Sunday School link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87943377006?pwd=Qjk2ajJwcmh0U3p4cnl4NUZ4bXpCZz09
Rational is defined as "agreeable to reason; reasonable; sensible." I believe a reasoned approach to understanding the bible and a reasoned application of the bible to life is how God intended us to use our minds. Faith is based on evidence. The understanding of the bible is based on study and the help of the Holy Spirit. A misunderstanding of Christianity is thinking one checks their brains at the door.
• Genealogies:1. The line to Israela. Adam to Noah (1:1-4)b. Descendants of Japheth (1:5-7)c. Descendants of Ham (1:5-7)d. Descendants of Shem (1:17-27)e. Descendants of Abraham (1:28-37)f. The Edomites: The line of Esau and Seir (1:38-54)g. Israel's sons (2:1-2)2. The Tribe of Judah (2:3-4:23)a. Line to David (2:11-15)b. Other significant Judeans(2:16-55)c. Davidic Line of kings (3:1-24) -- end suggests time of writingd. The rest of Judah (4:1-23)3. The Tribe of Simeon (4:24-43)4. The Transjordan Tribes (5:1-26)5. The Tribe of Levi (6:1-81)6. The Tribes of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher (7:1-40)7. The Tribe of Benjamin (8:1-9:1a)8. The Postexilic Community (9:1b-34)• The Chronicler puts the Levites in the middle of the Chronological lists. For the most part, Levi did remain faithful to God after the split. In a physical yet also metaphorical way, Levi was once in the middle of Israel, when was that?• When the twelves 12 traveled through the desert during the Exodus, Levi surrounded the tabernacle• Chiastic structure (used to point to the key element)A The lineage of David (chs. 1–3)B Judah and Simeon in the South (4:1–43)C The transjordanian tribes to the north (ch. 5)D Levi (ch. 6)C’ The other northern tribes (ch. 7)B’ Benjamin in the South (ch. 8)A’ The lineage of Saul (ch. 9)(Leslie C Allen, 1988)• The first fifteen verses focused on the priests1 Chronicles 6:10 (ESV) —10 and Johanan fathered Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem).• With this reference, we have 12 generations between Aaron and the building of the temple• Math: 12*40 equals 480 years which is equivalent to the following passage1 Kings 6:1 (ESV) — 1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord.1 Chronicles 6:31–32 (ESV) —31 These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. 32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order.• The next major group are the temple musicians (6:31-47)• David is mentioned quite often in 1 Chronicles in association with music• David is also referred to as a man after God's own heart○ Music is associated with emotion○ Emotions are good (created by God) but can be misused○ Logic and reason are good (mind is created by God) but can be misused○ Following through on decisions is good (our will is created by God) but can be misused○ APPLICATION: A person worships got with their whole being -- mind, hear, and will. Rather than over-focusing on your strength, which is your weakness? And what can you do to change or improve your worship?1 Chronicles 6:49 (ESV) —49 But Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.• This section will discuss those involved in the duties of atonement, the priests and the Levites. These would include the sacrifices• There is a very important word in this section, what is it? Atonement• Atonement means "to cover over"• The remaining verses show how the Levites were initially spread over all Israel. They were essential to the life of the nation• APPLICATION: Our Christian faith is essential to our nation (and that ship is gone). But our faith is still important to our family and our personal life. Do not fall into the trap of separating faith from living in the world. Ask yourself questions throughout the day?○ If I was in the church on Sunday, would I do the same thing?○ If the pastor was standing next to me, would I have the same conversation○ What would Jesus do in this situation?§ Really a misused and misunderstood book, "in His Steps" by Charles M. Sheldon. Kindle for $0.00 and Paperback for $12.89 (only 150 small pages). It is a public domain book• Notes on Chapter 7• The Chronicler lists six tribes of Israel• He omits Dan and Zebulun, why?○ This is common in scripture. To list all of the tribes would result in 14 names○ Other passages of scripture use different combinations○ It could also be that the tribes he listed, he felt were more important, but we don't know• The Chronicler uses the phrase "all Israel" over times in Chronicles○ He also uses the phrases "all the house of Israel" and "all the tribes of Israel"1 Chronicles 7:20–24 (ESV) —20 The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, 21 Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to raid their livestock. 22 And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. 23 And Ephraim went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son. And he called his name Beriah, because disaster had befallen his house. 24 His daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah.• It is interesting the stories that the Chronicler highlights. There are two stories and two messages here• Evil and disaster can happen to anyone• Out of disaster, a daughter is raised who builds three of Israel's cities (probably the limit of their westward expansion)1 Chronicles 7:40 (ESV) —40 All of these were men of Asher, heads of fathers’ houses, approved, mighty warriors, chiefs of the princes. Their number enrolled by genealogies, for service in war, was 26,000 men.• The beginning of Numbers uses 41,500 for Asher and the end of Numbers uses 53,400. At some later day, the force was down to 26,000• Indicates the Chroniclers access to other information. Otherwise, you would just copy the biblical text• I've noticed this in quite a few places where the number of fighting men is significantly smaller than the size in the book of Numbers• Chapter 8 focuses on Benjamin quite a bit. Benjamin is the second tribe of the southern kingdom. It lay a little north of Judah. Also, the first king of Israel, Saul (barely mentioned), came from this tribe• Chapter 9 focuses on those who return (post-exile)• Chapter 9 ends with Benjamin again and a repeat introduction to Saul
• Genealogies:
1. The line to Israel
a. Adam to Noah (1:1-4)
b. Descendants of Japheth (1:5-7)
c. Descendants of Ham (1:5-7)
d. Descendants of Shem (1:17-27)
e. Descendants of Abraham (1:28-37)
f. The Edomites: The line of Esau and Seir (1:38-54)
g. Israel's sons (2:1-2)
2. The Tribe of Judah (2:3-4:23)
a. Line to David (2:11-15)
b. Other significant Judeans(2:16-55)
c. Davidic Line of kings (3:1-24) -- end suggests time of writing
d. The rest of Judah (4:1-23)
3. The Tribe of Simeon (4:24-43)
4. The Transjordan Tribes (5:1-26)
5. The Tribe of Levi (6:1-81)
6. The Tribes of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher (7:1-40)
7. The Tribe of Benjamin (8:1-9:1a)
8. The Postexilic Community (9:1b-34)
1 Chronicles 3:16–24 (ESV) — 16 The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son; 17 and the sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son, 18 Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah; 19 and the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister; 20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed, five. 21 The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, his son Rephaiah, his son Arnan, his son Obadiah, his son Shecaniah. 22 The son of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six. 23 The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three. 24 The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven.
• We won't read the above passage. These are all the significant sons of the line of David.
• Why are they included?
• There is hope
• The line of David is not ended
• The Messiah is still protected
1 Chronicles 4:9–10 (ESV) — 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.
• This is unique to Chronicles and interesting. This is what we might call a theological periscope
• What does Jabez name mean? Sorrow
• There was an ancient belief that the name represents the character and there was a fear that evil consequences might follow the boy (Gen 35:18 is an example). In light of that context, what is the writer conveying?
• God can overcome the liabilities of the past and present
• The writer believed in the efficacy of pray (we will see this more throughout the book)
1 Chronicles 4:31 (ESV) — 31 Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David reigned.
• So this is a verse in the line of Simeon. The tribe essentially disappears and is absorbed into Judah. Part of their area was also Philistine area
• Joshua 19:1, 9 (ESV) — 1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon, according to their clans, and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the people of Judah. … 9 The inheritance of the people of Simeon formed part of the territory of the people of Judah. Because the portion of the people of Judah was too large for them, the people of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.
• Why bother to mention a tribe in such great detail that essentially had vanished?
• The writer want to convey the idea of a complete Israel. Again, God is not finished with his people and has not forgotten them
• In Revelation, the tribe is included in the 144k
We now move to the Transjordan tribes (Chapter 5)
1 Chronicles 5:1–2 (ESV) — 1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; 2 though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),
• Reuben is the first of the Transjordan tribes, there are two and one-half
• Reuben
• Gad
• Half-tribe of Manasseh
• Thompson says that Reuben was absorbed by the tribe of Gad. All the tribes were taken away by the Assyrians
1 Chronicles 5:18–22 (ESV) — 18 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him. 21 They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. 22 For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile.
• There is a message that the Chronicler will repeat over and over again and it comes out in these verses. What is it?
• It doesn't matter you great strength or your lack of strength
• The Transjordan tribes did not have a leader (or at least no king or leader is mentioned). We don't know when this happened.
• What was their source of victory?
○ They cried out to God in prayer
○ They trusted in God
○ God answered their prayer
In contrast to the example of trusting God, we have another example
1 Chronicles 5:23, 25–26 (ESV) — 23 The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land. They were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. … 25 But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.
• What is the contrast in this group?
• Idols destroyed them
• We have idols today as well -- what are our idols?
○ Things
○ Possessions
○ Titles
○ Our image of God
APPLICATION / PRINCIPLES (4-6)
1. To remind us of God's control
2. To remind us that our victory is found in trusting God
3. To remind us that our victory is found in prayer
4. To remind us that it is not our strength or leaders that is important, but that God is the only one that is important
5. To remind us to turn from sin and idols
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Verse
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Clause
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Purpose
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3:1
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But understand
this, that in the last days …
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What is coming
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3:10
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You however have
followed my teaching, …
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His preparation
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3:14
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But as for you,
continue in what you have learned … All scripture is breathed out by God …
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His resources
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4:1
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I charge you in
the presence of God and of Jesus Christ …
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His duty or
responsibilities
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Job
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Ministry
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A job is one you
choose;
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A ministry is one
Christ chooses for you.
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A job depends on
your abilities;
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A ministry
depends on your availability to God.
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In a job you
expect to receive;
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In a ministry you
expect to give.
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A job done well
brings you self-esteem;
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A ministry done
well brings honor to Jesus Christ.
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In a job you give
something to get something;
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In a ministry you
return something that has already been given to you.
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A job well done
has temporal remuneration;
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A ministry well
done brings eternal rewards.
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Believer Crown
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Reason
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Reference
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An Imperishable
Crown
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For leading a
disciplined life
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1 Cor 9:25
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A Crown of
Rejoicing
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For evangelism
and discipleship
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1 Thess 2:19
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A Crown of
Righteousness
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For loving the
Lord's appearing
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2 Tim 4:8
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A Crown of Life
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For enduring
trials
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James 1:12
Rev 2:10
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A Crown of Glory
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For shepherding
God's flock faithfully
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1 Pet 5:4
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