The Scriptures, Lifeblood of Understanding

1 Chronicles 4:24-43
    24 The sons of Simeon were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul, 25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, and Mishma his son. 26 And the sons of Mishma were Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, and Shimei his son. 27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many children, nor did any of their families multiply as much as the children of Judah.
    28 They dwelt at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David. 32 And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan—five cities— 33 and all the villages that were around these cities as far as Baal. These were their dwelling places, and they maintained their genealogy: 34 Meshobab, Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah; 35 Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel; 36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, and Benaiah; 37 Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah— 38 these mentioned by name were leaders in their families, and their father's house increased greatly.
    39 So they went to the entrance of Gedor, as far as the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks. 40 And they found rich, good pasture, and the land was broad, quiet, and peaceful; for some Hamites formerly lived there.
    41 These recorded by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and they attacked their tents and the Meunites who were found there, and utterly destroyed them, as it is to this day. So they dwelt in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks there. 42 Now some of them, five hundred men of the sons of Simeon, went to Mount Seir, having as their captains Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 43 And they defeated the rest of the Amalekites who had escaped. They have dwelt there to this day.

The family line of Simeon is now recorded after Judah in the section before.  Only his grandson Shimei had many children to carry on the line, demonstrating how God chose certain ones for His purposes and prospered them over others.  The sons of Shimei also kept good genealogical records for the future which we can reflect on to see the hand of the LORD.  The record showed those in king Hezekiah‘s time who fought valiantly against the enemies of God’s people, which we might never have known if not for the care in writing everything down.  This is how God moved to record many things done by His people, as well as His work and words for us all; the scriptures of the Old Testament are the lifeblood of understanding for those who followed the first Adam to the second (1 Corinthians 15:45), Jesus the Christ of the line of David from Adam.  These things are written for our understanding, with echoes of “It is written” echoing down the corridors of time and resonating in our hearts, minds, and souls (Luke 24:27, 32).  The scriptures truly are our vital lifeblood of understanding and of eternal life according to God’s revealed plan for His people since before the world was formed (1 Peter 1:20-21).  Amen!