History – 1 Chronicles 5-8

It’s the Sabbath day today. Let’s not waste another moment. We’ll jump straight into our reading today!

We’ll do 1 Chronicles 5 – 8.

Bible Passage:  1 Chronicles 5-8

Picking off from where we left off, we continue to see the family trees of the different tribes of Israel. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, Issachar, Naphtali, Benjamin, Manasseh, Asher and Levi have their names being mentioned in these chapters.  There are familiar names and unfamiliar ones, and at the same time, we see corresponding records of incidents that happened in the book of Kings.

As there is no specific running theme throughout these historical records, we will focus instead on some of the notable incidents.

The Nail That Sticks Out

The Japanese have a proverb that goes: “The nail that sticks out will get hammered down”. Traditionally known to be a rather homogenous society, the Japanese tend to pull towards sameness for the majority of society. In some ways that is good, while in other ways, for example creatively speaking, that may be a hindrance.

In God’s eyes however, the nail that sticks out will be taught a hard lesson. Reuben was that nail. He was “unstable as water” and proved his might in an undesired manner. He was an immoral person, perverse and rash. Jacob rightly described this eldest son as one who was “unstable”. Being the eldest, he should have known better, yet he defiled his father’s bed with his heinous and dirty sin. (cf. Gen 35:22, 49:22).

As we peruse this, we are reminded that we may have been called into the House of the Lord earlier than others, but the warning comes quick and swift: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matt 19:30). This gives us ample warning that we ought not to take the grace of God in vain. If we should give way to our lusts and fleshly desires, then we, yes even we who had the grace first, can fall away. Don’t stick out like a rusty, unsightly nail. In God’s kingdom, all of us are made equal by His blood. There is no need for anyone to try to be different, lest Satan tempts.

On a Brighter Note…

Make that a middle C, for that is where most of us begin. Yes, on a brighter note, today’s reading brings joy to us in the form of music, singers, and psalmists. The Levitical Singers are mentioned in 1 Chron 6:31 as being appointed by king David for tabernacle music ministry.

In our church, most of us either grew up having hymn-singing ingrained into us as a part of life, or for us who came to the fold later, we would be exposed to the hymns and choruses that occasionally sounds in chapel or fellowship groups. Either way, there is no escaping the fact that sacred music IS an integral part of worship and of the Christian’s life. It matters not that some of us may croak out of pitch or are tone-deaf. What matters most is that we join in and “minister with music before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of meeting (unto the Lord God)” (1 Chron 6:32).

Additionally, reading the Word of God also makes us geared towards praising God. When we consider Asaph the Levite and Psalmist (1 Chron 6:39, Psalm 50), there is no excuse for us to be stingy with our praises to God. Make praises ring to Him either through sacred music, or sacred scriptural praises.

On this blessed Sabbath day, shall not this familiar hymn be our aim and focus?

Sing it with pride.

Sing it with assurance.

And let our faith move God, so that we will be part of His eternal Chronicle.

Take my life and let it be,

Consecrated, Lord to Thee.

Take my hands and let them move,

At the impulse of Thy love.

Here is a modern take on this familiar hymn someone else gave me…