The Gatekeepers

1 Chronicles 26:1-32

The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work—descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all.

These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering in the temple of the Lord, just as their relatives had. Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things.

Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated to the repair of the temple of the Lord.

Why?

For the protection of the Temple, many things need servants to protect and serve the Lord.

Obed-Edom in the time of David and Saul, they keep the ark of the Lord in their land.

Lots is a fair job distribution and devotion before the Lord and human beings.

How?

Even the result of the Lord is in the hands of the Lord.

The Musicians

1 Chronicles 25:1-31

David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:

All these men were under the supervision of their father for the music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God.

Why?

Sing to the Lord, praise to the Lord with music to express our worship to the Lord with joy and peace.

David started this music service before the Lord, so we may enjoy the worship and lead our minds to worship the Lord through lyrics and melody.

How?

Praise the Lord with many musical instruments and sounds to worship our Lord. For our God is worthy of praise.

The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.

 1 Chronicles 24:1-31

These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron: The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests.

A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than among Ithamar’s, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar’s descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar’s descendants. They divided them impartially by casting lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.

The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officials: Zadok the priest, Ahimelek son of Abiathar and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar and then one from Ithamar.

As for the rest of the descendants of Levi: from the sons of Amram: Shubael; from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.

This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the Lord, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth.

These were the Levites, according to their families. They also cast lots, just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.

Why?
All of the services of Levites are same and they have equal rights. All of them cast lots to accept the service roles.

The descendants of Eleazar were much more than other tribes. they were blessed by the Lord.

There are 24 appointed ministering orders in the temple.

How?

Serve roles before the Lors were equal positions; each role was important, the same as the role in the church service now.

David gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites

1 Chronicles 23:1-32 

When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. The Levites thirty years old or more were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand. David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand are to be in charge of the work of the temple of the Lord and six thousand are to be officials and judges. Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose.”

David separated the Levites into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the temple of the Lord. For David had said, “Since the Lord, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.” According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more.

And so the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their relatives the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the Lord.

Why?

David arranged and organized their jobs in the Temple for the Levites to serve the Lord in the Temple, even though the Temple still needs to be built the servant of the Lord has arranged.

Service people are more important than the building of worship.

How?

All of us are servants of the Lord. Each one serves the Lord in different positions and missions, but all of us have the same mind to worship the Lord.

The Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations

1 Chronicles 22:1=19

David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.

Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord.

Why?

God is great, and should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations

David shed much blood on the earth so the Lord did not allow David to build Temple for the Lord.

The Lord gives Solomon discretion and understanding over Israel.

All of us should devote our hearts and soul to seeking the Lord.

How?

God is great and deserves our worship throughout our lives.

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”

But Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.

David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Lord my God, let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.”

The tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time on the high place at Gibeon. But David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

Why?
A sinner is afraid to face the Lord for God is righteousness.

For the proud David took a census of Israel. Even Joab asked David don't do it but David is the king.

David chose a worse way for he was afraid of being purchased by men, so he let his people suffer the plague remain on his people. David is a selfish mind.

How?

No one is as holy as the Lord. I could be proud like David. This story gives me a reminder: be humble before the Lord.

David’s Mighty Warriors

1 Chronicles 11:10-47

This is the list of David’s mighty warriors:

Jashobeam, a Hakmonite, was chief of the officers; he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty warriors. He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the Lord.

Why?

Serve others if it is good to God's people will be memorized in the book of the Lord.

How?

Do our best to implement our mission of the Lord in our life.