For an explanation of the title, writer, date, scope, and purpose of this book, see my comments in my notes on 1 Chronicles. Second Chronicles continues the historical narrative begun in 1 Chronicles.
The writer of Chronicles built his history around the records of David and Solomon's reigns. He flanked these with a long introduction and a longer sequel that span history from Adam to Anani, the eighth generation after Jehoiachin. The Chronicler himself lived after Cyrus' edict that dates to 538 B.C. It is really a long sermon intended to point all of its readers into the future and to give them hope.
In view of what God promised David there must be a great King coming. History shows that God blessed all of David's descendants who followed Him faithfully in proportion to their obedience. Consequently the coming King's reign must be greater than anything history has yet seen since He will carry out God's will completely.
The responsibility of every reader is to follow the example of David. He realized that he was the recipient of great grace. He responded to that grace by submitting himself to the authority of the Giver. He put the interests of his Benefactor before his own selfish ambitions and desires. This was his heart for God. God responded by blessing him and by making him a channel of blessing to God's people and to the nations of the world.
"The great theological burden of Chronicles is the assertion that Yahweh, through covenant establishment with the Davidic dynasty, has offered to all peoples a model of His dominion and a means of their participation in it. David, the royal priest and son of God, was chosen both to reign over Israel, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation,' and to typify that messianic sovereign of his descent whose dominion would be forever. Every effort is bent, therefore, to the task of centralizing this integrating theme. The genealogies provide for David by linking him to creation and the patriarchal promises; the campaigns and conquest of the king validate his election to his redemptive role; the establishment of an elaborate cultus witnesses to the priestly nature of that calling; and the promises of historical and eschatological restoration of the nation and its Davidic kinship attest to the permanency of God's saving purposes. The people of the covenant might (and did) fail in Old Testament times, but Yahweh has reserved a day when, as He said, I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be' (Amos 9:11). This is the message of Chronicles."110
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Copyright 2003 by Thomas L. Constable
