The Christian and Worldly Views of Worship and Living

The King and His Worship Servants

(1 Chronicles 23, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, March 4, 2018)

[1] When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

[2] David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. [3] The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men. [4] “Twenty-four thousand of these,” David said, “shall have charge of the work in the house of the LORD, 6,000 shall be officers and judges, [5] 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the LORD with the instruments that I have made for praise.” [6] And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

[7] The sons of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei. [8] The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three. [9] The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan. [10] And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. [11] Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, therefore they became counted as a single father's house.

[12] The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. [13] The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the LORD and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever. [14] But the sons of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of Levi. [15] The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. [16] The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. [17] The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. [18] The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. [19] The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. [20] The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.

[21] The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. [22] Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them. [23] The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

[24] These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses, the heads of fathers' houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the LORD. [25] For David said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. [26] And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.” [27] For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. [28] For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God. [29] Their duty was also to assist with the showbread, the flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and all measures of quantity or size. [30] And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the LORD, and likewise at evening, [31] and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the LORD on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the LORD. [32] Thus they were to keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and to attend the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the service of the house of the LORD.

When David was old

David prepared his son for the future, providing him with materials that would be used for the building of the temple, as we saw in the previous chapter. He insisted that Solomon be ready to govern Israel's worship as God's chosen king.

A new era for the Levitical clans

David had great concern for the worship of God's people. He considered it his duty to see that the various clans of the Levites were in place to serve according to the Lord's commandments. This required some additional direction in light of the change from a simple mobile tabernacle to a beautiful temple with some additional instructions for worship including the use of musical instruments and singing. David was used by God to provide whatever direction was necessary for this new phase of Old Testament life. The Lord worked through the king in order to grant whatever was lacking. There would be officers, judges, gatekeepers, singers, and other musicians, all organized for the Lord's service. The clans of Levi—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—still remained intact, but the king provided additional direction for them.

In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. (Heb 8:13)

The change from Moses to David is often overlooked, as if all the commandments regarding the worship of the Old Testament were given on Sinai. God brought something new through David. Even more significant changes would come through a later Son of David. These would be appropriate because of a far more significant change in the temple of the Lord. No longer would a central structure be the focus of the Lord's people. The worldwide church welcoming in the nations would lead many to wonder if the followers of Jesus had gone too far. Circumcision would be replaced by baptism, a new rite that could be received by both men and women. A new meal celebrating the death of Jesus our Redeemer would bring fulfillment to centuries of Passovers.

It was the right of Jesus to institute these changes as the new David. He is the Lord's Anointed forever. He has prepared the way for His church to worship God through Him. One day He will return with a new Jerusalem from above, and all God's people will worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

The story of David's anticipation of a new life centered around a fixed temple is now 3000 years old. What does it teach us today? Jesus, the King over a new and better covenant, established new roles for all of us who have been granted bold access to God through His blood. We are servants of God through Jesus, the premier worshiper of the Father. He has granted to us faith, a variety of gifts, and appropriate callings. Our genealogical descent does not determine our acceptability or usefulness.

While all of our ceremonial life as Christians is so different from the preparations that David made so long ago, this much has not changed: Worship of the Almighty is supposed to be at the very center of our lives. The world will always find the worship way of living extreme, but Christians should understand why God and His worship must come first. We are part of God's good tree of life, and Jesus, our root system, is bringing forth good fruit through us. We call upon His Name and then grow in our knowledge of God and the gospel (Genesis 1:1, Romans 1:16-32, 3:20-21), committing ourselves to a life of continuous prayer and obedience (1 Thessalonians 5:10-18, James 5:13-20). Our confidence is in Christ alone, who is the perfect worshiper of the Father. He will lead us.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 47 – He is Highly Exalted

Gospel Reading—Matthew 12:33-37

[33] “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. [34] You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. [35] The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. [36] I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, [37] for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”