the ruminations of aaron eberline

Why does the book of 1 Chronicles not follow a strict chronological order? The book will follow a chronological order for a few chapters and then details from the future are given and then the story is relayed in chronological order again. The death of Saul was told in 1 Chronicles chapter 10 but in chapter 11 and 12 we go backwards in the timeline to before Saul’s death story to see the men of arms at David’s side. And by the end of chapter 12 we are again at a point after Saul’s death with celebration of David’s kingship. What is the point to all of this jumping around in time? Does the book of 1 Chronicles focus more on the key people and the critical events that occurred in their lives? Read more

“I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, so that the Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ ” 1 Kings 2:2-4  These words were spoken by David to his son Solomon before his death. What words would you speak to your son or daughter before your death? What words of wisdom gleaned from your life would you deem important enough to instill to the generations to come? If you were standing before your parent who was about to die what impact would their final words make on your life? Read more

“Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, so that the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.” Judges 13:1  The Israelites have again strayed from the statutes of God and brought down a curse of oppression from God. The weight of mans inherit sinfulness stands out as I read through the book of Judges. We are unable to follow God without His intervention and deliverance. The implicit need for a perfect deliverer is woven among the verses of Judges filling my heart with joy as God raises up someone up to deliver the people of Israel only to feel the painful loss when the Israelites consistently turn away again. My own faith can be described by this sporadic cycle of joy and painful loss exhibited by the sons of Israel. Read more