The List of David’s Officials

1 Chronicles 23-27

            If someone asked me, “Why are theses chapters in the Bible? Why do we need to know this? Why is it important?” I’m afraid I’d stumble through an answer. I suppose they are an example of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14, that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” and that “everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” I suppose these chapters are meant to tell a post-exilic community how important it is for them to likewise honor good order in their new temple. I suppose these chapters are meant to demonstrate the post-exilic community’s continuity with the generations of David.

            So, I suppose there’s some things we can learn in this long reading. We, too, are reminded about the importance of good order in the church, and, frankly, in a lot of life. We, too, stand in a continuous line with the believers of old. Of course, we don’t emphasize biological continuity. Paul says in Romans 10 that not all who are descended from Israel are Israel, part of his case beginning in Romans 4 that Abraham’s children are not those share his DNA, but those who share his faith. So, there’s something here for us, but I’ll grant you this: these lists of names are hard to read!