The Bible With Skin On

# 198 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:49-52, “The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. 50 The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 Now there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for himself. ( 1 Sam 14:49-52) As chapter 14 wraps up. We get a glimpse into some of the characters in Saul's family. Many of whom will enter into the unfolding of the story of Saul and David. Jonathan would become David's best friend. Michal would become David's wife. And Abner would become Saul's commander in chief. But in addition to introducing some of the other characters in this story, these biblical family tree passages and genealogies afford an opportunity to put real skin on the words of Scripture. Though the names Jishui and Malchishua mean nothing to you and I, imagine someone seeing those names in Scripture who did know them or know of them. “Hey remember Jishui?” “Oh yeah, I went to school with him.” “He was such a level headed guy” I wonder what happened to him! These genealogies add a special touch of reality to the Holy Bible, and of course the genealogies of Christ found in the gospel of Matthew and Luke affirm all the prophecies concerning the seed of the Messiah. These trips into the family trees aren't exactly exciting reading for you and I, but think of them in terms of reading a high school yearbook. Real people, known and touched and loved by other real people. They all meant something to somebody just as you and I do. And what an honor to have your name and family included in the eternal Word of God. What an honor to specifically be named in the Book that is all about Jesus. Father, thank You for genealogies. May they always reminds us that the Bible is the very real Word of God, with real people, and a real Savior from our sins.