1 Chronicles 3:1-24

Today we look at the direct descendants of David and then the descendants of David through Solomon.  This is a quick look at all of the kings of Judah up to and through the captivity.  We recognize a great number of these names from the books of Kings.  There are two things that I would like to consider from this chapter today.

DAVID HAD A VARIOUS WIVES: As we look at the sons that David had, we can see that he was very far from being a “one woman man.”  He had sons from several different women but none from his first wife, Michal the daughter of Saul.  It is true that his first marriage was a complicated one in which his wife was taken from him by Saul and actually given to another man but she was later restored to David.  I cannot help but wonder how the history of Israel might have been different had David been faithful to just one wife.  Certainly, David’s life would have had far less heartache and would have been much more pleasing to the Lord.  This passage lists seven women as his wives and then we know of at least one more wife, Michal and then the passages speaks of other concubines.  David’s lust for women seems to have overcome his trust in God on many occasions and it certainly caused him to pay a high price.  Interestingly, Solomon is chosen to be the next king and was the son of David’s most controversial wife, Bathsheba.  God is gracious and forgiving but there were still terrible consequences for David’s foolish marital choices.  We would do well to learn from and avoid following this example.

DAVID HAD A VARIETY OF SONS:  As we look at David’s sons and then the descendants of David through Solomon we notice an important truth.  Many of these men were faithful followers of the Lord while many more of them were only half-hearted in their worship and then several of them were out right rebellious towards God.  This is a good illustration of the truth that we are not automatically products of the family into which we are born.  Our family certainly has a great influence on our lives but they never determine the ultimate decisions that we make.  Each of us is responsible to obey God no matter what else happens in our lives and the lives of our family members.  We are not products of our circumstances or slaves to the bodies we inherit from our parents.  Christ offers us transformation of the heart that we must choose to either receive or reject.  We are all personally responsible for how we respond to that offer.