Title: Where Will I Be Buried?
Main text/ Audience 16:14, 21:20, 26:23, 32:33
1. Introduction
As I was reading Kings and Chronicles, I noticed a strange difference. It relates to the deaths and burials of the kings of Judah, and the fact that there is a marked difference between the records of Kings and Chronicles. In the Book of Kings, it is common to say, <King Solomon, Reboboam, Abijam, Asaga, Jehoshaphat, Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah, etc. Any king slept with his fathers, and he and his fathers were buried in the City of David. 1 Kings 11: 43, 14:31, 15:8, 15:24, 22:50, 2 Kings 9:28, 12:21, 14:20 > but it is completely different in Chronicles. It is not a general and general record like in the Book of Kings, but the funeral and burial place are recorded differently for each king.
2. The records of Chronicles that show distinct differences from the books of Kings
*The crowds were buried in the tomb that Asa and his ancestors had dug for himself in the city of David, his sister, and they laid their bodies on a table full of incense materials made according to the law, and they made many incense for them. 2 Chronicles 16:13-14.
* Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he ascended to the throne, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem, and he died without any respect.
* Jehoiada was old and old, and he died, and he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died; and they were buried in the tombs of the kings in the City of David, for he had done good to Israel, to God, and to his house. 2 Chronicles 24:15-16.
* Joash was seriously wounded, and after the enemy had abandoned him, his servants rebelled against the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest and beat him to death on his bed. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. 2 Chronicles 24:25.
3. What is the difference between the records of Kings and Chronicles?
What are you trying to say with this? In Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah (Abijam), Asa, and Jehoshaphat, there was no significant difference between the records of Kings and Chronicles. It is recorded that he was buried in the tombs of the kings. In the Book of Kings it is said that they were usually buried in the City of David, but Chronicles records that the tombs of the kings were clearly separated from the tombs outside the tombs of the kings in the city of David.
4. What does the difference between Kings and Chronicles suggest?
The writer of Kings records that all kings were buried in the City of David, but the writer of Chronicles records each king separately and records the place of his funeral. Solomon, Rehoboam, Asa, and Jehoshaphat were in the tombs of kings, Jehoram, Joash, and others were not in the tombs of kings, Amaziah was just in the city of Judah (2 Chronicles 25:28), and Uzziah was in the land adjacent to the tombs of kings (2 Chronicles 25:28). 2 Chronicles 26:23), Ahaz was not brought into the tombs of the kings, but was buried in the city of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 28:27), and Hezekiah was buried in a high place among the tombs of the sons of David to show respect for his death (2 Chronicles 32:33) .
Here we can clearly see one difference. What was the decisive difference between the kings buried in the tombs of kings and those who were not buried in the tombs of kings? The crucial difference is the fact that there was a king who served God and a king who betrayed God, worshiped idols, and relied more on people.
How can a person be perfect? Even the kings buried in the tombs of kings sometimes doubted, sometimes worshiped idols, and sometimes depended more on men than on God. But you can see that those kings are people who, at the decisive moment and throughout their lives, are determined to be God-centered, and they have made a bloody and tearful effort to do so.
The question is, do I live my life centered on God? isn't it? I think it depends on All the great righteous people in the history of Christianity have also stumbled into many mistakes, failures, and temptations. But nevertheless, at that last moment, at the dead end, at the decisive moment, they held on to God, not idols. Therefore, I think they were able to stand in the kingdom of God, in the tombs of kings, and in the ranks of the righteous.
5. Closing Story
The last lines of the Greek tragedy King Oedipus, written by Sophocles, are: <Look! This is Oedipus the king. He is the one who has solved the famous riddle of death and has no authority. Everyone in Chang'an envied his good fortune, but now, ah, ah, now he is buried in such a violent storm. Therefore, the human-born body, carefully wait for the last day to be seen. Don't suffer anything, and don't call anyone happy in this world until you've reached the other side of life!>.
Where and how will I be buried? Oh Lord, help me. Hallelujah, Amen!