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Volume 33   Number 45 Nov 8, 2009

        It is very important to God that we pass on the good things that He has done. This can be seen on many levels as we study the books in the Old Testament.
        1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah are a perfect example of this. These four books were originally one work written mostly by Ezra with some of the writings done by Nehemiah. It was written about fifty years after the close of the book of Nehemiah. These books were written with an exhausted recap of history from the death of Saul through the return of the Jews from captivity in Babylon, and the rebuilding of the Temple and walls around Jerusalem.
        It starts with 1 & 2 Chronicles with the first nine chapters of these books being a genealogy from Adam to the generation coming back to Jerusalem. From there it gives us a very clear view of the kings starting with David through the captivity in Babylon. Ezra and Nehemiah are a recap of the return of the Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple and walls.
        The fact that the writings were done fifty years after the close of the story line lets us know that the author was getting up in years. Ezra was putting together an exhausted overview of the great things the Lord had done. It was also a good look at the mistakes made over the years as well as a list of the order in which things were to be done. Ezra was putting something together that he could pass on to the upcoming generation. He was giving a testimony of the great things the Lord had done.
        Within these books we see the same principle being applied by many of the characters throughout the story. David is a perfect example.
        In 1 Chronicles 17 David had a desire to build God a house. Through the prophet Nathan, God lets David know that he would not be the one to build, but that his son Solomon would be the one. It was at this point in David’s reign that he made the decision to prepare for Solomon all he would need to build. Like Ezra, David begin putting something together he could pass on to the next generation.
        David not only prepared in the natural for his son but spiritually as well. In 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 David is ministering to Solomon, teaching him the ways of the Lord.
        1 Chronicles 28:9-10: As for you, know the God of your father and serve him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.
        In 1 Chronicles 29:19 we see David praying for his son.
        1 Chronicles 29:19: And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the Temple for which I have made provision.
        Another character found in these books is a man by the name of Asaph. This is one of the men David chose to be in charge of the music in the temple Solomon was going to build (1 Chronicles 25:1-2).
        David put Asaph in charge of his own sons.
        1 Chronicles 25:2: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharela; the sons of Asaph who were under the direction of Asaph who prophesied according to the order of the king.
        Here we see another perfect example of one generation passing on the things of God to the next. Asaph had a very clear understanding of the importance of doing this. Listen to the words written by Asaph in Psalm 78:1-7
        Psalm 78:1-7 Give ear O my people to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children. That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children. That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.
        By following this story, the fruit of sharing Gods ways with those coming after is seen very clearly. Asaph raised up his sons in the way they should go, and it shows throughout the generations. After many years and many kings, (2 Chronicles 36) the Jews find themselves in captivity in Babylon. After close to one hundred years later the Jews have come out of this captivity and are rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. The fruit of Asaph and King David, working to pass on the ways of God, is seen clearly in the dedication of the Temple foundation.
        Ezra 3:10: When the builders laid the foundations of the Temple of the Lord, the priest stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel.
        Generations had passed and the order set by David and the things taught to sons by fathers were still being practiced. The Lord is calling us to pass it on to those coming up after us. Let us be obedient and pass it on.

Matthew Clements