God's People and their Kingdom Work of Watching
Text 1 Chronicles 26 Time 05 05 21 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)
We are still in the section of 1 Chronicles that runs from Chapter 23 to Chapter-26. By this time David's life is coming to an end and he is making preparations for the succession of his son, Solomon. I have said to you before that Chronicles was written by someone with a priestly background and the interest in the temple comes out in these books in a way that it does not in the partly parallel Books of Kings, especially in this section.
The main thing in these chapters is the way David gives certain tasks to the Levites that are in part things they had done in the past but that are a development. Chapter 23:25, 26 explain how 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." Because they no longer had the duty of carrying the tabernacle and its articles (in fact they had not moved the tabernacle much since entering the Promised Land under Joshua) there was room to develop other skills and duties. So in Chapter 23 the priestly tasks of worship, judgement, gatekeeping, sacrifice and blessing are set out and the role of the Levites in helping them in this.
The week before last we looked at Chapter 24 and how the work was divided between the priests and Levites with their 24 divisions and last week it was the role of the musicians in Chapter 25, again in 24 divisions. Again we underline that in the New Testament Jesus refers to himself as one greater than the Temple. The focus that was once on the Temple should now be on him. Here in Chapter 26 the focus is on the gatekeepers, treasurers and other officials. As we have done for the last few weeks, we will first make clear what is said in this chapter and then, secondly, consider what lessons we may learn from it.
1. What is said in this chapter?
1. Gatekeepers. Verses 1-19 focus on The divisions of the gatekeepers. First the men available are listed. These were all Korahites and Merarites.
1 Korahites. From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph. Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth and Eliehoenai the seventh.
The family of Obed-Edom comes next. As stated, Obed-Edom appears not to have been a Levite originally but he so distinguished himself when the ark was in his house, following David's mistake of trying to move the ark in his own way, he became an honorary Levite. So we read (4-8) Obed-Edom also had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sakar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh and Peullethai the eighth. (For God had blessed Obed-Edom.) Obed-Edom's son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father's family because they were very capable men. The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men. 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. Verse 9 goes back to Meshelemiah who had sons and relatives, who were able men - 18 in all. So 80 altogether, may be more.
2 Merarites. 10, 11 Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first), Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were 13 in all.
3 The divisions. Then verses 12-19 lists the division of the work among the Levites. These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering in the temple of the LORD, just as their relatives had. Again it was done by lot (13) Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike. There were four or five lots altogether.
1 East gate The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah (14a)
2 North gate Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counsellor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. (14b)
3 South gate The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom, (15a)
4 Storehouse and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. (15b)
5 West gate and its outpost
The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate (Gate of ejection - where ashes, etc, were thrown out) on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah. Guard was alongside of guard: (16).
More details comes in 17-19. There were
1 6 Levites a day on the east,
2 4 a day on the north,
3 4 a day on the south
4 and 2 at a time at the storehouse.
5 As for the court to the west, there were 4 at the road and 2 at the court itself.
These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari. So each day there were 24 men needed (there's that number again). Eighty men (or 93 at tops) for 24 jobs means that men could be off for two days before their time came around again, as 24 + 24 + 24 = 78. Chapter 23 mentions some 4000 gatekeepers so these must simply be the leaders.
2. Those in charge of the Treasuries. Verses 20-28 concern the Gershonites. 20 Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things.
21, 22 The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli, the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries of the temple of the LORD.
23-26 From the Amramites, Amram was the father of Moss and Aaron you recall the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites: Shubael, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the official in charge of the treasuries. His relatives through Eliezer: (Aaron's son) Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son and Shelomith his son. Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders.
You then get two footnotes: 27 Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the LORD. So it was parted with rather than kept. 28 And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith mentioned above and his relatives.
3. Those who served away from the Temple.
Vast numbers of Levites served away from the Temple and outside Jerusalem administering justice and probably collecting tithes.
1 West of the Jordan. 29 From the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were assigned duties away from the temple, as officials and judges over Israel. 30, 31a From the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives - seventeen hundred able men - were responsible in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the LORD and for the king's service. As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families.
2 East of the Jordan. 31b, 32 Here we are told that In the fortieth year of David's reign (the last) a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead. Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king. More were needed east of the Jordan than west of it then, perhaps because it was further from Jerusalem.
2. What lessons we may learn from it?
The lessons to be learned here concern the call of every believer to be watchful and alert and to do all they can to promote the interests of their king, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Watchmen were appointed to guard the various gates that led into the Temple. They were responsible to open and to shut the Temple gates. Their job was not only to guard the way against people with wrong motives and designs bent on trouble but also to lead God's people onto the right path and to encourage them to enter the temple in the right frame of mind. They encouraged the timid to come in and sent the wicked and unclean away. In the New Testament God's people are said to be given (Matthew 16:19) the keys of the kingdom of heaven by Christ. He says to us whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. By means of preaching the gospel we are able to admit people into or exclude them from God's church. We too are frequently warned in Scripture to be alert and watchful for our own souls.
2. Concerning those called to be gatekeepers, we read (6-8) that they were leaders in their father's family because they were very capable men ... able men ... capable men with the strength to do the work .... We read of Zechariah that he was a wise counsellor (14). They remind us of the men of Acts 6 who were known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. How we need people like that today. Matthew Henry says "whatever service God calls men to he either finds them fit or makes them so."
3. The story of Obed-Edom is an encouraging one. We read back in 1 Chronicles 13:14 how The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had. Here (5) we read that one of the ways he was blessed was in having many children. Children are a blessing from the Lord, especially if they serve the Lord as Obed-Edom's offspring did. This godly family had faithfully served the Lord in their own home and here we read how they went on to serve him in his house. It is those who know how to manage their own family who are fit to take care of God's church. If you are trustworthy in little you shall be trusted with more.
4. Verse 10 is interesting. There we read that though not literally the first born Shimrah was made firstborn by his father Hosah, as happened with Jacob and Joseph. Either this was due to Shimrah's outstanding qualities or his older brother's death or lack of such qualities. Christ is God's firstborn and we must all hide in him if we hope to escape God's judgement. He treats us as his firstborn sons even though we do not deserve it. See Hebrews 12:23 the church of the firstborn.
5. Happy are those who live in God's house, for they are well fed, well taught, well employed and well guarded. In Revelation 21:12 we read of New Jerusalem that It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Even now the angels guard us.
6. There are treasures of the house of God. A large old house only functioned because there were plentiful supplies kept within - food in the larder, wine in the cellar, coal in the coalhouse, etc. In the Temple there were ample supplies of flour, wine, oil, salt, etc. These were the treasures of the house of God. There were also treasures of gold and silver given by the people. These treasures are typical of the plenty stored up in our Father;s house, enough and to spare. In Christ, the true temple, are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge. of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Romans 11:33). In Philippians 4:19 Paul reminds us And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
7. Much of this treasure came to be there because it had been dedicated to God. Often it was plunder from battle. Samuel, David, Saul, Abner and Joab had dedicated plunder to the Lord following battle. Matthew Henry "The more God bestows upon us the more he expects from us in works of piety and charity. Great successes call for proportionable returns. When we look over our estates we should consider, “Here are convenient things, rich things, it may be, and fine things; but where are the dedicated things?”"
8. One of the Levite duties was to manage these treasures. It was their business to guard them, to dispense them as appropriate and to see that they were not wasted, embezzled or used for common use. No doubt they kept careful accounts as we should so that however we are blessed we pass that blessing on to others.
9. There were Levites whose job was not directly to do with the running of the temple but with administration of the law in the Land. They served the Lord by serving the king and his magistrates.
10. These final things were done in the last year of David's reign. We should be all the more eager to do good as we see the day approaching , whether we enjoy the benefit or not.
