1 Chronicles 2:1-55 These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, These verses present a series of family pictures; they remind us that "God setteth the solitary in families" (Psalm 68:6). By thus ordering human life he has provided for the maximum of happiness and of spiritual well-being. We are reminded of - I. ITS VARIOUS RELATIONSHIPS. Here we have husband and wife, father and mother, son and daughter, brother and sister. How excellent is God's loving-kindness in thus binding our hearts and lives together in such happy and sacred bonds, refining our souls and multiplying our joys! II. ITS VARIOUS DISPOSITIONS. In some cases we have parents and children complete; in others, parents without children at all (ver. 30); in others, daughters without sons; in others, sons without daughters; in another case a child born alter its father's death (ver. 24); in another a servant elevated to a son-in-law (ver. 35). What almost endless varieties there are in the circumstances and relations in which our family life is found! III. ITS PRICELESS ADVANTAGE TO OUR RACE. 1. It is the guardian of a nation's purity; the morals of a people are high or low as it respects or disregards the family bond. 2. It shields young life from the perils by which it would otherwise be corrupted. 3. It calls forth from maturity the best virtues which manhood and womanhood can show. We are thus led to - IV. THE DISCIPLINE IT PROVIDES FOR EACH STAGE OF LIFE. 1. In childhood it nurtures obedience, submission. 2. In youth, industry, concession. 3. In young manhood, hardihood; in young womanhood, delicacy of feeling. 4. In maturity, patience, self-command, unselfishness, mutual concession, intercessory prayer. V. ITS BEARING ON HUMAN PIETY. We could not have known and trusted and loved God as our heavenly Father, but for human parentage; we could not have learned how to cultivate the right spirit for reception into and acceptance within the kingdom, but for human childhood (Matthew 18:2); we could not have known how best to regard our fellows and feel toward them, but for human brotherhood (Matthew 23:8). - C. Parallel Verses KJV: These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,WEB: These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, |
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