1 Chronicles 1:43-54: a reflection

43Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 44Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. 45Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 46Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith. 47Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. 48Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his place. 49Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. 50Baal Hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pai. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 51Then Hadad died. The chiefs of Edom were: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth, 52chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 53chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 54chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.

In the records of the nations comes a list of the kings who reigned in Edom, and it follows a repeated pattern: one king reigned, then died, and another reigned in his place, then he died, and another reigned in his place. King after king rose to power and then died, each succeeded by another who would also die. The list quietly testifies to the transience of human power and glory: however great these kings had been, each in turn died, and another took his place. Human power passes; the kings who reigned are all recorded as having died.

Notice the pattern: reigned, then died, and another reigned in his place. However these kings had glittered in their day, the record reduces each to the same brief note: he reigned, and he died. Human power and glory, however great, are transient; the kings passed one after another, each giving way to death and a successor. None of their power could keep them; each reigned for a time and then died. The list is a quiet reminder that human greatness does not last, that the mightiest rulers pass away, that power and glory are held only for a moment before death takes them. What looked permanent in its day proved transient.

That is worth taking to heart, for human power and glory are transient, and we do well not to overvalue them, but to set our hope on God's enduring reign. We can be impressed by human power and glory, the great and important of our day, as though their eminence were lasting; but like the kings of Edom, they reign for a time and then die, giving way to others. Human greatness passes; God's reign endures. Do not overvalue human power and glory, which pass like the kings who reigned and died; set your hope on God, whose reign does not pass away. Hold human power and glory lightly, remembering their transience, and set your hope on God's enduring reign, as the kings of Edom each reigned and died in turn; for human greatness passes, however great it seems, and only God's reign endures, unlike the rulers whose power could not keep them from death.

Lord, in the records of the nations comes a list of the kings who reigned in Edom, and it follows a repeated pattern: one king reigned, then died, and another reigned in his place, then he died, and another reigned in his place. King after king rose to power and then died, each succeeded by another who would also die. The list quietly testifies to the transience of human power and glory: however great these kings had been, each in turn died, and another took his place. Show me the pattern: reigned, then died, and another reigned in his place. However these kings had glittered in their day, the record reduces each to the same brief note: he reigned, and he died. Human power and glory, however great, are transient; the kings passed one after another. None of their power could keep them. The list is a quiet reminder that human greatness does not last, that the greatest rulers pass away. What looked permanent in its day proved transient. Take that to my heart, for human power and glory are transient, and I do well not to overvalue them, but to set my hope on your enduring reign. I can be impressed by human power and glory, the great and important of my day, as though their eminence were lasting; but like the kings of Edom, they reign for a time and then die. Human greatness passes; your reign endures. Keep me from overvaluing human power and glory, which pass like the kings who reigned and died; help me set my hope on you, Lord, whose reign does not pass away.