Read I Chronicles 24 -- 26
In Today's Reading:
Duties assigned to priests; musicians and singers; divisions of the porters (gatekeepers); treasurers and other officials
David set apart Levites, singers, porters (gatekeepers), treasurers, and other workers of the Temple who were entrusted with responsibilities for Temple worship. The gatekeepers were said to be well-qualified for their work. They were the Korahites and Merarites, descendants of Levi, but had made themselves available. Twenty-four gatekeepers guarded the entrances day and night lest an unqualified person attempted to enter.
Every position was equally important to maintain worship in the Temple as ordered by the Lord. Today, everything that needs to be done in the church, and in ministries dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission, is also a sacred responsibility from God.
Earlier, David had planned to make Jerusalem the religious center of Israel by bringing the Ark of the Covenant there. After Uzzah was struck dead for touching the Ark, it was taken to the home of Obed-edom. When Obed-edom received the Ark, he received more than the Word of God inside it; he received the very presence of God which dwelt above the Mercy Seat. The presence of the Lord brought blessing on the home of Obed-edom. In like manner, the presence of the Lord will also bless our families and homes when the Word of God is prominent in our lives.
Some people ignore the Master's ownership rights to their lives and do not recognize their position as His managers of their talents, time, and even His tithe. All these are meant to be used for His purposes rather than for our own pleasures and personal interests. Each day is given to us as a trust so that we may become more like Christ and bring glory to Him. What God has entrusted to us can become multiplied blessings to others; but, when kept for selfish purposes, it loses its eternal purpose and can even become a curse
In our family devotions, let us thank our Heavenly Father for each of our children and help them to realize that, like the gatekeepers for the Temple, we must make ourselves available to be servants of the Lord. First be faithful in insignificant things in order to be trusted later with more important things.
Devotional commentary also refers to: Genesis 46:11; Exodus 25:22; I Samuel 4:4; II Samuel 6:2; Luke 16:10-11.
Christ Revealed:
Through the Temple treasures (see I Chronicles 26:20-28).In Christ are treasures of wisdom, knowledge, and riches to supply all the believer's needs (see Colossians 2:2-3; Philippians 4:19).
Word Studies:
24:2 executed the priest's office = served as priests; 24:5 divided by lot = assigned by drawing lots to determine the will of God (Prov. 16:33); 24:19 orderings = schedules; 25:5 to lift up the horn = to exalt the Lord's power and glory.
Prayer Needs:
Staff: Rita Guerra · Precept Ministries and Kay Arthur, Executive Vice President · Government Official: Rep. Brad Miller (NC) · Country: Central African Republic (3 million) in the center of the African continent · Major languages: French and Sangho · Religious freedom · 47% Protestant; 34% Roman Catholic; 12% animist; 3% Muslim · Prayer Suggestion: Rejoice over and pray for those who share the Good News (see Nahum 1:15).
Optional Reading: I Corinthians 6
Memory Verse for the Week: Ephesians 6:17