Monday Morning Clarity - 1 Chronicles 3:1-9

This passage is the Chronicler's very brief way of telling a very long story.

David reigned in Hebron for seven and a half years. There he had several sons, including Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah. All three had very tragic life stories, But David could not have known that when he and his family moved to the Chronicler's favorite place on earth, Jerusalem.

David reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-three years, and that was where his family life unraveled. Amnon raped his own sister, Tamar. Absalom murdered Amnon in revenge, and eventually led a massive rebellion against his father, dying in the process of his insurrection. Adonijah rejected the Lord's plans for his younger brother Solomon to reign, and also died because of his foolish efforts to assert himself above the king.

Yet it was also in Jerusalem that several other sons were born to David, including Solomon and Nathan, both by Bathsheba. These brothers would form the next generation that would lead to the Messiah (See Matthew 1 and Luke 3).

David's life was marred by great tragedy. The Chronicler does not dwell on this, but his choice of names in these verses makes it clear that he wants us to take that to heart. We gain perspective across the decades of our own lives as we meditate upon the sufferings and glory of the Savior who was from the line of David.

The story of Jesus 1 Chronicles style: Bethlehem, Nazareth of Galilee, Jerusalem, a cross, a borrowed grave, and empty tomb, present heavens, the New Jerusalem. To think that we have access to God through Him! Perspective and Prayer - What great gifts!