1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 2: God chose Judah's family

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the sons of Israel and the long line of Judah, let us ask the LORD to teach us. Ask Him to show us why He chose one family, and to help us see Christ coming from it.

He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.

Psalm 78:70-71

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us why You chose the family of Judah, and show us Jesus the Son of David. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The chapter begins with the twelve sons of Israel, whose families became the twelve tribes. Then it slows down and follows only one son, Judah. His list is the longest in the chapter, and it does not hide sin. Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the LORD's sight (verse 3), and Achar was called the troubler of Israel (verse 7). Verses 9 to 15 follow the line through Boaz and Jesse to David, the seventh son of Jesse. Later verses name families around Bethlehem (verses 51 and 54).

As you read 1 Chronicles 2, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God chose Judah's family, and from it came David and Jesus the Christ.

Israel is the name God gave to Jacob, and his twelve sons became the twelve tribes (verses 1 and 2). After naming all twelve, the writer follows only Judah, because Judah's line leads to King David. Jacob had said that the ruler's staff would stay with Judah (Genesis 49 verse 10). The record is honest about sin, for Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the LORD's sight (verse 3). God chose Judah by His own purpose, and the record shows a family with sinners in it. That matters, because every family has sin in it, and God still keeps His promises through sinners. It shows God as faithful and free, who brings a King through the line He chose. Matthew begins the family of Jesus with Perez, Boaz, Obed, Jesse and David (Matthew 1 verses 3 to 6). Hebrews says plainly that Jesus came from Judah (Hebrews 7 verse 14).

How does 1 Chronicles 2 show us that God chose Judah's family, and that David and Jesus came from it?

Israel had twelve sons, and God's people came from them.

The sons of Israel are named in verses 1 and 2. Their families became the twelve tribes. The writer lists all twelve before he follows Judah. None of the tribes is left out of the record.

Judah's line runs through Boaz and Jesse to David.

Judah's list is the longest in the chapter (verses 3 to 55). In verses 9 to 15 the line goes from Hezron down to Jesse. Jesse's sons are named, and David is the seventh (verse 15). Bethlehem is named among the families near the end (verses 51 and 54).

This same line leads to Jesus.

Matthew calls Jesus the son of Judah, Perez, Boaz, Jesse and David (Matthew 1 verses 2 to 6). He also names Tamar and Ruth in the line (Matthew 1 verses 3 and 5). Tamar's story is in Genesis 38, and Ruth came from Moab, so sinners and outsiders are in this family. Jesus was born in David's town of Bethlehem (Matthew 2 verses 1 to 6).

Memorise

Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh

1 Chronicles 2:13-15

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, will I trust Jesus, the Son of David, who came from Judah's family?

In this chapter “David the seventh” is written among Jesse's sons, and Matthew names Jesus as the son of David (Matthew 1 verse 1). God brought Jesus out of Judah's family, and that family had its sinners.

Jesus came to save sinners. On the cross He bore the punishment for His people's sin, and His one death paid the whole debt. He was buried. Three days later He rose alive from the tomb.

Judah's family had sinners in it, and so does every family, ours too. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus, the Son of David. Whoever trusts Him is forgiven, and belongs to the family of God.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God chose Judah's family, and that Jesus the Son of David came from it. Parents, please explain Er's death in verse 3 and the mention of Tamar in verse 4 in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He chose a family and kept it until Jesus came, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:5

Lord God, thank You for choosing the family of Judah, and for sending Jesus, the Lion of Judah, from it. Turn each one of us from our sin to trust Him. Keep our eyes on Him this week. Amen.