Both 1^st and 2^nd Chronicles cover the same time period of Jewish history as that described in 2^nd Samuel and 1^st and 2^nd Kings. What’s different is the perspective from which these books were written. Rather than being repetitive, Chronicles provides an editorial from God’s perspective on the history of the Jewish nation.

While the previous books focus upon the political history of the United and Divided Kingdoms, Chronicles retraces the history of the nation up to the return from captivity of the southern tribes in order to give the remnant a spiritual perspective on the developments of their past. Thus, Chronicles provides a spiritual history that focuses upon David’s dynasty from a priestly perspective. The genealogies in the first nine chapters cover the time from Adam to David, and chapters 10-29 focus on the thirty-three years of David’s rule over the United Kingdom (1004-971 B.C.). Because the genealogies mention some of the key figures that return to Israel after their exile in Babylon, Chronicles was likely written after the exile, somewhere between 450 – 430 B.C.

Jewish tradition points to Ezra the Priest as being the author of Chronicles. His discussion of the Temple, Temple sacrifices, and the functions of the priesthood strongly suggest that the author was a priest, and Ezra seems to fit the requirements perfectly (we will be looking at the Book of Ezra immediately after we finish 2 Chronicles). In fact, the closing verses of 2 Chronicles are repeated with minor changes like the opening verses of Ezra. Thus, just like Luke and Acts form a continuous history, Chronicles and the book of Ezra do the same.

Our key verses that we will focus on today are found in chapter 17, where God speaks to David saying,

“And it shall come about when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your faithers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who shall be one of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he shall be My son, and I will not take my lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever” (1 Chron. 17:11-14).

In this passage, the author mentions Saul, David’s predecessor from the tribe of Benjamin, as well as Solomon, David’s son who would build the Temple in Jerusalem. He speaks of loving Solomon even with all of his faults, and that He would “settle him” in “God’s house” (the Temple) and in God’s kingdom forever, and that his throne would be “established forever.” It’s important to understand that the Temple and the Kingdom were both God’s, not David’s or even Solomon’s. The only thing that would be theirs would be the throne, and from a genealogical perspective, that throne would extend from the Patriarch Judah, down to David and Solomon, and then to Joseph, Jesus’ “earthly father,” or as we might say, Jesus’ “earthly guardian.” Listen to what the Angel Gabriel said to Mary,

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Lk. 1:31-33).

It is important for us to realize that the throne given to David (of the tribe of Judah, the “kingly tribe”) was to be an everlasting throne extending to the throne and kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and this pronouncement by God in the Book of 1 Chronicles was fulfilled in Jesus Christ a thousand years after the reign of King David. And He still reigns from His throne in heaven today, and He wants to reign on the throne of our own lives as well.

The New Testament also speaks of a new Temple, not a physical temple in Jerusalem, but a spiritual Temple with a “royal priesthood” that offers up “spiritual sacrifices” that will bring glory to God (1 Peter 2:4-10). Of course, this is the church, and the individual stones that make up the Temple are actually “living stones,” referring to each individual Christian within the church. Furthermore, the One who is reigning in this “spiritual Temple” is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who desires to reign in our own lives today. As we enter Easter week, I pray that each one of us will enthrone the King of kings in our hearts, and that as a result, we might be one of His faithful followers who honors Him in all things.

Peggy and I send our love and prayers to each one of you! We pray that you have a blessed weekend.