Week 18 I Chronicles
I counted 241 names in the first chapter of the book.
That’s in the first fifty-four verses. And there’re thousands of names still to come.
Of course there’s narrative, too. Mostly the story of David. But even there the chronicler doesn’t go very far before he gets back to listing names.
So it’s a surprise to get to chapter sixteen and see a psalm. It runs for twenty-nine verses.
In my bible there’s a cross-reference at verse eight so I flip over to Psalm 105:1-15 to see what that’s about, one finger in page 598 and one in page 856. I read one line from Chronicles then flip over and read one in Psalms, comparing the two. I’m reading the same line twice, line after line. There are a couple of differences, places where the words aren’t exactly the same but the meaning is. They’re basically identical. A repeater psalm.
Then I realize the exercise has slowed me down. I also realize I’ve not been paying attention to the psalm. I look back and see a line I underlined at some point: let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. I flip over and see it underlined in Psalm 105, too.
It’s a good verse, and really doesn’t sound much like the oppressive and burdensome OT life I hear about.
As I’m looking for the Lord, one of the outcomes I can expect is gladness.
Note: the psalm is in I Chronicles 16:8-36, the quote is from 16:10b.