August 1, 2022 -- I Chronicles 6:31-38 -- Finding God's Goodness in a List of Names

These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. 32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. 33 These are the men who served and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer the son of Joel, son of Samuel, 34 son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, 35 son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, 36 son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, 37 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, 38 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel;
I Chronicles 6:31-38 ESV

It is a tough slog, reading through all the lists of names here in I Chronicles. There are about 14 chapters of them. Usually I just want to skip over them. But I don't. This morning the genealogy of Samuel grabbed my attention. Samuel was faithful, but his sons were not. “Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice” (I Samuel 8:3). What is amazing is that Joel is one of Samuel’s sons. The unfaithful father, Joel, has a son Heman. Heman is appointed a singer in the temple of God. What restoration must have taken place in this family!

There, in the lists of names, a grand sweep of history is laid out, and in this one can see the steadfast love of God. His work in and through the generations is made clear. Look at the mercy of God, as sons of those who pervert justice are cleansed, renewed and restored for holy service.

It is beautiful as well to read that King David appointed worship leaders, song-writers and singers who would perform sacred music in the temple. What a blessing that is. Many of the psalms were written as sacred music for the people. They give voice to the joys and sorrows, aspirations and longings of the people.

Thanks be to God that His is in charge of the generations. Thanks be to God that He restores families and brings back sons and daughters to faithfulness. Thanks be to God that those seemingly endless (and perhaps, to our cynical way of thinking pointless) lists of names and generations actually serves the purpose of showing us our Father’s mighty, tender, compassionate care that goes to every generation and every person in every generation. Surely He knows every single person who lived, lives and will live, and He has His purposes for each one. Blessed is our God!

Though all might be faithless and perverted, You, Holy One, are True and Faithful. You are the Blessed One, Who sends His Spirit to bring back the wayward. You have sought the lost and brought them to Yourself through the reconciling work of Jesus Christ! Honour and praise, worship and blessing belong to You through-out endless ages. Thank You, Mighty God, that You know each person in every age and You know the generations and You are working out Your wonderful purposes. Amen.

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