1 Chronicles 23

1 Chronicles 23:1

LEVITES ARE ORGANIZED TO SERVE AND SINGAs we come to chapter 23, keep in mind that we are still in the section that is all about the temple. Again let me say that God considered this important, and here is the place He put the emphasis. David also considered it of utmost importance, and we see more of his zeal and enthusiasm for the worship of God in these arrangements he has made. My friend, if you are a child of God, David is putting this challenge to you. Do you really put God first in your life? Is He a thrill to you? Do you rejoice in that relationship? Do you want to do something for God? Does He give direction and purpose to your life? Is it the desire of your heart to know Him and to serve Him? Unfortunately, many of our churches feature activity without action. Like a merry-go-round, we get on and have a nice little ride, then we get off at the same place we got on. We are not going any place. David was on the move for God, and he is urging his son Solomon to get on the move and build this great temple. David now makes Solomon king in his stead. Perhaps you are asking, “What did David die of?” Well, he was full of daysthat was his problem. And it is the problem many of us have.

1 Chronicles 23:2

When the Levites were numbered, as they came out of Egypt, there were about eight thousand of them. Now there are thirty-eight thousand. They have increased in numbers, as God said they would. Not only did David gather the materials for the construction of the temple, but he also organized the Levites to serve in the temple.

1 Chronicles 23:4

David put a great emphasis on music. Think of itfour thousand praised the Lord with music! You will recall that the Levites served in the tabernacle. The family of Aaron served as the priests, and the three families of Levites had their duties.

1 Chronicles 23:6

The Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites all had definite assignments in caring for the tabernacle. On the wilderness march they were responsible for moving the tabernacle. They took it down and they put it up. The Gershonites carried the curtains and the coverings. The Kohathites carried the articles of furniture. The Merarites carried the boards and the bars and the pillars. As we saw in the Book of Numbers, it was quite an undertaking to take down the tabernacle in the morning and reassemble it in the evening and restore the service of it.

1 Chronicles 23:26

The Levites’ assignment to carry the tabernacle through the wilderness is over. Now they have a new ministry for the Lord. Again, this is something that I wish we could learn. God has raised up may fine Christian organizations; then after they have served their purpose, there are folk who try to preserve them. Some of them are as dead as a dodo bird. They do not serve any good purpose. When God is through with a thing, He is through with it, my friend. It is time to get something new going. To the Levites, God is saying in effect, “We’re not going to be trotting around in the wilderness any more. Now we will have a temple and your service is going to be different.” Oh, my friend, let’s keep step with God and do something that is alive and moving! The Levites now have a new service. The staves are removed from the ark. It will not be moved again. It is to remain permanently in Jerusalem on the threshingfloor of Ornan. David has bought the place, and the temple will be erected there. In the temple there will be a great deal for the Levites to do; so David organizes them into shifts, selected by lot. They will serve for a period of time, then they will retirehave time off. This is the way David organized the service of the temple.