Lord’s Day, Vol. 12 No. 41

Opening 1 & 2 Chronicles

The redemption plan for God for fallen man is well chronicled in the Book of 1 & 2 Chronicles. It began with the genealogy from Adam, the first man to Noah when God sent the flood to reset the earth from man’s wickedness. Followed by the dispersal of men at the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11) to the four corners of the earth. To save the scattered nations of the earth, God will raise the nation of Israel from the loins of Abraham (Gen. 12). This is recorded from 1 Chronicles 1-9.

1 Chronicles 1:1,4,19, 27-28, 34 (KJV) Adam, Sheth, Enosh,.. 4 (KJV) Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. … 19 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother’s name was Joktan… 27-28 (KJV) Abram; the same is Abraham. 28 The sons of Abraham; Isaac,… 34 And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel.

God raised David (1 Chron. 11-29) after Saul (1 Chron. 9) to establish His witness in Israel to establish worship and to organise worship in Israel culminating in the preparation of the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. This witness shall be to all the nations of the world. And Solomon, David’s son, will build the Temple of God, the glory of God dwelling with man for the first time in a permanent location in Jerusalem unlike the make-shift Tabernacle (2 Chron. 1-9). 

2 Chronicles 7:1-2 (KJV) Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.

The nations beheld the glory of the Temple in Jerusalem where God dwells as a witness to the world of the living and true God.

The Chronicler emphasized the presence of God with His remnant when Israel wandered away from God after Solomon’s reign in the Divided Kingdom with the reign of Rehoboam with no mention of the Northern Kingdom but focus on the faithful remnant in the Southern Kingdom. Rightly so, as 2 Chronicles 11:15 recorded in the Northern Kingdom was the worship for the devils!

2 Chronicles 11:13-15 (KJV) And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. 14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the LORD: 15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

The light continues to shine in Judah, the Southern Kingdom through the record of reforms by godly kings like Hezekiah (2 Chron. 29-32 and Josiah (2 Chron. 34-35). The Southern Kingdom finally fell to the Babylonians with the destruction of the Temple and the nation deported to Babylon for 70 years for failing to keep the land covenant (2 Chron. 36:19, 21). 

Though the nation went into captivity, God raised a heathen king Cyrus, the king of Persia to rebuild His Temple and make a way for the repentant remnant to return to the land to rebuild God’s witness through the nation. To God be the glory!

The Old Paths Conference

Please pray and make an appointment with the LORD this year end from 12-14 December for the Old Paths Conference 2024. 

The 7 am Service

Thank God for His grace in blessing our gathering on this early morning hour of worship. May the LORD strengthen the brethren to persevere in meeting with Him as we see the day of the Lord fast approaching. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee