1 CHRONICLES (A GENERAL SURVEY FROM CAC'S NOTES)
1 CHRONICLES (A GENERAL SURVEY FROM CAC’S NOTES)
The whole human family is in view in chapter 1 but without any mention of idolatry or wickedness on their part. They are all, in God’s view, for blessing.
Chapter 2 shows that God’s government goes on amongst those who have a privileged place: Jehovah slew Er because he was wicked in His sight. Achan is marked out as one who sinned in the accursed thing. Then we get Caleb and the royal line.
Chapter 3 brings in the sons of David and the royal line carried down until after the captivity. The captivity did not break the royal line; not one thing that belongs to Christ as Lord and Head has broken down through the failure of the church. It goes through in the power of divine grace notwithstanding all failure. It is for the saints to return to it so that it may become apparent.
Chapter 4 shows how things are maintained on the side of the saints. The craftsmen and others are mentioned, and then the princes and overcomers and an extension of Israel’s territory.
These chapters have as their theme the subject of origin or generation so that we come into things on the principle of generation. It is not simply that we believe certain things but we have been born into them. The normal way for people to have a place in a country is for them to have been born in it. John would give us to see that this is the main thing; everything in the christian profession today becomes a test as to whether we are really born of God.
[p. 228] Psalm 87 shows that the book of life is the record of those born.
Chapter 5 recounts the setting aside of the firstborn and the dispersal of things in sovereignty.
Verse 1 of chapter 9 and verse 15 of chapter 6 are important as giving the standpoint from which the book is written. The genealogy of the sons of David is carried down to Zerubbabel, and even afterwards, showing that the Spirit of God takes account of a recovered remnant. So it is in spiritual order to read these books after those which speak of the return of the remnant. Written probably by Ezra, they are God’s review of the whole history as He would have it to be considered by the returned remnant today. Hence it is that divine thoughts are prominent in these books. It has often been observed that failures are only mentioned when they are necessary to bring out the gracious character of God’s ways. The prominent feature in this book is Christ as typified in David and the great end in view is the setting up of the service of God according to His mind.