Bible Talks

1 Chron. 26:1-27:341Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh. 4Moreover the sons of Obed-edom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth, 5Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him. 6Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valor. 7The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah. 8All these of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obed-edom. 9And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen. 10Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;) 11Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen. 12Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the Lord. 13And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate. 14And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward. 15To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim. 16To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward. 17Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two. 18At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar. 19These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari. 20And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things. 21As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli. 22The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the Lord. 23Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: 24And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures. 25And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated. 27Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord. 28And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren. 29Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges. 30And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the Lord, and in the service of the king. 31Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead. 32And his brethren, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king. 1Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand. 2Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 3Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. 4And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand. 5The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 6This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son. 7The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 8The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 9The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 10The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 11The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 12The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 13The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 14The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 15The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 16Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah: 17Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok: 18Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael: 19Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel: 20Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah: 21Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner: 22Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel. 23But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the Lord had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens. 24Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David. 25And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah: 26And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub: 27And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite: 28And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that were in the low plains was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash: 29And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai: 30Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: 31And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's. 32Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons: 33And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion: 34And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab. (1 Chronicles 26:1‑27:34).
WE HAVE noticed how David appointed those who had the charge of the house of the Lord, and those who were over the singing; now in our chapter he appointed the porters. It reminds us of that verse "to every man his work," Mark 13:34,34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. (Mark 13:34) and that the Lord has appointed each to his or her service, as David did here for "the small as well as the great." There is particular mention here of the ones who were placed over the spoils won in the various battles, and over all the things dedicated to the Lord. It is very easy to lose the things we have wrought (2 John 88Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. (2 John 8)), if we are not watchful, for we are living in days of giving up and compromise. Let us be diligent in maintaining the precious truth committed to us, remembering what it cost those who have gone before to "buy" it. The Scripture says, "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." Proverbs 23:2323Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23). It is all too easy to let the truth slip through our fingers, but we, like the porters in our chapter, have been charged to keep it.
There were also those who were appointed for the king's "outward business," and these were men of valor. This is important, for in our contact with those who are outside, there needs to be much grace and faithfulness. The lack of this among the saints of God has often caused sorrow. We will recall the case of the Gibeonites who came to Joshua with a very good-sounding story, and how they deceived him and the princes of Israel. They did not ask the Lord what to do, but acted on their own wisdom, and failed grievously in this "outward business." (See Joshua 9.) The results of it lasted for centuries, for the Gibeonites were a real "thorn" in the sides of the children of Israel. The Lord has raised up those among His own who seek to be watchful in these matters, and we need to take heed to these "doorkeepers in the house of the Lord."
In chapter 27 it is interesting to see those men who had shared David's rejection placed as captains over his host. If we seek to share the Lord's rejection now, there is a day coming when the Lord will reward such faithfulness, and our place in the kingdom when He reigns will be according to this. (Luke 19:1717And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. (Luke 19:17).) Those among the godly remnant of Israel who have been faithful during the tribulation period will then hear the Lord say to them, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. 25:3434Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:34). They will reign on the earth, while we reign over it with Christ.
David also appointed men over the fields, the vineyards, and the olive trees, also choosing men as scribes or counselors and for other work. All this is very instructive, and no doubt if we were more exercised as to the work the Lord had for us to do, and sought grace from the Lord to do it, there would be more blessing even today. Sometimes we all want to do the same things, and can even be jealous of others who seem to have a more important work than we have. It is instructive in this connection to notice that Paul's great desire was to fulfill what the Lord had given him to do. He said, "Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:2424But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24).
Messages of the Love of God 3/16/1958