The Message of Chronicles

The Bible Speaks Today: Old Testament

by Michael Wilcock

Michael Wilcock sees Chronicles as first and foremost a sermon; its object -- to foster a right relationship between God and his people. The Chronicler finds in the records of Israel the "great overall pattern" of God's hand in history. The Lord's constant mercy, love and faithfulness shine through. With great perception, the Chronicler first selects and then proclaims this vibrant pattern, highlighted in the living events of the nations's actual hsitory. Once its purpose is grasped, the book comes alive. It can be seen as nothing less than a final and momentous look back over the entire Old Testament. Viewed in this way, Chronicles has something of the vividness, contrast and drama of the last book of the New Testament, Revelation. Michael Wilcock sees the countless persons named and chronicled as part of one people of the living God. They make vivid to us the truths by which the Lord's people in every generation are to live.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology, Old Testament

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 1987

Reviews

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Books of Chronicles may well be the least-liked books in the entire Bible. They begin with nine chapters of genealogies and the following chapters continue to include long lists of names of people long dead and mentioned nowhere else in the Bible. One might almost wonder why these books are in the Bible. Wilcock does a marvelous job of bringing out the overall message of the books without getting lost in the name. He shows us the forest when our tendency is to get lost in the trees.

[Matty Lavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book that is accessibly written and helps you to understand an often forgotten book of the Bible

[Kyle McFerren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment of the Bible Speaks Today commentary series. Michael Wilcock does a great job at taking the sometimes very dry subject matter of 1 & 2 Chronicles, explaining it, and relating it to the average layperson. He argues that the books as a whole act as a sermon to the post-exilic community, teaching them what it looks like to be the people of God by examining how God has moved among his people in the past and the continuities that carry on into their day. He also highlights the role of the king as shepherd of the people of God and relates that to both how a pastor should shepherd God's people today and to how Jesus perfectly leads us as our true shepherd-king. While 1 & 2 Chronicles still aren't the most exciting parts of the Bible to me, I definitely have more of an appreciation for them than before.

[Phil Butcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

There doesn't seem to be any good devotional commentaries on Chronicles. This was OK in part but I'd have liked to see it point through to Jesus more than it did.