The verse stands among the lists of names and tribal genealogies filling the first nine chapters of Chronicles, records of events and names giving fuller attention to the house of Judah and the priesthood. It belongs to a long list of names recording the origin and distribution of peoples, showing the Bible's interest in ethnology. It is part of a list showing that records of God's people were carefully kept, especially the family lines through which the Promised Seed was to come. Its genealogy was accurately preserved under the direction of God's Spirit, and that preservation was necessary to the development and certainty of the gospel.
Its three names mean teaching, his death shall send, and to the humble, and together with the surrounding names they form a sequence declaring that God will come down teaching and that his death will send consolation to the humble. Enoch means teacher and points to Christ's ministry, Methuselah means he who died shall send and points to Christ sending his apostles and, after his ascension, the Comforter, and Lamech means afflicted and points to the persecutions and trials of the church. Read with the surrounding names from Adam to Noah, these names contribute to a declaration of God's purpose for humanity in redemption.
It is no less inspired than the twenty-third Psalm, and even when its purpose or use for edification is not apparent it belongs to God's word and is needed to furnish people fully. It is part of the recorded genealogies preserved for instruction, though not as interesting or instructive as the Gospels and certain other passages and not needing to be read or studied with equal frequency. Even its long list of names forms part of a careful record, showing that God is particular and that a faithful record of every soul is kept in heaven.
The verse stands among the lists of names and tribal genealogies filling the first nine chapters of Chronicles, records of events and names giving fuller attention to the house of Judah and the priesthood. It belongs to a long list of names recording the origin and distribution of peoples, showing the Bible's interest in ethnology. It is part of a list showing that records of God's people were carefully kept, especially the family lines through which the Promised Seed was to come. Its genealogy was accurately preserved under the direction of God's Spirit, and that preservation was necessary to the development and certainty of the gospel.
Its three names mean teaching, his death shall send, and to the humble, and together with the surrounding names they form a sequence declaring that God will come down teaching and that his death will send consolation to the humble. Enoch means teacher and points to Christ's ministry, Methuselah means he who died shall send and points to Christ sending his apostles and, after his ascension, the Comforter, and Lamech means afflicted and points to the persecutions and trials of the church. Read with the surrounding names from Adam to Noah, these names contribute to a declaration of God's purpose for humanity in redemption.
It is no less inspired than the twenty-third Psalm, and even when its purpose or use for edification is not apparent it belongs to God's word and is needed to furnish people fully. It is part of the recorded genealogies preserved for instruction, though not as interesting or instructive as the Gospels and certain other passages and not needing to be read or studied with equal frequency. Even its long list of names forms part of a careful record, showing that God is particular and that a faithful record of every soul is kept in heaven.