If you’re a bigger believer in King David and the Old Testament, you might know The Book of Chronicles as one of the books in the Bible. It was written way after Samuel, Ezra and Nehemiah and often gets neglected in studying Scripture. But it contains some important lessons that we can still learn from today.
It’s like ancient Krypton all over again! I’m here today to talk about lessons from the book of chronicles. How could a boring old book like Chronicles teach us anything of value? Well, hear me out on this one. We’ll even take an intermission to find out if my theory on why the books are organized in a strange order actually makes any sense. And before you know it we’ll be back home with the lessons learned from the book of chronicles.
Chapter 13 of The Book of Chronicles is about the establishment of the temple, and it includes a lengthy description of the rituals that would be used in the temple (1 Chronicles 13:1-14:23). It starts off with David offering sacrifices for himself and the whole nation. Then, when God forgives their sins and heals them (1 Chronicles 13:3), David goes on to sacrifice “sheep and oxen,” blesses God, along with everyone else who was there (including Levi and Judah), then offers fellowship over bread and wine. Finally, he has to get out his tambourine to appease the Lord because that’s what calmed His anger after Saul’s sin (1 Chronicles 13:9). So don’t copy everything right away—leave some room for innovation of your own!
Lessons From The Book Of Chronicles
The book of Chronicles is a history of Israel from the time of King David until the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon. It is divided into two sections:
Chronicles 1 – 2 Chronicles 36:22 is called “The Former Prophets,” and Chronicles 2:1 – 36:22 is called “The Latter Prophets.”
The Book of Chronicles is a continuation of the earlier book of Samuel and Kings. It begins with an account of the division of the kingdom, but it is not as detailed as Samuel. It then goes on to cover the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon, ending with the division into northern and southern kingdoms (Israel and Judah).
This book is important because it gives us a glimpse into what happened during that time period. The author seems to have been concerned about preserving the history of God’s people for future generations. In fact, many scholars believe that Chronicles was written in response to some who were saying that there was no need to preserve Israel’s history because God was finished with his chosen people.
Chronicles is also important because it contains several lessons we can learn from this ancient text:
The Book of Chronicles is a history book that was written by King Solomon’s priests. It is a record of the kings and people that lived in Israel during the time of the kingdom.
There are many lessons we can learn from this book. Here are some of my favorite lessons:
- We need to have a positive attitude toward God and His Word.
- We must pray always, even in our trials and tribulations, so that we don’t lose hope or faith in God’s promises (1 Chron 16:11).
- We must be careful not to judge others or speak evil things about them (1 Chron 19:13).
- Sometimes we cannot understand why things happen in our lives until after they happen (1 Chron 21:1-6).
The book of Chronicles is a historical work that provides background information on the reigns of David and Solomon, as well as their successors. The book also records other events that took place in Israel during this period.
The main lesson we can learn from the book of Chronicles is that God’s people should obey Him and not disobey His commandments. If they do, they will experience the consequences of disobedience.
The people of Israel were commanded by God to not worship idols or any other gods besides Him (Exodus 20:3). They were also commanded not to make any graven images or likenesses of anything in heaven above or on earth below (Exodus 20:4). However, many kings in Israel did not obey these commandments and they worshipped other gods instead of Jehovah. As a result, they experienced great suffering because they had broken His commands (1 Chronicles 21:1-3).
Another lesson we can learn from the book of Chronicles is that we should always be loyal to our parents and family members because they have helped us achieve many things during our lives and deserve our respect and love. We should never treat them badly because they are important people in our lives who have given us many gifts over time such as love, support, care
The Book of Chronicles is the last book in the Bible. It was written by Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi. It begins with Adam and Eve, and ends with the birth of Jesus.
It is a history book; however, it is not as detailed as other Old Testament books such as Genesis or Exodus. The Book of Chronicles was written to give us some historical information about Israel before Babylonian captivity.
There are several lessons that can be learned from this book:
1) God’s Word is true regardless of what people say about it (1 Chron 17:6-10). When David proclaimed that the Lord had spoken to him through his prophet Gad (1 Chron 29:29), Joab disagreed with him because he thought that Gad was lying about what he had heard from God (1 Chron 29:30). But God proved Joab wrong by making him blind for disobeying a direct order from David (1 Chron 20).
2) We should always be obedient to God even if no one else understands why we are obeying Him (2 Chron 24:7-15). King Jehoshaphat had a great army but he still asked God for direction before going into battle with the Ammonites
Lessons From The Book Of 2 Chronicles
First Chronicles is the first half a single book that was divided into two parts, 1 and 2 Chronicles because together they were too long to fit on one scroll. These two books retell the history of Israel from a slightly different viewpoint than that of Samuel and Kings, although many of the same stories are repeated.
King David is the most important person in the book of 1 Chronicles. He is the one who made Jerusalem the center for the worship of the Lord God, and who made sure the Lord was worshiped in the proper way. David is also honored as the founder of the temple, even though it was his son Solomon who actually built it.
Much of 1 Chronicles is made of up of lists that trace the descendants of Adam to the time of King Saul (1-9). After reporting how Saul dies (10), the rest of the book (11-29) focuses on King David, and these chapters can be divided into four parts. The first part (11-12) tells how David became king and made Jerusalem his capital city. This part also includes information about David’s warriors and military officers. The second part (13-16) describes how David moved sacred chest to its new home in Jerusalem. the third part (17-20) includes events during his rule, and the final part (21-29) describes his preparations for building the Lord’s temple and his instructions to his son Solomon about the proper worship of the Lord.
In 1 Chronicles, David is used as an example of someone who faithfully worships and obeys the Lord. At the end of David’s rule, he praises the Lord in front of everyone in Israel and says:
I praise you forever Lord! You are the God our ancestor Jacob worshiped. Your power is great, and your glory is seen everywhere in heaven and on earth. You are king of the entire world, and you rule with strength and power. (29.10b-12a)
Here are 10 Lessons From the Book of First Chronicles
Why All These Names?
1 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 1 Chronicles 1.1-54
A “family tree” was important to the Israelites. This was the only way a person could prove that he or she belonged to the family of Abraham. besides that, only members of Levi’s family were allowed to be priests or other temple workers. Only members of David’s family were allowed to be kings.
As we read through the many names in these sections, it is good to remember that God knows each of us by name. We are not merely statistics or numbers on a computer printout. God knows the smallest details of our lives, and he is intimately interested in us. We are his children; we belong to his family.
Singing and Serving
2 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 1 Chronicles 6.31-53
The descendants of Levi took care of all the details concerning the temple, but not all Levites had the same responsibilities. King David appointed many Levites as musicians to lead in praise and worship. These “staff musicians” were constantly on call at the temple. A song could always be heard in the house of the Lord.
Many Levites did less public chores. They cleaned the temple area, took care of the building and grounds, washed the priest’s clothes, and helped any other way they could. Other Levites were priests who appointed to offer the daily sacrifices to the Lord.
Regardless of whether we are in a highly visible or a less visible role, each of us has a part to play in doing Gods work. God has given us many different kinds of gifts, talents, and abilities. Let’s use what we have for God’s glory!
Big Things in Small Packages
3 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 1 Chronicles 8.1-40
The tribe of Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, had nearly been wiped out at one time. It was the smallest of the tribes, but it bounced back and became very important in the history of God’s people. From the tribe of Benjamin came Israel’s first king, Saul.
We see here that even though the tribe of Benjamin was small, it had a special place in God’s plan. Today we tend to live by the rule, “Bigger is better.” But even if you come from an unknown family or a small part of the country, you still have an important role in God’s eyes. The Lord is not looking for people of great status; he wants people who are great in their trust and obedience to him.
High Priced Water
4 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 1 Chronicles 11.15-19
Why would David pour out the water that three of his bravest warriors had risked their lives to get for him? Because David was overwhelmed by their devotion to him. the men thought so much of David that when they heart his desire, they wanted to please him. They were willing to risk anything to make him happy.
Who in your life would you be willing to do anything for, just to serve them and make them happy? God? Your spouse? Your parents or children? a fellow believer? Consider ways you can be more sensitive to that person’s needs, desires, and dreams and help fulfill them.
Fighting for the Right Cause
5 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 1 Chronicles 12.22-40
People were attracted to David, not simply because of his personality and bravery, but because they knew his cause was just. Even some members of the tribe of Benjamin, King Saul’s family members, joined with David because they knew that God was on his side.
We do not have to be exciting personalities or the people with the most money, nicest facilities, or most comfortable conditions. If what we are attempting to do has God’s approval, good people will want to become involved.
Excitement, Joy, and Praise
6 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 1 Chronicles 15.25-29
David was not ashamed to express his feelings about the return of the sacred chest to Jerusalem. he was so excited and filled with joy, he jumped and danced in God’s honor. The people of Israel celebrated right along with their king. Some of the people played musical instruments, some sand songs of praise, and some simply shouted for joy.
We can praise God in many different ways – sometimes loudly, sometimes softly; sometimes with musical instruments, and sometimes simply with our voices. No matter how we choose to praise God, we should never be ashamed to do it.
A Special Promise
7 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 1 Chronicles 17.7-14
God made a special promise to David, part of which was to be fulfilled in the near future, part after David died, and part in the distant future. First, God promised that he would protect David from his enemies and help him bring peace to the land.
Second, the Lord said that the temple would be built, but it would be built by one of David’s sons, not David. As long as David’s descendants obeyed God, the Lord would keep one of them as king.
Third, God promised that one of David’s descendants would rule Israel forever. This part of the promise looked far ahead, to the day when Jesus (the Messiah) would rule forever. this promise to David and his descendants is still intact today.
The Victory Is the Lord’s
8 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 1 Chronicles 18.1-13
The Lord helped David win his battles in wars. Yes, David’s troops had to do the physical fighting, but it was God who gave the victory.
When we are successful in our work, or even in our spiritual efforts for the Lord, we should be careful to give credit to whom credit is due – to God! He uses our skills and the material, mental, and physical resources he has given us.
Fighting Unnecessary Battles
9 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 1 Chronicles 19.1-19
This battle was brought on because of the fear, insecurity, and mistrust of Hanun and his advisors. They couldn’t believe that David was merely doing an act of kindness toward them. They insulted King David by treating his officials badly, and as a result, had to prepare for war.
Many of our battles are similar. We misjudge the motives of other people and then have to pay a high price for jumping to conclusions. When we make a mistake, or unwisely say or do something that offends our neighbor, we should admit our error and seek to make things right. The words, “I’m sorry; I was wrong. Would you please forgive me?” may be hard to say, but they can help us avoid many unnecessary battles.
No Free Gifts Will Do
10 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 1 Chronicles 21.16-30
Araunah’s threshing place was used to separate the wheat or corn from its husks, it was located in Moriah, the same place where Abraham had taken Isaac to be offered as a sacrifice to the Lord many years before. When David explained why he wanted Araunah’s threshing place, Araunah quite willingly offered to give the property to David. But David would not hear of it. He knew he could not take something that had no value to him and turn around and offer it to God.
When we present something to God, we should be careful hat we are not giving him the “leftovers” of our lives, or those things that hold no value or meaning to us. If what we offer God is meaningful to us, it will be to God as well.
Promises For Us
Most families contain at least one member who loves to trace the family tree. These people keep precise genealogical records and take delight in poking around obscure libraries, dusty courthouse records, and old cemeteries. Other family members may not appreciate all this work until that person finds something really interesting. Then all the family members get excited. They’re proud of the ancestor who came over on the Mayflower. They want to meet the long-lost cousin who’s a multi-millionaire.
First Chronicles was written to the Israelites who survived the Babylonian captivity. It reads like a family history prepared by the genealogy enthusiast. This record emphasizes how people are connected and who the old-times heroes were. Israelites raised in Babylon could read this book and come away with restored national pride.
In a sense, everyone stands on the shoulders of generations of ancestors who worked to create better lives for their descendants. Who are you most proud of in your family tree? What should you learn from them? how can you celebrate their memories?
What Do We Learn From The Book Of Chronicles
The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles contain a brief history of the Lord’s people from the time of Adam to the time of King Cyrus of Persia. Because the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles largely present much of the same history as 1 and 2 Kings, this lesson will serve as a review of material students have previously studied. It will also provide context that will help students as they continue their study of the Old Testament.
Suggestions for Teaching
1 Chronicles
The lineage and history from Adam to King David is given
Before class, create six signs and label them as follows: United Kingdom of Israel (Kings David and Solomon), Northern Kingdom (Israel), Southern Kingdom (Judah), Captivity in Assyria, Captivity in Babylon, and The Americas. Display the signs around the classroom as shown in the accompanying diagram. (Or you may use the graphic “The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah at a Glance” found at the end of this lesson to write these same titles on the board in chronological order.)
Also, label three pieces of paper as follows (using large letters) and set them aside: Ten Tribes, Tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and Lehi.
As class begins, invite students to open their Bibles to the table of contents. Ask students to find the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles.
Explain that the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles present a genealogy and condensed history from Adam to about 537 B.C. These books, along with the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, mention a number of the prophets whose writings make up the last portions of the Old Testament. However, the books in the latter part of the Old Testament are not in chronological order. One of the purposes of today’s lesson is to provide an overview of how these prophetic writings fit into Israel’s history.
Teacher presentation
Teacher presentation needs careful planning and preparation. Teacher presentation may be likened to the string in a necklace of pearls. The pearls are various teaching methods (questions, discussion, group work, visuals, and so on) that are held together by your presentation (instruction and explanation). You should be familiar with the content of this lesson so you can move students and visuals as indicated to present an overview of Old Testament history.
Before class write each of the names of the last 25 Old Testament books (those after 2 Chronicles) in large letters on separate sheets of paper (or have students create these at this point in the lesson). Distribute these 25 papers among the students. If your class is smaller, some students may have more than one paper. Ask students to hold on to their papers until later in the lesson.
Summarize 1 Chronicles by explaining that this book provides a genealogy of the Lord’s people from the time of Adam to the time of the Babylonian captivity as well as a brief account of the reign of King David.
Invite a student to read 1 Chronicles 16:7 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what David wrote at a time of celebration in Jerusalem. Ask students to report what they find.
Explain that a psalm is a poem of praise, worship, or lamentation, often set to music. You may want to invite students to read the portion of David’s psalm recorded in 1 Chronicles 16:8–12. Point out that David wrote some of the psalms contained in the book of Psalms. Invite the student with Psalms written on his or her paper to come to the front of the room and place it under the sign United Kingdom of Israel (Kings David and Solomon).