Chapter 9 deals with those who returned from Babylonian captivity
9:1 ‘All Israel’
Even though the northern kingdom of Israel never returned from dispersion in 722 B.C., many from the 10 tribes which made up that kingdom migrated south after the division in 931 B.C. The result was that Judah, the southern kingdom, had people from all tribes, so that when returning from captivity “all Israel” was truly represented. – McArthur Bible Commentary
‘Genealogies’
Apparently the genealogies of each tribe of Israel were on exhibit in the temple. They were registered until the people went away into captivity. However, the genealogies were preserved and brought back to Jerusalem. When the returning remnant rebuilt the temple, the genealogies were there. At the time the Lord Jesus was born, those genealogies were intact, and you may be sure that the enemies of Jesus went in and checked His genealogy.
The Gospel of Matthew carries Joseph’s genealogy, from whom he gets the legal title to the throne, and the Gospel of Luke carries Mary’s genealogy, from which He gets the blood title to the throne of David. As far as we know, there never was an attack made upon the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was accurate, and it was available for all to see.
When the temple was destroyed by Titus the Roman in A.D. 70, apparently the genealogies were also destroyed. However, the important thing to note is that here in Chronicles the genealogies are traced to the time of the captivity. Then after the return of a remnant of Israel, the genealogies were continued until the time of the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world. After His lifetime the record disappeared. Why? Well, God was interested in making it very clear to us that Jesus was ‘very man of very man.’ God wants us to know that Jesus Christ came in the line of Adam and that Jesus Christ came in the line of Adam and that he is the last Adam-there won’t be a third one. Jesus head sup the last family here on earth. There are only two families: the family of Adam and the family of God. – J. V. McGee, Thru The Bible; 1 Chronicles 9
‘Royal genealogical lists’
There would be a number of reasons to keep genealogical lists in the official palace archives.
First, whether land possession was on the basis of royal grant or divine grant, it was tied to families. Therefore property disputes often had to be settled by reference to genealogical records. Second, conscription (involuntary labor) for government service, whether in labor corvees (unpaid labor required of people of lower social standing and imposed on them by the state or by a superior), or for military duty, was conducted on the basis of census figures, as was taxation. Census records typically would have been organized by genealogical categories. – IVP Bible Background Commentary
‘The Book of the Kings of Israel’
This is not our 1 and 2 Kings, but court records and registers now lost. – Ryrie Study Bible
‘Judah was carried away to Babylon for their unfaithfulness’
God wanted Israel to remember why they had gone into captivity. It wasn’t because God hated them, or that He was done with them, but to ‘chasten those whom He loved’.
Often it takes the disciplinary action on God’s part, to get the attention of those He loves. Discipline doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us, its proof of His love for us when we get out of line. God had to discipline His people, in order to prepare them for what He had planned for them. (Hebrews 12:1-8)
9:2
‘Nethinim’, derived from the Hebrew verb “to give” and thus meaning “the ones given,” refers to temple slaves. Since the Nethinim were distinct from the priests and the Levites, these temple slaves must have been from other tribes (Ezra 2:43; Neh. 7:46).
9:3-34
Mention briefly some of the sons of Judah and Benjamin who returned to Jerusalem, leaders in their fathers’ houses (v.9). Verses 10-13 mention the priests, while verse 14-34 mention the other Levites who returned, describing some of their duties. Same as the body of Christ; we all have a calling to fulfill. 1 Cor. 12:12-20.
9:35-10:14
This section records Saul’s linage as a transition to the main theme of the rest of the book, which is the kingship of David. Saul’s history is recorded in 1 Samuel 9-31.
Chapter 10:1-5
A parallel account of the death of Saul and his sons is found in 1 Samuel 31:1-13.
C. H. Spurgeon comments on verse 5:
“While we earnestly condemn the self-destruction, we cannot but admire the faithfulness of the armor-bearer-faithful unto death. He would not survive his master. Shall this man live and die for Saul, and shall we betray our royal master, Jesus the Lord?”
10:6-10
In connection with Saul’s death, several things should be noticed. “All his house died together” (v. 6) refers only to those who fought with Saul (1 Sam. 31:6). Saul had other sons not slain by the Philistines (vv. 13, 14; 2 Sam. 2:8; 21:1-9). But even these did not finally escape the fate that overtook their faith (2 Sam. 21:1-8).
10:11, 12
Upon hearing the news of Saul and his sons, the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead marched all night to retrieve their bodies from the Philistines and then buried their bones and fasted seven days. Earlier Saul had saved their city from Nahash the Ammonite (1 Sam. 11); these valiant men did not forget his kindness.
10:13, 14
These verses give two reasons for Saul’s death: He did not keep the word of the LORD (see 1 Sam. 13 and 15) and he consulted a medium (see 1 Sam. 28). This brief account of Saul clears the way for the history of David, God’s choice to rule over His people Israel.
Open It
1. What examples can you recall of famous people whose career went downhill or who died in disgrace?
2. What sort of pressures or crises have you been facing lately?
3. What do you think might cause a person to think about suicide?
Explore It
4. Why did Saul die? (10:13)
5. Where had Saul sought guidance during his reign as king? (10:13-14)
6. What did God do to Saul because of his unfaithfulness? (10:14)
Get It
7. What kind of a man was Saul?
8. In what way can a wrong decision be the start of a person’s destruction?
9. How can a person facing tremendous personal problems find help from God to cope & continue on in life?
10. What causes someone to be stubborn and resistant to God’s commands?
Apply It
11. The next time you are feeling pressure or opposition, in what ways can you turn to the Lord for help and guidance?
Dealing With Depression (Part 1) Job 3:1-10
by Pastor Pete • on 3:49 AM • in Job Commentary Notes
Introduction:
* In this lesson we see that the Bible does not shy away from dealing with the topic of depression.
“Depression is often characterized as a recent phenomenon, an illness of the modern age. But if you read the Bible, you will find that depression was just as present in those times too. Mnay great men of God-like David and Jeremiah-struggled with feelings of despair and darkness. We should find comfort in knowing that depression is something that can affect any person of faith, and that God sees and understands our pain.*”
B. On one notable Sunday morning in 1866
1. C. H. Spurgeon shocked his 5,000 listeners when he got up in
a. London’s Metropolitan Tabernacle
b. And began a sermon from Isaiah 41:14 with these words:
“I have to speak today to myself, and whilst I shall be endeavoring to encourage those who are distressed and downhearted, I shall be preaching, I trust, to myself, for I need something which shall cheer my heart-why I cannot tell, wherefore I do not know, but I have a thorn in the flesh a messenger of Satan to buffet me, my soul is cast down with me; I feel as I had rather die than live; all that God has done by me seems to be forgotten, and my sprit flags and my courage breaks down…I need your prayers.” – C. H. Spurgeon
C. For some of Spurgeon’s listeners it was incomprehensible that
1. The worlds’ greatest preacher would confess to such despair
D. But no one is immune to depression;
1. Not even great preachers and men of God
E. Even the great reformer Martin Luther was subject to such fits of darkness
1. That he would hide himself away for days
F. His family would even remove all dangerous implements from the house
1. For fear that he would harm himself
G. In the midst of one of these times he wrote:
“For more than a week I was as close to the gates of death and hell as one can be. I trembled in all my members. Christ was wholly lost. I was shaken by desperation and blasphemy of God.” - Martin Luther
H. Everyone from Adoniram Judson (America’s first foreign missionary) to –
1. Pilgrim’s Progress author – John Bunyan, to –
2. The prophet Elijah…
a. Suffered from the darkness of depression at one time or another in their lives
I. Just what is depression?
“It can be defined as a condition marked by low spirits, gloomy feelings, dejection, sadness, feelings of worthlessness, and accompanying guilt.*”
J. Too often today many define depression as many things,
1. But it is important to remember that
“Depression is much more than a case of the blues-depression is embodied emotional suffering. It is manifested in both mental and physical ways, in unfounded negativity and lethargy as well as deep pain and alienation.*”
K. As we come to the 3rd chapter of Job -
1. His health is gone
2. His family is gone
3. His wife has abandoned him
4. And he is sitting on the ash heap outside the city
L. At this point, there is no indication that God intends to explain to Job what He is doing
1. So to Job, this experience is totally void of meaning
M. Ray C. Stedman, from his book ‘Let God be God’ wrote:
“Few things are harder to bear than meaningless suffering. If we could see some reason for what we have to go through, we could more easily endure it. But pointless trouble is corrosive to our souls.”
N. And so now as we begin Job 3;
1. Job begins to express his grief
2. For the 1st time he really begins to talk;
3. It is evident that something has happened to him
a. He has become full of depression and despair
O. Job displays his emotions through the form of a question in 3 different laments;
1. For tonight we will examine his 1st lament
I. Why Was I Born? (3:1-10)
1 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
A. How easy it would be to think:
1. “Satan said that Job would curse God, now he does it”
B. But look closer
1. He is not cursing God, he is cursing the day of his birth
2. There is a major difference
C. Between the words:
1. “Why was I ever born?” and
2. “I no longer believe in You, God”…Job is saying –
“I am so completely alone. I regret that I ever drew breath. I regret that I was ever conceived in my mother’s womb.”
D. Now remember Job’s circumstances
1. The man is sitting at the city dump
2. Head shaved
3. Wife wringing her hands
4. Three friends sitting and staring in silence for 7 days/nights
5. And worst of all, no hope from above
E. After all that, Job opened his mouth and out came:
“I wish that I had never been born.”
F. And then he continues in Verse 2, saying -
2 And Job spoke, and said: 3 ”May the day perish on which I was born, And the night in which it was said, ‘A male child is conceived.’
A. Note Job doesn’t call the fetus a tissue; it’s a child
1. As soon as the sperm enters the egg-LIFE!
B. During the patriarchal era, “A boy! A boy!” We are going to have a boy! How wonderful!”
1. Job here says, “No, no, don’t say that, don’t celebrate!”
4 May that day be darkness; May God above not seek it, Nor the light shine upon it. 5 May darkness and the shadow of death claim it; May a cloud settle on it; May the blackness of the day terrify it. 6 As for that night, may darkness seize it; May it not rejoice among the days of the year, May it not come into the number of the months (forget my birthday, take it off the calendar). 7 Oh, may that night be barren! May no joyful shout come into it! 8 May those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.
A. Sort of interesting here,
1. Job says ‘let those who curse it, curse the day’
B. Job’s not very experienced at cursing,
1. So he says, “let those who use such profane talk, curse for me”
C. He adds:
1. “Who are prepared to rouse Leviathan”
D. What in the world is Leviathan?
Webster’s Dictionary
“A sea monster represented as an adversary.”
E. But it goes further back than that-
1. More specifically,
“Leviathan was a 7-headed sea monster of ancient Near Eastern mythology. In the ancient Ugaritic literature of Canaan and Phoenicia, eclipses were caused by Leviathan’s coming out of the sea, swallowing the sun or the moon, and therefore causing darkness to be cast on this earth. As Leviathan was roused from its sleep in the sea, the myth saw it swallowing up the sun or the moon.
You say, ‘What?’ And I answer “Poetry.” Like I mentioned earlier in this chapter, that’s a great way to handle such things as this, isn’t it? It’s poetry. NO, those thoughts are more than poetry, they represent mythology. If you travel to Turkey or Greece these days and you have an individual who is a native of that land now serving as a professional guide on the tour, you will hear a great deal about mythology. I might add, you will hear virtually no theology. Extensive mythology is the basis of the gods of those lands. And in the ancient, patriarchal days it remained a part of their culture and literature.” – Charles Swindoll
F. So Job picks up the thought and says, in effect
1. “Let Leviathan swallow up the sun of the day, make it dark.”
9 May the stars of its morning be dark; May it look for light, but have none, And not see the dawning of the day; 10 Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb, Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.
A. Notice here how many times Job uses the words ‘LET & MAY’
1. Technically, these words are known as ‘jussives’ in Hebrew syntax
B. Think of them as “wish verbs”
1. They represent what Job is wishing…
a. “May this happen, may that happen…”
b. “Let this take place, let that take place..”
c. “Let these things occur. Let those things occur.”
i. It’s poetry, remember?
C. Job is depressed!
1. “I want nothing to do with this thing called life”
D. Interestingly, suicide doesn’t enter his mind
1. Never an attempt
2. Never a word about it
3. This thought was foreign to the life of the faithful Job
*Tried, Tested, & Triumphant, the Book of Job – David Jeremiah