Priests to His God and Father

All the Rest of Israel – Part 3: Meet the Levites

(1 Chronicles 6:1-81, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, July 30, 2017)

[1] The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. [2] The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. [3] The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. [4] Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua, [5] Abishua fathered Bukki, Bukki fathered Uzzi, [6] Uzzi fathered Zerahiah, Zerahiah fathered Meraioth, [7] Meraioth fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, [8] Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Ahimaaz, [9] Ahimaaz fathered Azariah, Azariah fathered Johanan, [10] and Johanan fathered Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem). [11] Azariah fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, [12] Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Shallum, [13] Shallum fathered Hilkiah, Hilkiah fathered Azariah, [14] Azariah fathered Seraiah, Seraiah fathered Jehozadak; [15] and Jehozadak went into exile when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

[16] The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. [17] And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. [18] The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. [19] The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their fathers. [20] Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, [21] Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son. [22] The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, [23] Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, [24] Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. [25] The sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth, [26] Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, [27] Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. [28] The sons of Samuel: Joel his firstborn, the second Abijah. [29] The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, [30] Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.

[31] 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; [39] and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely, Asaph the son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, [40] son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchijah, [41] son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, [42] son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, [43] son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. [44] On the left hand were their brothers, the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, [45] son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, [46] son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, [47] son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi. [48] And their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

[49] But Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. [50] These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, [51] Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, [52] Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, [53] Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.

[54] These are their dwelling places according to their settlements within their borders: to the sons of Aaron of the clans of Kohathites, for theirs was the first lot, [55] to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands, [56] but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. [57] To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah with its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands, [58] Hilen with its pasturelands, Debir with its pasturelands, [59] Ashan with its pasturelands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands; [60] and from the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon, Geba with its pasturelands, Alemeth with its pasturelands, and Anathoth with its pasturelands. All their cities throughout their clans were thirteen.

[61] To the rest of the Kohathites were given by lot out of the clan of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities. [62] To the Gershomites according to their clans were allotted thirteen cities out of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Manasseh in Bashan. [63] To the Merarites according to their clans were allotted twelve cities out of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. [64] So the people of Israel gave the Levites the cities with their pasturelands. [65] They gave by lot out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin these cities that are mentioned by name.

[66] And some of the clans of the sons of Kohath had cities of their territory out of the tribe of Ephraim. [67] They were given the cities of refuge: Shechem with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasturelands, [68] Jokmeam with its pasturelands, Beth-horon with its pasturelands, [69] Aijalon with its pasturelands, Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands, [70] and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its pasturelands, and Bileam with its pasturelands, for the rest of the clans of the Kohathites.

[71] To the Gershomites were given out of the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands and Ashtaroth with its pasturelands; [72] and out of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its pasturelands, Daberath with its pasturelands, [73] Ramoth with its pasturelands, and Anem with its pasturelands; [74] out of the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands, [75] Hukok with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands; [76] and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, Hammon with its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim with its pasturelands. [77] To the rest of the Merarites were allotted out of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono with its pasturelands, Tabor with its pasturelands, [78] and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its pasturelands, Jahzah with its pasturelands, [79] Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands; [80] and out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands, Mahanaim with its pasturelands, [81] Heshbon with its pasturelands, and Jazer with its pasturelands.

We have been hearing the story of ancient Israel: north, south, east, and scattered. This week we get to meet the Levites, scattered by God throughout all the rest of the nation for a series of purposes that reach down to the present day and our lives together as Christ's church.

The tribe of Levi did not have a grant of territory like the other tribes. Their inheritance was “in the Lord” and they were to be supported by the tithes of the people. In that sense, they were “scattered” throughout Israel, with certain designated cities and villages from the other tribal allotments. Among those cities were certain cities of refuge where people could run for justice. Priests and Levites were called to discern difficult matters of life and to teach. (Nehemiah 8:8) How was the tribe structured and how did their function change over the centuries?

Priests and Designated Assistants

The Levites lived in a world that was very different from ours. From the earliest age boys in that tribe knew what they would be based on what their fathers did. They grew into those roles throughout their young lives. Within the tribe of Levi, one family line, the descendants of Aaron, served as priests. Don't think about today's “priests” in certain denominations, but think about animal sacrifices that prepared Israel for a future blood offering that could cancel guilt once for all time. Verse 49 reads, “Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.” The Old Testament priests offered sacrifices and prayers from the people up to God and blessings from God down to the people. See also Numbers 6:22-27. They were mediators between God and His people sending down words of grace from the Lord and sending up gifts and petitions to the Almighty. The rest of the tribe of Levi were their assistants. They had specific roles by clan that were connected to the movement and care of the tabernacle that God had commanded Moses to construct (Numbers 4).

Samuel, the Temple, and the Exile

The great Samuel is mentioned in verse 28 since he was adopted into the priesthood by a priestly family because of his mother's vow. He was a very significant figure in the history of God's people during an important turning point that would lead to the line of David and the change from tabernacle to temple in the days of David and Solomon. This would alter the lives of the Levites forever. The days of that movable worship house would now be over in favor of a permanent structure in Jerusalem. Levites would now serve as temple musicians, music leaders, singers, and song writers, which was a new stage in the worship of the Lord set up by David. A radical change came for the Levites in the destruction of the temple and the exile (Psalm 137).

Bigger News: Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, and His Kingdom of Joyful Servants (Psalm 68:18)

We have a High Priest over the house of God today. He raises His hands in benediction over His church (Luke 24:50), and through Him we worship God (Hebrews 13:15-16). He offered up Himself as a sacrifice to satisfy justice and reconcile us to God. He is our City of Refuge who lives forever to intercede for us. As members of His body, the church is full of worship and service. It is the privilege of the whole body of Christ to be priests (Revelation 1:6) teaching the message that God has implanted within us as living letters of the Messiah. (2 Corinthians 3:3) We speak as those who have the oracles of God, and we serve as those empowered by the Spirit of the Lord. (1 Peter 4:11) We are a city on a hill for life now and eternally. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 24 – Who is this King of Glory?

Gospel Reading—Matthew 8:28-34 – [28] And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. [29] And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” [30] Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. [31] And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” [32] And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. [33] The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. [34] And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. 

The Eastern Tribes

All the Rest of Israel – Part 2: Living the Dream on the Other Side of the Jordan

(1 Chronicles 5:1-26, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, July 23, 2017)

[1] The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; [2] though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph), [3] the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. [4] The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, [5] Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, [6] Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria carried away into exile; he was a chief of the Reubenites. [7] And his kinsmen by their clans, when the genealogy of their generations was recorded: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, [8] and Bela the son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal-meon. [9] He also lived to the east as far as the entrance of the desert this side of the Euphrates, because their livestock had multiplied in the land of Gilead. [10] And in the days of Saul they waged war against the Hagrites, who fell into their hand. And they lived in their tents throughout all the region east of Gilead.

[11] The sons of Gad lived over against them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah: [12] Joel the chief, Shapham the second, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan. [13] And their kinsmen according to their fathers' houses: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber, seven. [14] These were the sons of Abihail the son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. [15] Ahi the son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was chief in their fathers' houses, [16] and they lived in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the pasturelands of Sharon to their limits. [17] All of these were recorded in genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel. [18] The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. [19] They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. [20] And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him. [21] They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. [22] For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile.

[23] The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land. They were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. [24] These were the heads of their fathers' houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses. [25] But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. [26] So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.

Two and a half of the twelve tribes of Israel ended up having their allotment of land not in Israel proper, but east of the Jordan River. How did that happen? The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh were granted that territory by Moses because they requested it. They said that it was perfect land for their livestock. They agreed to fight with their brothers throughout the coming conquest of The Promised Land. They would then return home on the other side of the river. For a while they were zealous to be regarded as part of Israel and true worshipers of God. (See also Numbers 32 and Joshua 22.) Yet how would they do over the years that would follow with the geographic barrier of a river separating them from the rest of the nation? Not well. They would be among the first ones who would be defeated by the Assyrian king and taken into exile.

[1] The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel

Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob, and should have had the largest inheritance, but he lost his preeminence by his strange impropriety with one of Jacob's concubines, who was the mother of two other tribes in Israel. (See also Genesis 35:22, 49:3-4.) The rights of the firstborn would go to Joseph, through his two sons. Judah would be the tribe of kings, but Ephraim and Manasseh would carry on the prominence of Joseph according to Jacob's own words and actions. Reuben's orientation would be eastward for more land rather than westward toward Jerusalem.

[11] The sons of Gad

The tribe of Gad was descended from Jacob and Leah's handmaid, Zilpah. After including some of the significant names still known by the Chronicler, the author wrote of lessons learned through their military engagements. They were strong in battle when they “cried out to God in the battle” and “trusted in him.”

[23] The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh

The final half tribe was descended from Joseph's son, Manasseh. Half of this tribe settled on the West Bank of the Jordan, but we are looking at the part of the tribe that stayed with Reuben and Gad to the east. While they had “mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses” in their number, they, with so many others, “broke faith” with God and worshiped idols that were from the nations that God had cast out of the land. Their exile was not an accident of history. We are told in this summary of their story that “the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them” far from their homes to distant lands where they still lived at the time when the Chronicler was writing his account.

Jesus and the Church on the Other Side of the River

Boundaries create divisions between one side of the river and the other. Man makes his plans most often based on concerns for his own desire for property and not often enough based on divine mission and spiritual well-being. Though the Transjordan tribes could make a good case to Moses and Joshua regarding their motives, over the years they risked wandering from God.

In the days of ancient Israel, these tribes lived on the wrong side of the Jordan. Living on the “other side of the river” is a state of mind for New Testament Christians. On one hand, we all live in Babylon, yet we are citizens of the Jerusalem above. It's complicated.

As New Testament believers, Jesus is our model for staying near to Jerusalem in our hearts, but also being willing to die in the land of exile if that's what it takes to fulfill the mission that God has ordained for us. Jesus never broke faith with His Father. He has become our righteousness, our salvation, and our guide through life. We need to set our hearts on things above and serve the Lord here below, “outside the camp.” See Hebrews 13 and Romans 12.

When we have finished running the race that God has mapped for us, we will cross a divide that is far more daunting than the Jordan River. Our Chief from the tribe of Judah has gone before us and is coming again to establish His perfect resurrection kingdom. When that day comes, we shall all be one in every way. Perfect in heart, no more wrong side of the tracks for us or any of God's family, and entirely safe from exile, we will no longer struggle with the vestiges of Babylon in our hearts. Even now we have Christ in us. He is the hope of glory, and will lead us.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 23 – The Shepherd of God's Elect in the House of the Lord

Gospel Reading—Matthew 8:23-27 – [23] And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. [24] And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. [25] And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” [26] And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. [27] And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Monday Morning Clarity:

The tribes that settled to the east of the Jordan (Reuben, Gad, East Manasseh) were all once very sure that they wanted Yahweh, and that their quest for good pasture lands would not keep them from holy devotion to Him. But over the centuries they lost sight of the God of Israel and His divine mission for them, and they fell into the dark pit of idolatry. They were the first tribes to be sent into exile by the Assyrians.

What was the mission God had for them?

1. Worship.

2. Continue in the conquest of the Promised Land, and don't go all pagan in creation worship.

What is the mission that God has for us?

1. Worship (Exodus 20:1-11, Hebrews 10:19-25)

2. Continue in the new "conquest" of the world (Romans 12), and don't go all pagan in creation worship.

Our "conquest" includes:

1. The Creation Mandate Conquest (Genesis 1:28 and 1 Corinthians 10:31)

2. The Great Commission and Sanctification Conquest (Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Thessalonians 4:3a)

Jesus puts these all together not only for our justification, but also as the perfect model for our lives. Hebrews 13:7-16 presents us with an inspiring pattern for the New Testament church in every place and time. "Jesus also suffered outside the camp." He went, as it were, to the wrong side of the river when He died on the cross outside the city wall of Jerusalem. We go to Him when we live out our divine mission "outside the camp and bear the reproach that He endured." Why not just flee to some Jerusalem and stay there? We can do that, but there is no safe space for us like that under the sun. "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." The only real security for us is to have the true Jerusalem living within us as we serve Him in this present Babylon.

A Bunch of Losers... Who Will Reign With the King of the Universe

All the Rest of Israel – Part 1: Simeon

(1 Chronicles 4:24-43, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, July 16, 2017)

[24] The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul; [25] Shallum was his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. [26] The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son. [27] Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many children, nor did all their clan multiply like the men of Judah. [28] They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, [29] Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, [30] Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, [31] Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David reigned. [32] And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities, [33] along with all their villages that were around these cities as far as Baal. These were their settlements, and they kept a genealogical record. [34] Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah the son of Amaziah, [35] Joel, Jehu the son of Joshibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel, [36] Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, [37] Ziza the son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah—[38] these mentioned by name were princes in their clans, and their fathers' houses increased greatly. [39] They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks, [40] where they found rich, good pasture, and the land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful, for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham. [41] These, registered by name, came in the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah, and destroyed their tents and the Meunites who were found there, and marked them for destruction to this day, and settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. [42] And some of them, five hundred men of the Simeonites, went to Mount Seir, having as their leaders Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. [43] And they defeated the remnant of the Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.

Our text this morning gives us a record of the tribe of Simeon, descended from one of the twelve sons of Jacob and part of the people group that are known today as the Jews. The Bible gives us information about the man Simeon and about the tribe that came from him. One thing that our passage reminds us about this ancient group of extended families is that “they kept a genealogical record.” It is records such as these that help the Chronicler to reestablish the nation of Israel after a period of subjugation five centuries before the birth of Jesus.

The details of the people listed by name here are completely lost to history. Verse 27 mentions one “Shimei” from this tribe who had many descendants, but we know nothing about him beyond what's mentioned in these verses. Even the cities they inhabited mentioned in verses 28-33 were not theirs alone. They shared these with the far more prominent tribe of Judah.

Finally our text emphasizes in verses 34-41 and then in 42-43 that the descendants of Simeon were involved in significant armed conflict with their neighbors. While this can be said of all Israel, a distinction should be made between those fights that were directed by the Almighty and those that seemed to rise up from the people themselves. Simeon was engaged in questionable military exploits against other people groups both inside and outside of the original borders of the Promised Land. There is no indication of divine command for this. This over-militarized tribal pattern fits in with what the Bible says about the man from whom they all descended.

The heritage of the man, Simeon, in the Word of God

Simeon was Jacob's second son of his unloved wife, Leah. When she named her son “heard” or “hearing with acceptance” in Genesis 29:33 we read these sad words: “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” When Simeon grew up, he and his brother defended the honor of their sister by slaughtering a large extended family outside of Jacob's descendants. They did this in a particularly blasphemous way, giving the men of that people group circumcision in a supposed agreement to join with them, and then killing them all when they were in pain. Their father, Jacob, said to them in Genesis 34:30, “You have brought trouble on me.” When Jacob was on his deathbed, he remembered this event with these final words in Genesis 49:5-7, “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.”

The checkered providence of God for the tribe of Simeon

The words of Jacob were fulfilled differently for these two tribes. For Simeon, their scattering was largely within the borders of the more significant tribe of Judah, the tribe of Joseph and Mary, and therefore the tribe of Jesus. You may remember that when God brought His people out of their Egyptian bondage, they did not immediately go into the Promised Land, but spent forty years in the wilderness because of their faithlessness. The army of fighting men “twenty years old and upward” was numbered by tribe both at the beginning of that period and at the end. No tribe lost more than Simeon, experiencing over a 60% decline.

During that period a man named Zimri is mentioned of the tribe of Simeon. He committed an outrageous act of sexual immorality with a woman right near the entrance to the place of worship. Because of this pagan combination of false worship and sexual sin, the Lord brought a plague upon Israel that led to the death of 24,000 people. The plague was ended when one of the men from another tribe put a spear through Zimri and the woman he was with. This episode is one of the only historical details we have today about the tribe of Simeon.

As they went into the Promised Land, they were invited by the tribe of Judah to fight with them, which they did. Their entire territory ended up being within the larger boundaries of Judah, and eventually we lose all track of them as one of the twelve tribes of the Jews. They are far overshadowed by their more significant brothers in the tribe of Judah.

The final conquest by God for the elect of Simeon

The ancient tribe of Simeon began in sorrow and went forth with violence. They were left with little hope at the death of Jacob, and were largely overshadowed by the preeminence of Judah. Yet God remembered them, and they have a place in the final kingdom visions of the Old and New Testaments. (See Ezekiel 48:24, 33 and Revelation 7:7, 21:12.) Though particular individuals, families, and clans within God's covenant community may esteem themselves as losers who are forgotten and hopeless, Jesus was wounded for all His people. Those who repent of their sins and follow Him are joint-heirs with the High King of Heaven. Christianity uniquely provides hope for the lowly because of the doctrine of substitution. He is our new worth.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 22 – They have pierced my hands and feet.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 8:18-22 – [18] Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. [19] And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” [20] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” [21] Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [22] And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Dedicated to Arame Fanica Droma and her extended family

The Lessons of Judah and the Pain and Victory of Jabez

(1 Chronicles 4:1-23, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, July 2, 2017)

[1] The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. [2] Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. [3] These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, [4] and Penuel fathered Gedor, and Ezer fathered Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. [5] Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah; [6] Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. [7] The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. [8] Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel, the son of Harum. [9] Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” [10] Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. [11] Chelub, the brother of Shuhah, fathered Mehir, who fathered Eshton. [12] Eshton fathered Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah. [13] The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah; and the sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai. [14] Meonothai fathered Ophrah; and Seraiah fathered Joab, the father of Ge-harashim, so-called because they were craftsmen. [15] The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the son of Elah: Kenaz. [16] The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. [17] The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. These are the sons of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married; and she conceived and bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa. [18] And his Judahite wife bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. [19] The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite. [20] The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth. [21] The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the clans of the house of linen workers at Beth-ashbea; [22] and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and returned to Lehem (now the records are ancient). [23] These were the potters who were inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah. They lived there in the king's service.

The lessons of Judah

By the time that 1 Chronicles was written, the events of Israel's history had fulfilled the Lord's ancient words about the tribe of Judah. They were the people of royal hope, the chosen tribe within the larger assembly of God's elect. As we conclude the genealogical story of this most important tribe, we should highlight one very important conclusion with two points: The elect were real people in two senses. First, they were historically real, just as real as you and me. This chapter tells us about the source material for some of this information that “the records are ancient.” Yes, ancient, but real, not invented by the author. This is more broadly the case regarding the Bible and the true Christian faith. But secondly, the elect were real in that they were like all people on the face of the earth who were subject to common grace and common curse. They did not float along on clouds with harps. They were men and not angels.

Even the good guys of Judah were not without problems, but also not without heroism. On the problem side, we have the story of their patriarch, Judah, whose flaws recorded in the book of Genesis. When we read of Perez or Shelah, two of the sons of Judah, we know that there is a larger account there which is found in the first book of the Bible. We also read in 1 Chronicles 4 about men having two wives, and is not hard for us to consider that they too faced challenges that all people face in a world of pain, discord, and death.

On the heroism side, we recognize the names of Othniel, the first deliverer in the book of Judges, and his more famous uncle, Caleb, a man of great bravery who set his heart to finishing his life well. He was the one who said in Joshua 14:10-12 regarding his part in the conquest,

“Behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said.”

We also hear of the more anonymous goodness of those who worked hard in their families and clans. There were people who distinguished themselves by building up towns or in working with their hands as “craftsmen,” “linen workers,” “potters,” and surely many other honorable pursuits. Our passage ends with a delightful description of the best in Judah that we could emulate today as servants of Jesus in our own towns and cities: “They lived there in the king's service.”

The pain of Jabez

In the middle of tying up the loose ends in the record of Judah we have two very unusual verses about a man named Jabez who had a story that could help us to remember the point here of pain and victory in a fallen world. Regarding pain, the mother of Jabez named her son after one of the Hebrew words that has to do with pain and sorrow. Our translation says that Jabez was more “honorable” than his brothers, but that word translated “honorable” can mean many things, most commonly “heavy.” Connect that with the mention of pain at birth, and we are justified in assuming that Jabez was a very big baby. Yes, even among the elect of Judah, there were painful birth experiences as God had promised for all people in Genesis 3. Most were not immortalized.

The victory of Jabez

So what to do? Jabez, when he was older, “called upon the God of Israel.” He prayed. What was his prayer? “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” We are told that “God granted what he asked.” What does it all mean? I am personally intrigued that the idea of God “granting” this request includes the word of Him “coming” or “bringing” the answer, and that somehow He Himself was the ultimate answer to the longing of Jabez to have a life that was more than just a pain. The victory of Jabez of the tribe of Judah was in God.

The prayers of Jesus

Jesus of Judah is the most powerful Man of Prayer in the midst of all God's troubled elect. There is no guarantee for those who know the Lord that they will have no trials in this life. Quite the opposite. It is in our tribulation that we have opportunity to shine. One day heaven will come upon the earth, but today is a day for Calebs to find strength in Him despite our emptiness and to do the work of our King. He has prayed for us, and He is Himself the answer to our prayers.

Human beings are born into a world of sorrow and opportunity. We all desire to be more firmly established in a better existence. Our hearts yearn for eternity. Jesus has prayed for us, and His prayers will not be denied. We too learn to ask and to receive according to His will. One day we will see plainly that God will grant us all that Jesus has asked. More than anything that we ask for, we have Him, and He has us. He is more than enough for us during our days of pain, but He who carried our griefs and sorrows will surely wipe away every tear. May we taste His healing mercies even today, and may we gain a far greater appreciation for Him, for He is our healing.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 20 – Now I know

Gospel Reading—Matthew 8:5-13 – [5] When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, [6] “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” [7] And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” [8] But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” [10] When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, [12] while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [13] And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.