1 Chronicles 23-27

 

Here in our study of 1 Chronicles we have seen that the writer – Probably Ezra is writing to a remnant of Israelites who have returned to Jerusalem after 70yrs of exile in Babylon.

 

They are returning to a JERUSALEM that has been broken down – sitting is vulnerable – walls have been destroyed –

THE TEMPLE is in ruins – They will have the challenge of rebuilding and re-establishing the nation.

 

It is going to be a TOUGH job – hard task – Take effort – sweat – and unity to get the Job done.

 

He is writing to inspire them – He begins by chronicling the Genealogies to help them trace back their roots to realize – who they belong to and what they owned

 

He moves from that to focus on the REIGN of DAVID  - Illustrate – what God can do when His people trust Him – obey – Him – BLESSINGS FOLLOW

 

As we come to ch.23 – We have seen that David wanted to Build the temple  God said – No – David did what He could – gathered the materials

A)Now David is old – time to pass the Baton to Solomon. – David last thing he is going to do – is set things in order for his son.

 

B) Focus tonight in Ch.23-27 { Lots of names – not read them all  OVERVIEW –

1) There are so REAL NUGGETS in these Chapters – I think you will enjoy.

2) Interesting PICTURE OF THE CHURCH.

 

V.1-2 So when David was old and full of days, What a great way to describe – getting old – Full of days – A)Lived a long fruitful life { Listen – that is what we all want – to be FULL OF DAYS {

 

B)I love this about David – He is in his 70’s – Slowing down physically – not the warrior he once was – but He is using his time. – Making the most of his time.

 

 

It was  right for him to be passing the Baton to Solomon – but he is doing it the right way.

A)Listen you who are older – Retired – can I encourage you to be like David and go out with a BANG – Mentor / young ladies and men

 

B) Young couples – Single moms – YOU HAVE A HUGE PART TO PLAY.

 

So when David was old and full of days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

A)David is going to put the GOVT in order -  David gathered these for the purpose of organizing them to help Solomon with the work of building the temple and administering the affairs of the kingdom.

 

B) David is doing all of this according the Lord’s instruction – turn ch.28 v.11-13

 

11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; 12 and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, ….. of the courts of the house of the LORD, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things; 13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD.

 

Back to Ch.23

 

Start with the Levites: Those who would be serving in the Temple.

A)Today these would make up the Pastors and Elders in a Church.

 

V.3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and above; and the number of individual males was thirty-eight thousand.

 

B)This was based on the ancient command found in Numbers 4:1-3, indicating that a Levite’s service began at 30 years of age- there were  38,000 qualified Levites were divided into different duties.

 

C)Those who served as Levites served from age 30-50 – What would they do after 50?

1)Trained the perspective Levites – from 25-30.

1) So there was a time for prepared training – for ministry.

 

D) Sometimes we make light of the need for training.

1) I love giving young guys opportunities to minister –

 

E) But I have learned the hard way the need for them to be trained

 

I have seen guys sent  out into ministry too young.

A)Seen to many young men flounder in ministry– never worked a Job – never  developed those work skills – learned responsibility.

 

B) There is a need to be trained – sad thing – some in their youthful pride – they don’t want that

1) Remember when you were 20 thought I knew it all

 

C) Me and my friends would sit around – critiquing the Pastors in our lives {  Pastor Chuck

1) If I was Chuck – I would do this…… Pride

 

D) Finally got into full time ministry{ Know Nothing!

Interesting we will see in this Chapter the age thing is going to change however – get younger!

A)Talk about in a minute why?

 

B)So 38,000 Levites brought together – to accomplish central task!

V.4 Of these, twenty-four thousand were to look after the work of the house of the Lord, The temple was a busy place constantly flowing with worshippers, sacrifice, and service unto God.

 

C) It took many skilled people to take care of all the practical matters behind this activity.

1) They were involved in the maintenance of the Temple.   

 

six thousand were officers and judges, Leaders and counselors – Administrators over 4,000 each

 

four thousand were gatekeepers, Ushers – they opened and closed doors These had the responsibility for security, both in a practical and spiritual sense.

 

They made sure that only those who were ready to serve and worship God could come to the temple and its associated building. 

 

and four thousand praised the Lord with musical instruments,

Worship leaders: these Levites had the job of worshipping God both with their voices and musical instruments.

They did this both to honor God directly and also to encourage others to worship God.  4000 Worship leaders – WOW!!!!!  

 

NOTE four thousand praised the Lord with musical instruments  "which I made," said David, "for giving praise." David was a busy guy – actually he probably designed the instruments and had others make them.

 

Also David separated them into divisions among the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

 

These family groupings within the tribe of Levi were described hundreds of years before in Numbers 3 and 4.

 

Gershon: The Gershonites were to take care of the skins that covered the tabernacle itself.

TENT MADE OF BADGER SKINS

 

 Kohath: The Kohathites were to take care of the FURNISHINGS of the tabernacle including the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread / altar incense, lamp stand etc

 

 Merari: The family of Merari was to take care of the structural aspects of the tabernacle including the pillars, the boards, and the fasteners

 

VERSES 7-11 tell us about the Gershonites

 

     VERSES 12-20 tell us about the Kohathites

 

            VERSES 21-23 tell us about the Merarites

These divisions were for the purpose of EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT organized service in the house of the Lord

 

We are not going to look at all these names – but – in the family of Kohath – were those who formed the Priest

A)Descendants his son Amram –

 

V.13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was set apart, he and his sons forever, / Aaron   Special privilege of Aaron’s family … forever

 

B)4 Fold duties of the Priest:  Correlation to those who are Pastors – those who want to be Pastors – Things they are doing. 

 

that he should sanctify the most holy things, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister to Him, and to give the blessing in His name forever.

 

1) That he should sanctify the most holy things:

1)The priest was have an active concern for holiness, personal – ceremonial washings –

2) As well as the instruments of the temple – BOTH NEEDED TO BE SANCTIFIED!

 

2) To burn incense before the Lord: Incense is a picture of intercessory prayer.

A)Pastoral Ministry: Intercessors -

 

 

3) To minister to Him: The priest was busy with people and the work of ministry, but he must never forget his ministry to God Himself.

 

                                              First and foremost-

 

4) To give the blessing in His name forever: The priest was blessed so that he could bless others

 

Skip down to v.24 Rd 24 – V. 27

 

Why the switch: - For one reason the Temple was a much bigger building to take care of than the Tabernacle.

A)Tabernacle traveled with the pp of Israel and part of the Job of the Levites was to carry the instruments – tear down and set up.

 

B) Now the Ark would dwell in a permanent location – much bigger structure – lots to take care of.

1) Mobile Church vs. Permanent {More consistent work in Permanent

 

C) So David by the Spirit’s leading remember - lowered the age – so that some of these younger guys who were being trained could help in that part of the ministry.

1) On the Job training – Intern Program

 

Notice their Duties: Read v. 28-32

 

 

They were what we might call ministry interns!

A)They were the servants of the priest – helping them function in their roles as leaders.

 

B)Now as we come to Ch.24 We have the division of the Priest – we are not going to read thru all these names

 

 But I want to make a couple of remarks before moving on to Ch.25

 

The divisions of the priests are given here, while in CH. 23 deals with the Levites

A)Many names divided into 24 courses, or divisions

           Each division served for 2 weeks

 

B) 24 courses, each serving for 2 weeks.

   1) About 6,000 men in each course

 

C)What were the rest of the men doing while they were NOT serving in the Temple?

1) They were back in their cities.

 

D)They were priests, teachers, leaders. They served in their localities.      

1)But once a year for 2 weeks they would serve in the Temple.

 

 

 

 

 

CH.25 Division of the Singers and Musicians

V.1 Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was:

 

Interesting: the captains of the army took part w/ David in the selection and organization of the musicians or “worship leaders” for Israel.

 

David sensed a connection between the security of the kingdom and the worship and honoring of God.

 

Satan hates Worship: He wants to be worshipped -  Hates it – but the bible Says that God inhabits the Praises of his people

 

Connection – Worship and Spiritual warfare: I think that is one of the reasons why the enemy is always seeking to distract us from Worship

A)God’s Presence shows up –

 

B) Interesting in the OT times – 2 Chronicles 20:22 King  Jehoshaphat sends the worshippers out in front of the Army – Says that when they began to sing and to praise – the Lord set ambushes for the enemy.

 

C)I think that happens still – We come into this place like we are tonight –

1) Enemy has been hassling some of you all day!

 

D)When you begin to worship- The Lord inhabits those praises – enthroned in those praises

1) The enemy is ambushed!

 

Another thing to note here: V.1 The Lord says of the worship leaders – they should prophesy – with harps, stringed instruments, and symbols.

 

V.2 Who prophesied according to the order of the King.

V.3 Who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the Lord.

 

Interesting truth here: A Spirit filled worship leader who is in tune with the Lord and has an active devotional life –

A)He/she can have a prophetic aspect to their worship leading.

 

B)Prophecy is a manifestation... a shining forth of the Spirit - 1 Cor 14:3 

 

C) Declaring the greatness of God – Song Choice – One reason why I personally prefer – songs –

1)Speaking more about who He is – less about what we are doing saying wanting or bringing to God.  

 

D)Worship leader can be functioning in a prophetic way: Songs they choose are exactly what people need to be focused on in coming to God.

 

Prophecy is also declaring  the mind and heart of God –

A) Paul said that he who prophesies – speaks edification, exhortation and comfort to men.

 

B)Worship leaders can have a real prophetic ministry: Leland – 18 year old kid

Ministering – Sharing God’s heart to young – AMAZING – so refreshing

 

Moving on: V. 4 Introduced to Heman  RD V. 5-7

 

Heman was one of these Worship leaders who moved in the prophetic aspect of ministry.

A)Hearing the Word of God and knowing the Heart of God he played his instrument

 

B)14 sons and 3 daughters

 

C) He didn’t JUST play music

 

D)He WROTE, he WORSHIPPED, he PROPHESIED, he RAISED a family and REPRODUCED his ministry

 

The Rest of Ch. 25 list the Musicians and Singers

 

CH.26 V.1-19 Division of the Gatekeepers – Ushers and Greeters

A)I love those who serve in this ministry at our Church.

 

B) First impression of CCV – Maybe even of Jesus to a Non believer

1)Your smiling face – your warm greeting.

 

C) Also there to protect the flock – the gate keepers had to keep out those who might be a problem.

 

Though some might see their work as humble, it was actually of great privilege. Remember the envy of the Psalmist: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. (Psalm 84:10)

 

V. 20-28 Levites in Charge of the Treasuries.

 

 

Pick it up in RD V.29 -32

 

Able men & Capable men !

 

Didn’t just go to anyone – Proven men

 

Ch.27

Here we have the civil administration listed as the army is set up in 12 divisions

24,000 in each course in 12 divisions

 

Each division had a captain over it. You only served for

month then you went back to your farm and family for 11

months.

 

RDv.23-31 

God taking note of those over Donkeys

Camels / sheep / oil

 

You think the Lord doesn’t take note of those who are over the 4th graders / 2nd graders / nursery

 

 

RD V. 32-34

 

David setting things in order –

 

Expanded the kingdom from 6,000sq miles to 60,000 sq miles

 

Getting ready to hand this all over to his