Recognizing the Importance of Unity

INTRO

We’ve been working through the historical books of the Bible. Chronicles isn’t as exciting a study as some of the other historical books, but its importance is found in tracing the lineage of David from its beginning and toward its promised fulfillment in the Messiah. That explains our theme for 1 Chronicles––Son of David. The people of Israel were in captivity in Assyria and the people of Judah were in captivity in Babylon. After seventy years, the people of Judah were released, and 1 Chronicles gave the explanation of all they had gone through that led them to captivity and exile from their own country. The end goal is that the tribes of Israel would come together in unity (Ezekiel 37:15–28).

TEACHING

1 Chronicles 7:1-5: The Descendants of Issachar.These verses support Genesis 46:13 and Numbers 26:23-24 by listing Issachar’s four sons as Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron (v. 1). Verse 2 names the heads of the ancestral families. Tola was one of the judges from the period of the judges. From Tola alone came 22,600 warriors. The descendants of Uzzi, Tola’s son, numbered 36,000 battle troops, and from their tribesmen came 87,000 battle troops (vv. 4-5). These numbers probably came from a military census David took. While these descendants were not part of the lineage of David, they were actively involved in fighting for and protecting the nation. They were important to the future of the nation, which would continue to face threats and warfare after they returned from exile (Ezra 4:1-6; 5:3; Nehemiah 2:7, 9-10, 19). Even though they had been set free, the battle to come would be real. The nation needed to rebuild its military might. In the spiritual realm, it’s important to recognize that just because we’ve been set free, doesn’t mean our battles are over or the enemy will not come back after us.

1 Chronicles 7:612: The Descendants of Benjamin. The process we looked at in the first five verses continued for the tribe of Benjamin, once again focusing on the number of fighting men the tribe had produced.

1 Chronicles 7:13: The Descendants of Naphtali. Naphtali’s sons were listed, but no other details were listed about their fighting men in the past. They were included because they were important to the unity of the nation.

1 Chronicles 7:14-19: The Descendants of Manasseh. Manasseh’s list included sons and daughters. There is an interesting focus on women in this section, specifically the daughters of Manasseh’s descendant Zelophehad. Numbers 27:1-11 gives a detailed account of these five women.

1 Chronicles 7:20-29: The Descendants of Ephraim. As these lists continue, the chronicler makes one statement again and again––although the Messiah would come through David and the tribe of Judah, all the tribes of Israel and Judah were important in the future of the country. Women were also included in the lineage of Ephraim, indicating that both men and women were important in the future of Israel (v. 24). The lineage also included Joshua of Nun who led the people into the Promised Land (v. 27).

1 Chronicles 7:30-40: The Descendants of Asher. Asher’s genealogy included “the heads of their ancestral houses, chosen men, warriors, and chiefs among the leaders” (v. 40). The number who had served in the military was 26,000.

CLOSING

I asked God what we should do with this information. On one level, chapter 7 presents a long list of names that are difficult to pronounce. On another level, chapter 7 is a reminder that the battle has to be fought together. I’m afraid what has happened today is that we keep trying to fight the battle by ourselves—alone and without support. In the American church, we tend to pick our own hills that we’re willing to go to war over, and it’s not about a united front. We have to get over our own concerns and our own battles and recognize that the war is on a spiritual level. The principalities of Satan are trying to defeat us, and the only way we will be victorious over him is when we come together, united against our common enemy. Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord