1 Chronicles 3 lists the descendants of David. The chapter seems to have a theme of ‘before and after’. Most of us have several significant events in our life that mark change. Marriage, births, deaths, relocations all can create a dividing line in our life. The life of David is divided into his time before Jerusalem and after. Remember, as his fame grew, his life became more complicated. The chapter begins, “These were the sons of David born to him in Hebron“. We all know people that have blended families; people with children from different marriages trying to merge into one new unit. It usually does not end up like the “Brady Bunch”. Imagine the difficulty David had! “The firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; the second, Daniel the son of Abigail of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah. These six were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months“. In Deuteronomy 17:17, God warned the future kings, “He must not take many wives for himself or his heart may turn away“. But note, there is never a time when God is not in control, but God gives each person the free will to choose whether to accept Him as Lord of their life. What was your ‘before and after” moment?
The chapter continues, “David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years, and these were the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel. There were also Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet nine in all. All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines“. It is an encouragement to me that in spite of all of David’s failures, he is called, “A man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:13). David did not always do the right thing, but he always came to God in humility to seek forgiveness. It is not our righteousness, but God’s mercy that gives us joy.
The chapter ends with the list of the kings of Judah before Babylonian captivity “Solomon’s son was Rehoboam…” and all the descendants born after captivity, “The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive…“. The dividing line in my life was the day I asked God to forgive my sins and Jesus to be my Savior. I remember reading a verse that shook me to the core. I had believed I was “a pretty good person”. I compared myself to those really bad people out there. Then I read Romans 2:3 “And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?“. God’s standard is perfection and I realized I was not. I had mistaken God’s patience with His acceptance of my sin. At the moment of my confession, as I spoke the words, “I believe you died for my sins”, my life was changed forever. Friend, if you are in bondage, call on the name is Jesus. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).