In our English Bibles, the books of the OT have been switched around a bit from their order in the Hebrew Bible. Because of this, most Bible readers do not realize that 2 Chronicles is actually the last book of the original OT Scripture, not Malachi. Therefore, the last word of 2 Chronicles is actually the last word of the OT. There is much significance found in this last word.
Remember, Chronicles is something of a commentary on the OT. The Chronicler, whoever he was, provides a slightly different version of Judah’s history than Samuel and Kings. Chronicles highlights the times of reform and downplays the times of rebellion. The writer is intent on showing that God’s people return to him, and he returns to his people.
Also, Chronicles writes an incomplete history. When Chronicles closes, the people are still in captivity waiting to return to Jerusalem. Ezra and Nehemiah tell us of their return. Chronicles does not want us to focus on their return. We are left in captivity, waiting, at the end of Chronicles.
What are we waiting for? A person! Chronicles cuts Cyrus’s speech in half because he means to communicate a distinct message (for Cyrus’s full speech, see Ezra 1). The last word of the OT is, “Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up” (36:23). (emphasis mine)
Did you catch that? Chronicles leaves us waiting for a person, a male person, who will lead us out of captivity! That is the last word until Matthew’s Gospel that tells us Jesus is the Messiah! The OT leaves us waiting for him.
No comments:
Post a Comment