Bible Talks

1 Chron. 22:17-23:3017David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18Is not the Lord your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the Lord, and before his people. 19Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord. 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; Michah 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 showbread, 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; (1 Chronicles 22:17‑23:30).
DAVID commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon in building the house of the Lord. He brought before them the goodness of God that had given them rest on every side, and encouraged them to set their hearts and souls to serve the Lord in this work. And so it is with us. It is when we think of all the Lord has done for us, and are constrained by His love that we are diligent in our service to His name. If we are lax and careless, it is because we have forgotten His goodness and love toward us. This is why the Lord had to say to the saints at Ephesus, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." Revelation 2:44Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:4). May we who are His be drawn after Him!
It is interesting and instructive here to see that David ordered everything in connection with the temple, and the new order of things. The tabernacle made by Moses in the wilderness is here set aside, for the temple built by Solomon is, as we have remarked previously, a figure of the millennial scene of glory. Each of the Levites was given his place and service by David. What a wonderful time it will be for Israel when they serve the Lord their God with glad and willing hearts. "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness." Psalm 110:33Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (Psalm 110:3). The work of the Levites in the wilderness was to carry the tabernacle from place to place, but now this service was over. David therefore appointed their service from twenty years old, instead of thirty, "in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the -purifying of all the holy things."
Perhaps there is a lesson here for us even now, in all this. In Christianity every believer is a priest, both a "holy priest" to worship and a "royal priest', to serve (1 Peter 2:5, 95Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)). We can now come into the very presence of God as purged worshipers, whether young or old, and the Spirit of God would lead us, if we wait upon Him, as to the part He would have us take in the meetings. It says in 1 Corinthians 14:26,26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:26) "Every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doc. trine." How precious it is to meet in the liberty of the Spirit, as worshipers around the Lord. Then too the Lord will appoint our service if, like Saul of Tarsus, we ask, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Acts 9:66And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:6).
It is very touching here to see that the service of the Levites in the house of the Lord was "for all manner of measure and size." There may be those who have gone on with the Lord for years, and they have a larger "measure" of enjoyment of His love. They perhaps appreciate His work in a fuller way, but the Lord values the small measure too, and the worship and service of those who have a smaller measure is ordered of the Lord as well, and is acceptable to Him. The Lord Jesus valued the two mites cast into the treasury by the poor widow, for He looks on the heart.
We notice too that the Levites were to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even. It is so easy for us in the rush and bustle of life today, to neglect the reading of the Word and prayer. If we do, it is a distinct loss to our own souls, and we should remember that the Lord misses it too. He likes to hear our voices praising and thanking Him for all He has done for us.
Messages of the Love of God 3/2/1958