Bible Talks

1 Chron. 23:31-25:3131And 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. 1Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office. 3And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service. 4And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers. 5Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. 6And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. 7Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 8The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 10The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 11The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, 12The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 13The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, 14The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, 15The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses, 16The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel, 17The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul, 18The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah. 19These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the Lord, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him. 20And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah. 21Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah. 22Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath. 23And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir. 25The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah. 26The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno. 27The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri. 28Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons. 29Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel. 30The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers. 31These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren. 1Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: 2Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king. 3Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord. 4Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth: 5All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. 7So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight. 8And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar. 9Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve: 10The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 11The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 12The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 13The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 14The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 15The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 16The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 17The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 18The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 19The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 20The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 21The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 22The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 23The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 24The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 25The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 26The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 27The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 28The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 29The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 30The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 31The four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve. (1 Chronicles 23:31‑25).
WE NOTICE here that the morning and evening praise to the Lord comes before the offering of burnt offerings in the sabbaths, and other appointed times. It also comes before keeping the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation and other things about the service of the house of the Lord. If we neglect the reading of the Word and prayer, and are not walking in communion during the week, there will not be praise in our hearts when we gather around Himself on Lord's day. Nor will we be able to meet the difficulties that arise among the children of God, for there will be no wisdom, or power to act, apart from communion with the Lord. One fears we do not realize how weak we are, apart from walking close to the Lord, and that is why we are so often. overcome by the difficulties of the way. "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:1010Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10).
David then appointed the various courses of priesthood, twenty-four of them, for service in the house of the Lord. The choice was not made because of some personal qualifications in themselves, but by lot, reminding us that it was all of sovereign grace. As we think of the place that we have been brought into through grace, we surely realize that it is nothing of ourselves. It is interesting in this connection to notice that in Revelation 4 and 5 we have twenty-four seats in the heavenly company of the redeemed. They are all of one mind in ascribing honor, praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and sing redemption's song together: "Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign over the earth." Rev. 5:9, 109And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9‑10). I believe the twenty-four courses of priesthood in Solomon's temple form a picture of this time when all the redeemed enter their full place and privilege as worshiping priests.
"Our joy unhindered then with Thee,
Our eyes undimmed Thy glory see,
Whilst worthy praise we give.
Through that eternal cloudless day,
Our burning hearts with rapture say
He died that we might live."
How we rejoice to look forward to that day! There will be no silent voices or empty seats then, for every "cup" will be full and every "harp" sounding.
So we see David appointing the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, to be over the singing and musical instruments, in the house of the Lord. There were also twenty-four courses of these, and it is interesting to notice the special mention of Heman who had fourteen sons and three daughters, and that they were all under the hand of their father for song. No doubt this is something of the "greater joy," spoken of by John, when our children walk in the truth. How happy Heman must have been as he sang in the house of the Lord to see all his children doing the same. What an encouragement to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord! It is not easy in a day like this, but here is a large family all going on for the Lord, so we know the Lord is able.
Could we also think of this as an encouragement for us as Christian parents to sing praises to the Lord in our homes? I feel sure Heman did this at home with his family, and thus the desire was produced in their hearts to sing in the house of the Lord. If we neglect singing in our homes we may not know hymns and tunes sung in the assembly.
Messages of the Love of God 3/9/1958