Working in the Body
Today's Scripture: 1 Chronicles 23
1So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
2And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
3Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.
4Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:
5Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.
6And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.
8The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
9The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.
10And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
11And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.
12The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
13The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.
14Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.
15The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.
16Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
17And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
18Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.
19Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
20Of the sons of Uzziel; Micah the first and Jesiah the second.
21The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.
22And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.
23The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
24These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.
25For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:
26And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.
27For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:
28Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;
29Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;
30And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even:
31And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:
32And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.
Today's Scripture Meaning:
David declares Solomon his successor. (1-23) The office of the Levites. (24-32)
Verses 1-23: David, having given charge concerning the building of the temple, settles the method of the temple service, and orders the officers of it. When those of the same family were employed together, it would engage them to love and assist one another.
Verses 24-32: Now the people of Israel were so many, there should be more employed in the temple service, that every Israelite who brought an offering might find a Levite ready to help him. When more work is to be done, it is pity but there should be more workmen. A new heart, a spiritual mind, which delights greatly in God's commandments, and can find a refreshing feast in his ordinances, forms the great distinction between the true Christian and all other men in the world. To the spiritual man every service will yield satisfaction. He will be ever abounding in the work of the Lord; being never so happy as when employed for such a good Master, in so pleasant a service. He will not regard whether he is called to take the lead, or to keep the charge of others who are placed over him. May we seek and serve the Lord uprightly, and leave all the rest to his disposal, by faith in his word.
Today's Scripture Application
Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of 1 Chronicles with Chapter 23 and we see David assigns duties to the Levites. What catches my eye is how each person had a specific job in the temple. Some made the sacrifices, some helped the Priests, some cleaned, repaired, while others gave money to help the body work. In making applications we see the framework of the Church. We all have different roles but work together to form the body of Christ. This is why it is so important to be apart of the local Church. Everyone is needed to do the work of the Lord. If you don't go the body suffers. How about you? Are you saved? If so, are you an active member working in the Church to complete the House of God? Let us learn from our text today and the live of David and the structure of the temple to remember the Lord wants us to be a working member of the body.
