A SECOND LOOK. 1st Chronicles 8 A person who is looking for his roots by tracing the family ancestry has a number of places to look for information. There are places where people lived and occupations in which they were engaged, which are recorded in various places. Military records provide the names of those who served their country in the military services. Tax records are kept regarding those who were in business, and property tax records or land surveys have the names of those who lived in certain places and worked at specific vocations.
The list in the previous chapter of the tribe of Benjamin is probably a list of those who served in the military. This long list includes those who would have given an idea to those returning from exile as to who their forbearers were as families and where they lived. This knowledge provides those who are curious with a sense of belonging.
This second genealogy of Benjamin is more detailed, focusing on Saul, who became the first king of Israel. Of interest in this list are those who “dwelt in Jerusalem” while it was under the control of the Jebusites. Those men accommodated themselves to “fit in” with those who would later be defeated by King David.
Those who returned from Babylon were mainly from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, who were more or less assimilated into one nation that lived in the south of Israel. 130 years earlier, the northern tribes had been taken captive by the Assyrians, who scattered the captives all over the empire so they could not unite against the government. Because of this technique of keeping captives separate and moving strangers into the land captured, the phrase "the ten lost tribes" came.
It was different for those from the South who were taken captive a generation or two later. They were taken to Babylon and used for the government's benefit. Daniel and those with him, Nehemiah and Ezra, others skilled and with natural ability, were trained and used in Babylon. The Jews retained their identity despite people like Haman, who wanted to have them all killed. When they returned from their exile, they needed these lists of names to provide a sense of unity and restore their identity and property. Some industrious people built towns and pressed ahead to claim their inheritance. Some of the tribe were militant people who took back what had belonged to their forbearers by force.
Accountability among God's people is a good thing to practice in order to maintain a unified testimony to the truth of God in an area. Assembly life is not just an individual choice as to whether I want to be involved or not. It begins with God stating: "Not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together..." We are accountable to God. We are also accountable to the assembly and the activities we are engaged in. Peter, Paul, and Barnabas "rehearsed the matter" and "rehearsed all that God had done with them" to the Lord's people who gathered together to maintain unity by the saints being informed of what was going on.
The tribe of Benjamin had a particular reason for tracing their lineage: it was from that tribe that Saul, the first king of Israel, came. In any family history, there are people we would like to forget who have been an embarrassment to our family name. There are also noble souls we hope everyone remembers. Ehud of the tribe of Benjamin was a judge of Israel before they had a king, and many generations before the captivity and return of the captives. Shaharaim was an embarrassment to the tribe because he had divorced at least two wives and had children by another woman. This is an example of the moral deterioration in Israel. Neither his nor Ehud’s ancestry is preserved.
When people are occupied with themselves, there is no reason to promote an account of their history. The heritage they left behind is best forgotten because it is not something to emulate or remember.
Women in the genealogical history stood out for one reason or another as those who should be remembered by the succeeding generations, who needed to remember the cost that was paid for what was given to them. And then there was Saul: the son of Kish, who was both a reason for pride by the tribe, and also embarrassment. As the Benjamites either read or heard this list of names, they would be made to realize that, despite their checkered past, God was still interested in them and their future.
All of us have been involved in things we wish had never happened. We all know some of the bad points of our family tree as well as some of the good things. But we are not called upon to spend time worrying about things we cannot change, nor should we ignore lessons that can be learned from past events. It is up to us to go forward in faith and commit ourselves again to following the path of life the Holy Spirit opens up before us.
Saul had his strengths and weaknesses. God chose him to be the first king of Israel that the people had demanded. He was outwardly the kind of person people thought they could look up to. He was a big, good-looking man who looked kingly. However, he was a very inconsistent man who could not be counted on to do the right thing from one time to the next. Inwardly, he was weak and untrustworthy. He had no evidence of divine life, although he could sometimes say the right words and do the right things. That was mainly for a show of authority or religion for the sake of the people.
Jonathan, his son, was also listed in the ancestry as one who was in line to be the king, but he knew David would be the king, not him, and he died in battle at a comparatively young age. Mephibosheth his crippled son was in the list as well as those who came after him up to the time of the captivity. It is of interest that in the tribe of Benjamin, some were known for being particularly skilled with their left hand, and were able to use that to advantage. At the end of the list are bowmen or archers, who were brave men and would have tried to defend the people. They had large families that were a source of wonder because there were so many of them.
Some people do their best work up close, seeing the other person’s eyes and forming an opinion if danger confronts them. Though small, others are quick and can bring opposition down to size with a skill that often is left unsung, like that of an archer. From a distance, their most effective work is done. We don’t see their labor in the field because often they are alone. They tend to their work in quietness, often far away from home. They don’t advertise or give reports; no song is sung about them. Their work is done quietly; the results aren’t seen until the battle is won.
A bow at a venture, with a notched arrow of truth, reaches far beyond our sight. Sometimes, the target is not even seen as the arrow of truth is sent forth at night. A word spoken in season, a small Gospel tract, can do effective work when no one else can see how the Spirit of God deals with a seeking sinner. The pressure of a hand on a wayward one’s shoulder, deep in the soul, can both hurt and heal. Later, we hear a testimony about how one soul is saved, and we wonder which person said the right word or who will receive the credit until we listen and get the whole story. The distant archer did the most critical part of the work.
One can’t seem to sleep, so in the darkness of the night, they send arrows of intercession to God’s throne of grace. The words take flight; from that throne, Divine Persons will send the right words of truth to give enlightenment, and a life of sin ends. A shut-in believer who is unable to get around writes a letter or sends a Gospel paper, hoping it will be found on the beach in a bottle. Curious eyes will learn the truth of God’s message as the papers unfold.
Archers may not get the credit for all they have done by that swordsman who thinks the battle can only be won by those who get up close and personal. But the Great Victor of all spiritual battles is the only One who knows who sowed the seed that bore the fruit. Each one in his calling has a part in those whom He chose. It may be that the seed of the word of God sown fifty years ago is the message that brought light and life.
In our history, there are reasons to be glad and sad. We should also consider that we are in an ancestral line, and our lives may be of some significance to our progeny after we have died. It may be that they will make decisions based on what they know or have heard about us. It is important for me to remember that my children and grandchildren will wonder what made me do this, live there, or believe that.
It is the same with spiritual children. We may have taught some of them in a Sunday School class, or they are friends of our children who came in and out of our houses. Some may have heard us preach the Gospel and have formed opinions and even convictions because of that. Their lives and actions may follow a particular course because of our influence. We need to take a serious look at ourselves and our lives. We may be found in a list of ancestors who have an impact, for good or bad, on future generations if our Lord does not come soon.