common teaching right now. There are many saying that it does not matter what you do because God has done the work for you in Christ. God’s purpose of election was not that his people would do nothing. God’s purpose of election is that his people would trust him and that faith would be observed in the way they live their lives. Friends, the apostles write this point on numerous occasions.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV)
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11 ESV)
All of these scriptures tell us that now that you are been called and chosen, you must live a life that shows you have been chosen. Why is complaining condemned in the scriptures? It is condemned because it shows that we are not trusting God. Why is worry and anxiety condemned? It is condemned because it shows that we are not trusting God. Why are any sins condemned? Sins are condemned because sinning shows that we do not trust God, but want to trust ourselves and give into our desires. God’s purpose of election is so that you would trust him with your life and by doing so you would become the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Your faith will lead to good works. Your faith will not lead you to do nothing. Your faith will not lead you to sin.
What did Saul do wrong? The Chronicler says that he did not seek the Lord. He did not seek God’s guidance. He did not look for God’s direction. What he did was he looked to human guidance. He turned to people. He went to a medium. He talked to someone else instead of God. Faith does not depend on me. Even in distress, faith looks to God. Remember that Saul went to the medium because he was in distress. He lost Samuel and now he was just lost. But he looked the wrong direction. God’s purpose of election was that Saul would trust in God. But he failed to do so and was destroyed.
By contrast, go back to the life of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. Jabez was supposed to have a painful life. Remember that in the scriptures that the names given were often representative of their lives. So what did Jabez do? He prayed to God to be with him and to bless him. He trusted in God instead of himself and God listened to him. Are we really trusting in God or are we just saying that we are? Are we really looking for God’s guidance or are we just saying that we are? Are we looking for God’s blessing or are we just trying to bless ourselves? Restoring the fallen begins with faith. Are you ready to trust God with your life now or not? Are you ready to believe in his promises and listen to what he has to say? You only fell for one reason. You did not have faith in God. Just as Peter fell in sea when Jesus told him he would walk on the water, so we fall because we do not believe that God has us in his hands. God chose you to be his people so that you would trust him and bear the fruit of good works in the world so that God would be honored and glorified.
This book was written to give hope to those who have failed. Go back to chapter 9 and we will end here. Chapter 9 and verse 1 says that Judah was taken into exile because of their breach of faith. But look at verse 2. “Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were….” Restoration is available to the fallen. Come back, start over, and bear fruit to the Lord.