Year 1, Week 35, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 35, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Chronicles 7; Psalm 81, 88, 92-93.

Today’s reading from 1 Chronicles 7 provides genealogical details for six tribes: Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. With the other tribes detailed in the previous chapters of 1 Chronicles, it is interesting to note that the tribes of Dan and Zebulun do not make it in these genealogical details. A probable explanation to the absence of Dan and Zebulun is their involvement in past idolatries (such as Judges 18); although people and places from these two tribes are mentioned elsewhere in 1 Chronicles. Naphtali, while mentioned, is given very little attention. A probable explanation for the brief mention of Naphtali is their unfaithfulness (see 2 Chronicles 30:11-18). The genealogical details for Issachar, Benjamin, and Asher all contain material pertinent to a military census as each tribe is explicitly said to contain “mighty warriors” (1 Chronicles 7:5,11,40). An intriguing genealogical detail pertaining to Joshua, who was the military commander of the conquest into the Promised land, and a descendant from the tribe of Ephraim. The Chronicler mentions that the men of Gath killed all of Ephraim’s sons, but then, “Ephraim went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son. And he called his name Beriah, because disaster had befallen his house” (1 Chronicles 7:23). From Beriah’s line came Joshua. The Psalms, which comprises the rest of today’s reading, express a range of experiences lived out before the LORD.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the communication failures between the LORD and His people, starting with the LORD’s lament that His people did not listen to Him: “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!” (Psalm 81:11-13). Israel did not pay attention to the LORD, even though the LORD paid attention to and responded to their cries: “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” (Psalm 81:6-7). Israel’s refusal to hear was rooted in their infatuation with false gods: “Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me! There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:8-10).

Psalm 88 is on the opposite end of the spectrum of communication failure as the Psalmist expresses his crying out to the LORD: “O LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!” (Psalm 88:1). The Psalmist is weary but keeps crying out to the LORD: “my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O LORD; I spread out my hands to you” (Psalm 88:9). But the LORD refused to respond: “But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 88:13-14). The Psalmist expresses that the LORD has even closed off the ears of his companions: “You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them…You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness” (Psalm 88:1,18). In utter despair, the Psalmist feels completely alone.

While Psalm 81 and Psalm 88 express failures in communication between the LORD and His people, Psalm 92 describes the way things can be. Sin has created havoc in our relationship with the LORD. Sin, as a condition of the heart, fosters an inclination to not listen to the LORD. And a consequence of sin is the barrier that it creates between us and the LORD. In language reminiscent of Psalm 1, Psalm 92 provides a clear contrast between those who are the LORD’s and those who are not. There is no future in remaining estranged from the LORD: “For behold, your enemies, O LORD, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered…My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.” (Psalm 92:9,11). It is not advantageous to ignore the LORD, for He is King over all: “The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting” (Psalm 93:1-2). The LORD, who is strong and mighty, imparts to those who trust and obey His Word, all that His people need: "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green” (Psalm 92:12-14). Thus, the LORD is worthy to be praised: “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night…For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy” (Psalm 92:1-2,4).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe