Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were…
1 Chronicles 9:2-3 (NIV)

Our place at the lake is in central Missouri on Lake of the Ozarks. I have a lot of family history connections in the region on my mother’s side. Great-great-grandparents are buried in the little town of Atlanta which Wendy and I pass by every time we drive to the lake. Another Great-great-grandfather fought in the Civil War on the Union Side for the Missouri 10th Infantry. Missouri was a border state and was heavily divided during the Civil War. Remnants of that division remain.

As we approach the lake there is a giant Confederate battle flag that flies along the highway. The base of the giant flag is surrounded by a fence with barbed wire. A light is fixed on the base at night to discourage anyone from tampering with the fence or the flag. It wouldn’t surprise me if there weren’t cameras, too.

A few years ago I was traveling through southern Missouri on my way to a client meeting in Memphis. GPS took me on a curious route through some remote areas and I happened upon a property surrounded by a giant wrought-iron fence. The entrance had a locked gate and above the gate were the initials C.S.A. (Confederate States of America). The property and the house at the back were covered with Confederate battle flags. I considered stopping and taking a picture of it, but I was afraid I might get shot at.

In today’s chapter, we finish the Chronicler’s long stretch of genealogical information before he begins the narrative part of ancient Israel’s history. He focuses this last section on all of the priests and Levites who returned from exile in Babylon. Because only descendants of Aaron could be priests and only members of the tribe of Levi could attend to the maintenance, upkeep, and security of the Temple, this final list of families was important to the Chronicler. With the newly rebuilt temple inside the rebuilt Jerusalem, he was establishing for his contemporary readers the individuals and families who were responsible for these duties.

Curiously, he begins this list with the term “All Israel” and then goes on to provide lists of Levite families from not only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (the two primary tribes of the southern Kingdom of Judah) but also from Ephriam and Manasseh (Ephriam was often used to refer to the entire northern kingdom of Israel). This is fascinating because the nation of Israel was taken into captivity by the Assyrian Empire and the people of Israel were still largely scattered among other nations. With his inclusive words “All Israel” and his inclusion of the Levites from among northern tribes, The Chronicler is establishing a new age for the Hebrews returning from exile. The divided kingdoms are no longer kingdoms, so they are no longer divided. He considers that they are a united family of tribes once again under their historic faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses.

As I meditated on what would have been a historic shift of thought for the Chronicler’s generation, the Confederate flag on Highway 54 and the Confederate loyalist compound sprang to mind. Along my life journey, I’ve observed the truth of the well-known statement that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I’ve also observed a related truth: Those who get stuck in history will never be able to learn from it.

This is true, not only on a national level but also on a personal level. The spiritual journey is a path laden with trials, temptations, obstacles, and conflicts. God’s desire is that I walk through them so that I might develop the character traits of perseverance, faith, hope, and spiritual maturity. and wholeness. If I, for example, get stuck in hatred, bitterness, and the refusal to forgive a person (or persons) who wronged me, it’s like me continuing to fly a Confederate battle flag 180 years after the conflict ended. I can’t learn and grow spiritually from that conflict until I embrace the forgiveness, grace, and mercy Jesus extended to me and channel it toward the individual(s) who injured me.

In the quiet this morning, I pondered where there might be “sticking points” in my own life, along my own journey. Where am I “stuck” in my own personal history? Holy Spirit brought to mind a prayer that Wendy and I have been including every morning in our prayer time together. It’s a prayer that our entire gathering of Jesus’ followers has been uttering collectively and individually for the past few months. It seems a good prayer on which to end today’s post and to begin today’s journey:

Lord Jesus,
I seek to live as your disciple in all that I do today. My life is your school for teaching me.

I relinquish my agenda for this day and I submit myself to you and your kingdom purposes.

In all situations today, I pray:
“Your will, Your way, Your time.”
Amen

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.