Service in the Lord’s house must be carried out by all. No one person can carry the load. Here we see the line of the Levites who were called out to serve the Lord in the sanctuary/temple.
1 Chronicles 23: David Organizes the Levites
1 When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
2 David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites.
3 The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men.
4 "Twenty-four thousand of these," David said, "shall have charge of the work in the house of the LORD, 6,000 shall be officers and judges,
5 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the LORD with the instruments that I have made for praise."
6 And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7 The sons of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei.
8 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan.
10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
11 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, therefore they became counted as a single father's house.
12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the LORD and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever.
14 But the sons of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of Levi.
15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.
17 The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.
19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.
21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
22 Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them.
23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
24 These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses, the heads of fathers' houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
25 For David said, "The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever.
26 And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service."
27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward.
28 For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God.
29 Their duty was also to assist with the showbread, the flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and all measures of quantity or size.
30 And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the LORD, and likewise at evening,
31 and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the LORD on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the LORD.
32 Thus they were to keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and to attend the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the service of the house of the LORD.
1 Chronicles 24: David Organizes the Priests
1 The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests.
3 With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service.
4 Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of fathers' houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar.
5 They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.
6 And the scribe Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the princes and Zadok the priest and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites, one father's house being chosen for Eleazar and one chosen for Ithamar.
7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 These had as their appointed duty in their service to come into the house of the LORD according to the procedure established for them by Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.
20 And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
21 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.
22 Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
23 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24 The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
26 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaaziah: Beno.
27 The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28 Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 Of Kish, the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.
30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
31 These also, the head of each father's house and his younger brother alike, cast lots, just as their brothers the sons of Aaron, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites.
Things to think about…
1. 1Chr 23:3 says that the Levites thirty years old and upwards were used for service, this generally involved singing, offerings and maintaining articles associated with praise. The Lord Jesus of course began His earthly ministry ‘being about thirty years of age’, Lk 3:23. If you are over thirty, did your 30th birthday hold any significance for you? I know it was a defining birthday for me. We are generally established in our careers and being used to build up others by using our gifts within the church for the Lord’s service by this time. Is this the case with you? We tend to keep the younger generation from taking on leadership roles. But certainly by their mid to late twenties they should be trained up to start leading in ministries.
2. In 1Chr 23:24 those who were twenty years old and above also served in some capacity. It says that these served in cleansing the courts and the chambers, vs 28 as well as to assist in the cooking of the show bread. These may not have been the priestly duties, but were still necessary in running the duties of the temple. Note in verse 32 that these younger ones were in attendance with the Sons of Aaron while they ministered. They were learning on the job. Don’t despise hard work if you are younger. You are stronger than most and should be taking the brunt of the heavier service within the church. So if chairs and tables are to be moved, or a BBQ set up etc, you young people should be the first in line to help. We praise God for you and value the service that you offer in the church. Rejoice in this work!
3. In 1Chr 24 we see service following along the lines of the ‘fathers’ houses’. This is the theme in this chapter. We are of course serving as living stones in our heavenly Father’s house. We have been adopted into this house through the blood of our Saviour Jesus. We are in His presence ‘night and day’. Let’s continue to be faithful in our service as we honour Him with our heart, mind, soul and strength. What service has our Father called you into within His Son’s body, the church?
4. Some family histories are cut short due to rebellion. Such was the case with 2 of Aaron’s son’s Nadab and Abihu who burned incense not prescribed by the Lord. But other references we see families carried on because of blessing through obedience. Eleazar had no sons so his brother’s sons – the sons of Kish married them, 1Chr 23:21, 22; 1Chr 24:28, 29.
5. We read in 1 Chr 24:31 “These also, the head of each father's house and his younger brother alike, cast lots”. We know in he NT that Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist served in the temple in this manner as the lot had fallen to him to serve, Luke 1:9. What a privilege it is to serve the Lord when He calls us, more than by lot, but by name.
Vision Point for cell groups – Cell groups on break over the holidays
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Prayer Points
1. The poor people of Devonport, Tasmania and the parents of the 6 children who have lost their lives in a tragic jumping castle accident. Words fail to describe this horrible event. 3 children are in a critical condition in hospital. Please pray for Christ’s peace to rest over this grieving community.
2. People would join us and hear about the forgiveness of Christ over Christmas.
3. Christmas season – joy and unity promoted in Christ.
4. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
5. Witness over the Christmas season.
6. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Visitors on Sunday. Pray they are encouraged in the church.
2. Appreciation to all involved in ministry. Joy in our service. Thankyou for your service.
3. Word of God being blessed at CBC.
Announcements
1. Christmas Day service – Sat 25th Dec – 9:00am
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
