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DAY 14 – CHRONICLES-EZRA-NEHEMIAH PART II

The chronicle devotes more space to Solomon than to any other king besides David. It documents the splendors of his reign and describes how he built the temple. Afterward it relates how the kingdom of Israel was divided, and it traces the fortunes of the Judean kings who continued to sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem. Most are treated briefly, because in general the kingdom declined under them as they turned away from God. Only those kings who showed concern for true worship and keeping God’s law receive significant attention. By the end of this section, short accounts of briefly reigning kings follow one another in rapid succession, ending with a report of the exile. But the section concludes on a hopeful note by recording the edict of the Persian emperor Cyrus that allowed the Judeans to return home. 

The final part of this national chronicle relates the experiences of the returned exiles. It lists the various groups of returning Judeans and describes how they overcame persistent opposition to rebuild the temple. The memoirs of Ezra, a leader of the second generation of returned Judeans, are then incorporated into the history. They relate how Ezra helped to create a distinct community by forbidding intermarriage with the surrounding nations. (It may actually have been Ezra himself who compiled the entire chronicle: he tells us that he “devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”) The memoirs of another leader of this second generation, Nehemiah, then follow. They describe how he was granted leave from his position in the court of the Persian emperor to direct the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. His memoirs are interrupted by a description of a great covenant renewal ceremony that he and Ezra led together. The history then concludes with the rest of Nehemiah’s memoirs, which describe the dedication of Jerusalem’s walls and some further reforms. 

An important theme of the entire history is that pure worship must be offered on God’s terms, not our own. And so the book continually insists that priests and temple assistants need to have the proper lineage and fulfill their prescribed duties. Kings must ensure that festivals such as Passover and Tabernacles are observed at the appropriate times. And above all, the temple of God must be in Jerusalem, the city God has chosen. Throughout the history there’s a corresponding emphasis on being willing to provide gladly for the exact worship that God has asked for. Occasions when the people of Israel provided generously for the temple are recounted and celebrated. 

The distinctive worship of the people of Israel defines their community and sets it apart from other nations. Paradoxically, however, it also invites people from those nations to join in serving the true God. Even though the community has a concern for purity of lineage, it’s defined essentially not by ethnicity, but by worship. It’s therefore possible for people from all over the world to come and join in this worship. This additional important theme of the history is expressed in the words of one of Solomon’s requests at the dedication of the temple: “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel.” Chronicles–Ezra–Nehemiah recalls the returned Judeans to this special vocation: to enable all the peoples of the earth to know and serve the true God. 

PRAYER: Thank You for Your plans and purposes, Lord. I am amazed by Your great and awesome works.