and Beriah and Shema (they were heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who caused the inhabitants of Gath to flee); 1 Chronicles 8:13 (ESV)
The writer of these chronicles has an underlying purpose to encourage the readers by reminding them of their past with God.
Judah and Benjamin receive special attention as the royal tribes and Saul’s family later receive even more focused attention, reminding the people that they once had a king and kingdom and they should look to the restoration of the kingdom (Acts 1:16).
One of the ways this is done is by retelling the difficulties some key families in Benjamin overcame to bolster morale and trust in God. These difficulties include the deportation of Ehud (8:6) Shaharaim’s divorce (8:8), Saul’s failed kingship (8:33) and the memory of the brave warriors who were cut off (8:40).
Despite all these difficulties we see anecdotes like this verse reminding us that God will help his people overcome adversity and if he did it in the past we can have hope for the future. Romans 8:17 Reminds us we are called to adversity and to joy in God.
These were the heads of fathers’ houses, according to their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem.1 Chronicles 8:28 (ESV)
The short note regarding the Benjamites having lived in Jerusalem is another way of reminding the Jews who have come out of exile that Jerusalem was once theirs before Judah became a province of the Persian Empire.
This small note again points to the hope of the writer and the people for full restoration as prophesied in Jeremiah 33:15 and Amos 9:11.
The chroniclers efforts to remind and bolster morale for the rebuilding of Jerusalem is used by God to encourage the people as we read in Ezra 1:5 and Nehemiah 11:4.
Jesus fulfilled both of these prophecies as mentioned in Matthew 2:2, Luke 1:32, Luke 19:38 and John 1:49. We will see their final completion at his second coming.
So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 1 Timothy 5:14 (ESV)
The Oxford dictionary tells us that egalitarianism is “the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities”
There is truth in this but our culture has taken this belief to such and extreme that it has resulted in absurdity (feminism, same sex marriage etc) and threatens the very fabric of society.
Paul’s command for younger widows reflects the biblical normal expectation for all young women, that they marry, have children and keep their homes well.
Despite the western worlds disregard for gender roles and biblical models for the family we must not give in to the spirit of the age but stand as a bulwark against it.
We must embrace biblical complementarianism (men and women have distinct but complementary roles, equivalent rater than equal).
We are called to show the world what true womanhood looks like, we should encourage and support our young women in this as the culture tells them to sacrifice these things for careers and personal goals.
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:17 (ESV)
We should honour and respect our Elders in particular our Pastors who labour in teaching and preaching the word to us. Give God thanks for Pastor Dennis and Rev Taylor today.
With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand. Psalm 78:72 (ESV)
God is the great shepherd of Israel, this psalm shows how he delivered them and led them to the holy land he chose (54) and despite their rebellion he redeemed them and chose David his servant (70). The Lord is our Shepherd too and now we have King Jesus in place of King David.
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