Kingdomtide Readings

Sun	Preface and First Commandment WLC 101-106, WSC 43-48
Mon	OT: 1 Chronicles 8 NT: Acts 13 Psalm 25
Tues	OT: 1 Chronicles 9 NT: Acts 14 Psalm 26
Wed	OT: 1 Chronicles 10 NT: Acts 15 Psalm 27
Thurs	OT: 1 Chronicles 11 Psalm 28
Fri	OT: 1 Chronicles 12 Psalm 29
Sat	Psalm 30

Having completed the genealogies that reconnect God’s people to their history going back to Adam (1:1-14) and Noah (1:5-27) and to God’s covenantal and providential dealings with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (1:34-7:40), this week’s Old Testament readings in 1 Chronicles this week transition to the reign of David. Chapter 8 gives a fuller listing of the descendants of the tribe of Benjamin, going beyond that listed in 7:6-12. This probably reflects Ezra’s interest in the kingship in general, providing the overall genealogical background to Saul’s house that is specifically delineated further in 9:35-44. The connection between these historical genealogies and those who returned from the Exile is listed in 9:1-34, which closes off the entire first section of the book, the genealogies from Creation to the Restoration. The fate of Saul’s house, how he died ultimately by suicide, his corpse defiled by the enemy Philistines, and his house extinguished by the judgment of God is described by 9:35-10:14. From the beginning of chapter 11 onward, 1 Chronicles focuses on the reign of David. As introduction to that, this week’s readings look at David’s anointing, his conquest of Jerusalem, and his mighty men (chs. 11-12).

The New Testament readings for this week covers the First Missionary Journey of Paul and Barnabas (chs. 13-14) and its immediate aftermath, leading to first church council, the Council of Jerusalem (ch. 15). Although the readings are limited in terms of length, they deserve much meditation. Two thousand years later, we take for granted the missionary activity of the church, but this first missionary journey would have had particular significance. Throughout the Old Covenant, there were anticipations that when the Messiah came, God would not only restore the nation of Israel but that He would bring the nations to it. This ultimately goes back to God’s promise in Gen. 12:1-3, where God told Abraham, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” True Israel was spiritual Israel and the First Missionary Journey would have been the test of whether God would fulfill that promise. When Paul and Barnabas wrapped up that journey, they could speak to the beginning of that fulfillment, when they told the new believers that “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts. 14:22).

The Psalm readings continue through the Psalms sequentially. The Confessional readings begin going through the treatment of the Ten Commandments in the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.