Every Name Is Important

Day three hundred four

Today I would have a day off from my job, but I had plenty of work to look forward too!  With that in mind I prayed for patience, strength, inspiration, foresight, and help.  It's a good thing I did, because it has been a busy day!  It is after 5 o'clock and I am just now sitting down to write my blog.  I am happy to report that the Lord did not let me down today!  I even had some good laughs!

1 Chronicles 1-9
The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles are seemingly a bunch of names .  We might think, why the wasted space, why spend so much time telling us who was in who’s family?

Let's consider it from the Hebrew point of view. 

Chronicles 6:15 and 9:1 make it clear that the Books of the Chronicles were put together AFTER the carrying away into Babylon.

1 Chronicles 6:15 "And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar."

1 Chronicles 9:1 "So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression."

As we begin to go through these first nine chapters we realize they are chronicling 3,500 years of history. A history of God's people.

Remember, Israel will come back to a nation that no longer has a king.  To these post exile tribes these names were very important. It was one of the only ways to trace back through the history of their tribe, their people, and know their lineage.  Part of their inheritance would depend upon these names.  So from a mere practical standpoint this information was huge.

But it is also beneficial for us. It reminds us that every name is important to God.  So much so that He chose to have them recorded in His word (the scriptures).  That reminds us that every person is important to God. There is not one person who is insignificant or unimportant in his eyes.  He loves us all.  He is concerned about us all. He is very interested in the intricate details of all of our lives. 

It teaches us that our Lord is a God of detail.  Every item, every line, every person goes under His guidance and scrutiny. We are told in D&C 85:9 "All they who are not found written in the book of remembrance shall find no inheritance in that day".  Our names are written in a book too, the Book of Remembrance or Book of Life.  Inside is the total of our thoughts and actions—the record of our life. There is a heavenly record kept of the faithful, including their names and accounts of their righteous deeds.

He records our names in sacred books too!  Every name is important!  We are all important!  What a great message to send us through nine chapters that most people skip.  It really helps me see that every word in the scriptures is put their for our benefit. I carried this message in my heart today and I think that is part of the reason that the day didn't seem so bad.  I hope it will do the same for you!