Psalms in chronicles

Currents in Theology and Mission, August, 2005 by Ralph W. Klein

Israel's Praise
9. Sing to Yahweh, chant to him,
     Meditate on all his marvelous acts.
10. Glory in his holy name;
      Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh
        rejoice.
11. Seek Yahweh and his strength,
      seek his face regularly.

The Chronicler's psalm urges the Israelite audience to seek Yahweh and his strength, to seek his face continually (v. 11). This word "seek" is central to the Chronicler's theology. David had earlier confessed in the ark narrative that Yahweh had not been "sought" correctly in the days of Saul. I will speak later of the four virtues of the Chronicler's theology: to humble oneself, to pray, to seek Yahweh's face, and to turn from evil doings (2 Chr 7:14). The reference to Yahweh's strength is apparently an allusion to the ark, whose journey from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem has taken up the last four chapters (1 Chronicles 13-16). 2 Chron 6:41, which we will look at later, also refers to Yahweh and his "strong ark."

Remembrance of Yahweh's Works
12. Remember his marvelous deeds
      which he has done,
      his signs and the judgments of his mouth.
13. O seed of Israel his servant,
      children of Jacob his chosen ones.
14. He is Yahweh our God;
      his judgments are in all the earth.

The judgments of Yahweh's mouth (v. 12) are universally effective according to v. 14: they are "in all the earth," and this is complementary to the particular confession in that same verse: "He is Yahweh our God." The Chronicler focuses his exhortation on the faithful community, here called the seed of Israel and the children of Jacob (v. 13). Israel/Jacob is the most important of the ancestors in Chronicles. Psalm 105 had referred to the seed of Abraham and the children of Jacob, the descendants of two different ancestral individuals.

Remembrance of Yahweh's Covenant
15. Remember his covenant forever,
      The word that he commanded
        for a thousand generations.
16. [The covenant] that he made with Abraham,
      his oath to Isaac.
17. He ratified it for Jacob as a precept,
      for Israel as an everlasting covenant.
18. saying, "To you I give the land of Canaan,
      as a portion for your inheritance.
19. When you were few in number,
      insignificant and sojourners in it,
20. They walked from nation to nation,
      and from one kingdom to another people.
21. He did not allow a person to oppress them,
      he reproved kings on their account,
22. "Do not touch my anointed ones;
      do no harm to my prophets."

Psalm 105:8 had said that Yahweh had remembered his covenant with the matriarchs and patriarchs. Now the Chronicler turns that indicative into an imperative for his audience: You, remember God's eternal covenant (v. 15). Yahweh's covenant with Israel and his covenantal loyalty (v. 34) are both confessed to be everlasting, while his word (or promise) is said to last for a thousand generations (v. 15). Though Genesis actually reports only God's covenant with Abraham, that ancestral covenant is here vouchsafed to all three major ancestors: Abraham and Isaac (v. 16) and Jacob/Israel (v. 17). This everlasting divine covenant, as in the priestly document in the Pentateuch (Gen 17:8; Exod 6:8), guarantees to Israel the possession of the land (v. 18).