Thursday, January 26, 2012

An Enduring Legacy

Reflections on 1 Chronicles 23:1 - 26:32

During David's lifetime, David reorganized the Levites including the priests. This reorganization would be fully implemented under Solomon when the new temple was built, and it would be retained after the return from Babylonian captivity and endure to the time of Christ. When David counted the Levites, there were 38,000 over the age of 30. He divided them into four groups. The first supervised the work of the temple, the second acted as officials and judges, the third were gatekeepers at the temple, and the fourth praised the Lord in music at the temple. David called the leaders of the priests and Levites to Jerusalem to introduce them to Solomon, the new king who would build the temple where they would soon serve.

TEMPLE WORKERS (1 Chronicles 23:6 - 24:31). David retained the three divisions of Levites, but they were assigned different duties because a temple placed permanently in Jerusalem made their responsibilities in carrying the tabernacle unnecessary (1 Chronicles 23:26). Instead, they were put in charge of the courtyards and side courts, of purifying the sacred utensils, of making the bread, of overseeing all measurements, and of praising God (1 Chronicles 23:28-31). The priests were divided into 24 courses, 16 descended from Aaron's son Eleazar and 8 from his son Ithamar.

SINGERS (1 Chronicles 25:1-31). The singers appointed by David prophesied, gave thanks, and praised God with the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals (25:1-3). The singers were sons of three men: Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, a grandson of Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:33). They were divided into 24 groups which corresponded to the 24 courses of priests. They had served at the tabernacle and in Jerusalem since the day David brought the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 6:31-32; 16:39-42). David's instructions for their service in the temple came from the Lord (1 Chronicles 28:19; 2 Chronicles 29:25).

GATEKEEPERS (1 Chronicles 26:1-28). The first gatekeepers were assigned their positions at the Tent by David and Samuel (1 Chronicles 9:22-23) and at the ark when it was brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:23-24). Their duties would be greatly expanded when the temple was built. Treasurers were a special section of the gatekeepers.

OFFICIALS AND JUDGES (1 Chronicles 26:29-32). The Levites who served as officials and judges were divided into two groups: one group consisting of 1,700 men served west of the Jordan, and a second group consisting of 2,700 men served east of the Jordan. They all served in matters pertaining to God and in the affairs of the king.

The long lists of names makes it is easy to lose sight of David's accomplishments with regard to the worship of God. What he did was make it easier for Israel to remember their God and transfer that knowledge to coming generations. This is exactly what God wanted.
He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
-- Psalm 78:5-7 NIV

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