Granting that seeking the Lord is the most striking theme in Chronicles, it is necessary for us to inquire closely into the implications of the theme in the narrative. It is highly likely that the Chronicler repeated the key terms as an interpretive literary device leading the audience to a particular theological point. In fact, seeking the Lord/God is not a new theme introduced by the Chronicler. Rather, the Chronicler may have selected the idea from Deuteronomy (Deu 4:29). But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deu 4:29 ESV) In Deuteronomy, this concept occurs in the promise of restoration from the exile (Deut 4:25–31). So, the Chronicler may have employed this concept to remind his post-exilic audience of that promise. In other words, his audience may have felt invited to seek the Lord in order to be restored (cf. Lev 26:33–45 and 1 Kgs 8:46–50), though we should not hasten to conclude that the Chronicler was merely repeating a Deuteronomic idea. Heart to Seek the Lord In elucidating the theme of seeking the Lord in Chronicles, one more Hebrew term needs to be examined: (or This is one of the most frequently occurring words ‘heart’). in the Hebrew Bible, appearing 858 times (601 times for and 257 times for in ‘Heart’ the Hebrew Bible does not simply mean feelings, affections or the sensibility of human beings. Rather, it can be primarily defined as inner self. By the orientation of heart, one’s therefore, one will be judged. Claude Tresmontant observes, Heart is the centre in which are taken the fundamental decisions; in particular, the choices between knowledge and ignorance, light and darkness, understanding and what the prophets call stupidity, foolishness. In the the strife unfolds that will “heart”
Granting that seeking the Lord is the most striking theme in Chronicles, it is necessary for us to inquire closely into the implications of the theme in the narrative. It is highly likely that the Chronicler repeated the key terms as an interpretive literary device leading the audience to a particular theological point. In fact, seeking the Lord/God is not a new theme introduced by the Chronicler. Rather, the Chronicler may have selected the idea from Deuteronomy (Deu 4:29). But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deu 4:29 ESV) In Deuteronomy, this concept occurs in the promise of restoration from the exile (Deut 4:25–31). So, the Chronicler may have employed this concept to remind his post-exilic audience of that promise. In other words, his audience may have felt invited to seek the Lord in order to be restored (cf. Lev 26:33–45 and 1 Kgs 8:46–50), though we should not hasten to conclude that the Chronicler was merely repeating a Deuteronomic idea. Heart to Seek the Lord In elucidating the theme of seeking the Lord in Chronicles, one more Hebrew term needs to be examined: (or ‘heart’). This is one of the most frequently occurring words in the Hebrew Bible, appearing 858 times (601 times for and 257 times for ‘Heart’ in the Hebrew Bible does not simply mean feelings, affections or the sensibility of human beings. Rather, it can be primarily defined as one’s inner self. By the orientation of heart, therefore, one will be judged. Claude Tresmontant observes, Heart is the centre in which are taken the fundamental decisions; in particular, the choices between knowledge and ignorance, light and darkness, understanding and what the prophets call stupidity, foolishness. In the “heart” the strife unfolds that will
%28PhD%20Thesis%29%20THE%20WISDOM%20OF%20CHRONICLES%20Buyoung%20Son%20120107117.docx