Much of today’s readings covers the end of Saul’s life and the beginning of the reign of King David and his son Solomon.  I think it’s cool that a lot of what is in this section is mentioned also in parts of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings.  The verse that stands out to me the most in this section is when David says to the leaders of Israel, “Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God…” (1 Chronicles 22:19)

This book stays true to its name and “chronicles” the family line from Adam through each generation.  At first glance it looks like a big list of people’s names, but the detail with which each person is listed reminds me of the importance of this clear lineage from Adam to Jesus.

The highlight for me in this section of scripture is the simple mention of the life of Jabez.  Jabez is the little know Bible character who had a book written about him in 2000 by Bruce Wilkinson.  In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, Jabez prays, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!  Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”  Then we’re told that God granted his request.  Jabez was wise enough to recognize that only God could give him anything…what an important lesson to learn.

This book of the Bible is rightly named.  It really does simply go from one chapter to the next telling the story of the reigns of all the kings.  Unfortunately, most of the kings in the reading today were horrible.  They turned away from the Lord and set up idols…some even sacrificed their own sons…they worshiped false gods…and they defiled the temple.

There was one king in these passages who defied the status quo and gave honor to the Lord.  2 Kings 22:2 says that Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  It describes in detail how he went about cleansing the area of false idols and statues and how he brought everyone back to the Lord.  In fact, it was the first time they had celebrated Passover since the time of the judges.  Josiah must have truly been a man after God’s heart for scripture to remember him by saying…

Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength in accordance with all the Law of Moses (2 Kings 23:25)