1 Chronicles starts (v1) with the first man “Adam” and follows through various family trees up to chapter 9 and then the rest of the book is taken up with the life of king David. Some of the history has been taken from public records, by probably Ezra and Isaiah, and repeats parts of 1 and 2 Samuel. Don’t worry though because there are many fascinating insights that were missed the first time around.

ADAM-NOAH-ABRAM-ISRAEL-DAVID-JESUS
The main line is to Noah and Abraham (v27) and then to Israel (v34) and his sons, who were heirs of the covenant with Abraham. This covenant was God’s special promise to make Abraham’s descendants into a great nation but, even more, that all nations on earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12v3). Consequently, we see many people listed from all the twelve tribes (chapters 2 to 9) but it is the tribe of Judah which links with the Davidic kingly line which we know, eventually, leads to Jesus, himself. You could say that this genealogy links the old testament with the new testament.

SNIPPETS ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE
God is interested in people and there must be hundreds of people mentioned in this book, some only by name, but I love the little, extra comments about some. Cush in verse 10, for example, was mentioned as the “first to be a mighty one on the earth”. We can see the origin of the different tribes around Israel, eg the Philistines (1v12), but the tree always goes back to the main line, in this case through Noah’s son Shem (v17). Some people like Peleg (v19) are fascinating,  for what does it mean that “in his days the earth was divided”. It is interesting that Judah, the king’s tribe, actually got off to a bad start (2v3) but we see how their branch continued to include significant people like Boaz and David (2v12-15). Surprising to find out that Zeruiah, who gave birth to powerful army leaders Joab, Abishai and Asahel, was actually David’s Sister (v16) and Amasa, another commander, was son of his other sister Abigail (v17). In a list of David’s sons (3v1 onwards) we see that Solomon was at least 10th in line to the throne. Then, we find the a well-known prayer of Jabez in chapter 4 who asked that God would bless him and expand his border (v10).

There are many gifts in God’s kingdom and each person was unique  and made their mark on community life. There were craftsmen (v14), linen workers (v21), potters (v23) but exceptional among these was the highly gifted craftsman, Bezalel, who worked on the tabernacle (2v20). We are reminded in chapter 5 that Reuben lost the birthright of the first son (v1) which was, then, given to the sons of Joseph. Judah became prominent, as the kingly line, but yet did not possess the birthright (v2). Sometimes the record leads to someone taken into exile, eg Beerah v6, at the time of the Assyrian conquest of Israel. Some were valiant warriors (5v18). In chapter 9 verse 2 we read about the first exiles to return from exile and I wonder if these chronicles helped them to verify the family origins of the true Jews. Among the Levites were gatekeepers who slept near the house of God (9v26,27); some looked after the utensils (v28), others the furniture (v29) the flour, the oil, the incense, the singing and so on.

ISRAEL’S GOLDEN AGE-the kingdom, victory and worship
Chapter 10 starts with the death of king Saul, on Mount Gilboa, and we are told that he “died for his unfaithfulness” (v13). Although it was the Philistine archers who fatally wounded him, we read in verse 14 that “the Lord put him to death” and replaced him with David. In chapters 11 and 12 we read of David’s mighty men and from these chapters we can see (12v22) how the right people were gradually drawn to David to appoint him as king, when the time was right. They recognised, in David, a person helped by his God (12v18). There followed Israel’s golden age when David  regularly enquired of the Lord to make important decisions. He realised it was God, not himself, who had burst out against his enemies like a bursting flood (14v11) and exalted his kingdom (14v2). David always needed to do things God’s way and, after one aborted effort to bring the ark into Jerusalem (ch13), he finally brought it into a tent that he had pitched for it (15v1).

In Chronicles, we get much interesting detail about the work of the priests and other Levites. Their traditional job of moving the tabernacle in the wilderness was now redundant but David appointed some to be ministers of praise and thanks (16v4) using instruments like harps and lyres (v5-6), cymbals and trumpets. Then to Asaph and his family he committed the first singing of praises (v7) using psalms. Likewise Gibeon, the place of sacrifices, had its own worship team led by Heman and Jeduthun (v42) using those favourite words, “his steadfast love endures for ever” (v41). David wanted to build a proper house for the Lord but, instead, he was told that this would be the task of his son; not to mind though, because God was to establish his throne for ever (17v12). “The Lord gave David victory wherever he went” (18v6) and it was a kingdom of justice and fairness (v14).

NOT THE TIME FOR NUMBERING
Everything was going well, great victories were taking place (ch19), but we know this was the sad time of David’s fall with Bathsheba; although, interestingly, this is not even given a mention (ch20). Perhaps, the writers realised that even this period of David’s life was now covered by repentance and God’s forgiveness. It might have been David’s pride that led him to ask for a numbering of his fighting men (ch21). This was abhorrent to Joab, the army commander (v6), but more to the point, it greatly displeased God, Himself (v7). Perhaps David had ungodly designs to enlarge his empire. David was, quickly, repentant, as usual, but there were terrible consequences, from plague and a destroying angel, which were only stopped at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, which in Solomon’s time would be the exact place of the new temple. Remember in the book of Numbers, it was God who had twice asked for a numbering of the people, so what is the difference here? The people were numbered once, after coming out of Egypt, and once before entering the promised land. Perhaps this was symbolic of us Christians having our names entered into God’s book of life when we repent of our old life and enter his kingdom by faith; there is no need for any numbering after that.

PREPARATION FOR SOLOMON’S REIGN
-The temple
David, as we know, made great provision for this temple (ch22), preparing stones and other raw materials (even nails v3) and there is an interesting conversation with his son Solomon (v6 onwards).

-Solomon
Solomon was one of only seven men in the Bible who were named before their birth (v9). God had wanted a man of peace and not a blood-stained warrior like David to build the temple. David said to his son, may the Lord grant you “discretion and understanding” (v12). This shows the importance of fathering for maybe it was David who inspired Solomon to make his life-changing request for wisdom from the Lord.

-The leaders
David also encouraged the commanders of Israel to support Solomon in this task (v17) and set their hearts and minds to seek the Lord (v19).

-The Levites
In chapter 23, when David made his son Solomon king (v1), he also re-organised the 38,000 Levites (over 30 years of age) to make them more effective for the work of the Lord. 24000 were to have charge of the work of the house of the Lord, 6000 became officers and judges, 4000 gatekeepers and 4000 to offer praise with instruments that he had made (v4,5). There were 24 priestly divisions who would take turns (chapter 24!) and the order was cast by lot. God had promised to exalt Heman (25 v5,6) who had 14 sons and 3 daughters who played music under the direction of their father. Prophecy was an integral part of the worship (ch 25v1); they were well trained (v7) and duties were chosen by lot and not by status (v8).

-Public administration and standing army
In chapter 26 we read about the divisions of gatekeepers, storekeepers and those in charge of the treasury, judges and officers. Chapter 27 deals, firstly, with the standing army which also had divisions of 24,000 people, one for each month of the year, to assist in the king’s service. There were leaders of each tribe (v16) and public administration was impressive, with people responsible for the kings treasury, agriculture, vineyards, wine cellars, olive and sycamore trees, oil stores and animals. There were counsellors and other officials and Joab commanded the army.

DAVID’s FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT TO SERVE GOD
David drew all the leaders together, explained his plans for a temple and how God had chosen Solomon to implement them (28v6). We find out from this passage in Chronicles that David was still passionate for God, encouraging the people to know God and search out all his commandments (v8). Solomon should serve God “with a single mind and willing heart” (v9) and implement David’s plans for God’s house which were given at the “Lord’s direction” (v19); they were patterns given to him by the Spirit (v19).

AND FREELY GIVE TO HIM
In the final chapter David explained how he was, because of his “devotion”(v3), giving freely into the temple treasury and he encouraged those present to give willingly of themselves to the Lord (29v5). There was great rejoicing as people, indeed, gave willingly (v9) and this culminated in a majestic prayer to the Lord (v10 onwards). Verse 14 shows that David’s giving was made in an attitude of humility; knowing that everything comes from the Lord (v14) and that God always looks at the integrity of his heart (v17).

THE PERFECT SUCCESSION
They made Solomon king a second time (v22) and ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the Lord. We go on to read that the Lord highly exalted him as never before (v25). It is clear to see that David left his kingdom in the best possible condition for the continuity of his son. He died (v28) at a good old age, full of days, riches and honour. Surely a king after God’s heart. There were many characteristics of David’s reign that makes his kingdom a picture of the future kingdom of God, ushered in by the perfectly holy, king Jesus.