Reading David in the I Chronicles Genealogies

I have just come to that place in my Bible reading that at points can seem to be laborious, if not engaged with the right perspective. The section I am referring to is I Chronicles 1--11, you know, pretty much pure genealogy. So it requires extra concentration to stay focused while reading through here. A couple things that help provide focus is to ask "why" God felt it so important to include this genealogical section in the Scriptures in the first place? I think the primary answer to that is to realize, as with everything else in Scripture (cf. Jn. 5:39), that the genealogy provides the Messianic/Davidic line; or, Jesus' line. Note:

King David

5. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 6. The sons of Zerah were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara--five of them in all. 7. The son of Carmi was Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the accursed thing. 8. The son of Ethan was Azariah. 9. Also the sons of Hezron who were born to him were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. 10. Ram begot Amminidab, and Amminidab begot Nahshon, leader of the children of Judah; 11. Nahashon begot Salma, and Salma begot Boaz; 12. Boaz begot Obed, and Obed begot Jesse; 13. Jesse begot Eliab his firstborn, Abinidab the second, Shimea the third, 14. Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth. 15. Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh. ~I Chronicles 2:5-15

An interesting note, that David is the "seventh," is that 7 is the number of perfection or completion. Let's also cross reference this genealogy with another one:

18. Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; 19. Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; 20. Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahashon begot Salmon; 21. Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David. ~Ruth 4:18-21 

And then one more cross reference:

3. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahashon, and Nahashon begot Salmon. 5. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6. and Jesse begot David the king. . . . ~Matthew 1:3-6a

Who said genealogies couldn't be fun to read? For me, this helps as I approach I Chronicles 1--11 in particular; knowing that in fact the primary line being established is that of Jesus' Messianic Davidic line that is the line that brings salvation to the nations, thus making Abraham the Father of many nations. This is good stuff. One other important thing about these genealogies, is to bear in mind that what God has established in salvation history, over centuries of time, through multitudes and multitudes of faceless normal people; is his anointed line, and this line comes through everyday people who end up getting listed in a genealogy in the Bible. That is, pastorally, encouraging to me. This demonstrates how significant each of our lives are, because they are tied to the line of David in Christ.

I hope this brief little reflection on I Chronicles 1--11 helps provide you with some more perspective the next time you are faced with reading through this section of Scripture.

Reading with Ruth and Hannah: Virtue, Hope, and Resurrection Life

Naomi with Ruth and Orpah (Chagall, 1960)

I continue to read through the Bible (and have been at least a couple times a year for the last 16 years); I currently am reading in Ruth and I Samuel today. Something that really stood out to me in both of these books (well, a lot has, but this is something quite glaring) is the women of virtue that are highlighted in both books, respectively. These two women epitomize Proverbs virtuous woman in chapter 31. I am thinking of both Ruth, and Hannah. Both of these women, while in different situations, played a very pivotal role in mediating the Messiah of Israel to the Nations (including us). Both of these women were faced with horrific personal situations; Ruth losing her husband, and Hannah having a husband who loved her, but her, herself being barren (something that would have been looked upon as a curse in that culture). The common, and beautiful thread between these two ladies is that in the face of their personal trial they continued to seek and trust the face of Yahweh, the God of Israel. In Ruth's case she chose to follow the God of Israel by choosing to follow her mother-in-law back to Israel (from Moab, which by the way places Ruth in a "cursed" status --- just like Hannah --- because of what God had said previously about Moabites [remember they came from the incestuous relationship that Lot's oldest daughter had with him]). In Hannah's case, she chose to suffer scorn from her counter-part Peninah, as well as from Eli who thought she was crazy for offering prayers in public in the Temple where he ministered. The point, both women fervently sought God, and out of that fervency they both experienced blessing from God that we today are reaping the benefits from. In other words, Ruth became the Great-Grandmother to King David through her Kinsman marriage to Boaz; and Hannah gave birth to Samuel, who then went on to anoint David as God's special and Covenant King to Israel (cf. II Sam. 7) --- and, of course, who was THE type of God's ultimate King, His own Son, the son of David, Jesus! It was through both of these women's utter zeal for God, their child-like trust in Him; that God providentially worked through two women who in their culture, and in their respective ways were both considered cursed of God (Ruth as a Moabitess and Hannah as barren and childless).

Our God, who seems "hidden" in the ways that he works; our God whom the world considers foolish and weak, in fact is the God who is the God of the impossible possibilties. He is the God who takes the unexpected and brings great expectations out of it. He is the God who is able to create something out of what looks like nothing (and often is). He is the God who is resurrection and life, the God of the Great Reversal and Exchange! Both Ruth and Hannah bear witness to this, and through their witness bearing they have been used of God (and blessed of God) to be part of that great mediation that has brought salvation to the Nations (per the promise to Abraham).

Weary saint, don't give up! Do you feel like your plight is mundane, normal, or even cursed? Just remember Ruth and Hannah and how God providentially worked through those circumstances (through their personal circumstances). Don't you think that you worship and follow the same God?