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April 29th
We are reading in 1 Chronicles chapters 7-10 today.
Chapter 9 especially arrested my attention. And I must/ we must credit the Holy Spirit because that is what He does. He guides believers into all truth...truth about God...truth from God...and especially the truth that is God...in Jesus Christ.
“Holy Spirit give us “heart” eyes to see and “spiritual” ears to hear...You...teaching us.
“So “all” Israel was recorded in genealogies...” The northern 10 tribes of Israel, as a whole, never returned from their Assyrian captivity. But the few who did in the years after migrated into Judah.
Therefore, when Judah was captured by the Babylonians, people of every tribe was represented in Babylonian captivity for 70 years. So Ezra’s prophesy came true. “There will be a day when the divided kingdom of Judah and Israel will be brought together as one back in the land of promise”. And that’s exactly what happened as the exiles returned home.
What a God thing. And listen to another. “And Judah was taken into exile in the first place because of their “breach” of faith.”
What was the God thing? “God using Babylon” to remove the free Israel into bondage...from “free” to “bound”! Were His people alone in Babylonian bondage. Did God leave them alone? No, remember Ezekiel’s prophesy?...the “God cloud” left the Tabernacle and went all the way to the foreign land with them.
To judge them? No...To bring them back to Him...to to break their stubborn will and bring them to repentance and restored fellowship with Him.
“O, Lord...Holy Spirit...restoring and reviving our spirit of worship of God...that’s what You do because You love us...so sometimes love leads us through trial all the way back to Him! Praise You, Lord!
These were the people of promise. These were the promised land people. These were the “Covenant” people of God...“You will be my people and I will be Your God!”...The Covenant relationship was still intact. But the breach of trust had to be restored and God chose a foreign place to do it. So be it!
“Now the first to dwell in their cities again...were the Israelites...” What a strange fact to record. But not really. The southern kingdom of Judah was no more. The northern and southern kingdoms were one kingdom again. The exiles returned home “Israelites”.
One day, “all believers” will have “one” name...”His”...and be all together in “one” glorious place...new heaven and a new earth.
Another God thing...“The first to dwell in their cities again...included the “priests..” This was a praise to the priests. And who should lead in a spiritual work in the land?...the spiritual leaders in the renewed nation...The priests.
This was also a praise to the people coming home...to bring the priests with them...who better to encourage and inspire their moving forward in spiritual growth. God things recognized! Thanks, Lord...we are excited about what You are going to do in our lives moving forward.
Enjoy the rest of the story
Have a great day
