2nd Evangelical Free Church

The Chronicles of the Kings: The Kingdom’s civil service.

1 Chronicles 26

The Chronicler continued to describe for us the organization of the Levites under King David. This chapter focused on the Temple gatekeepers. Their duties are suggested to us by verse 8. The gatekeepers were to be capable and physically strong so that they could do their work. They needed strength to be able to open and shut the Temple gates as well as stand guard and protect the sanctuary from the incursions of unholy intruders. Thus they functioned as a type of police force for the temple guarding access to the Lord. 

The chapter ends with a section regarding other administrative posts. There were Levites who took charge of the treasury and the donations. Other Levites were put in charge of the lands located on the east side of the Jordan. Apparently they served to uphold and administer the law and the kingdom of David as well as insure proper worship of the Lord. The performed the work of the King as a type of “civil service”. The Chronicler was promoting the skills and authority of the Levites because it was they who would serve the returned community in the absence of a King. Law and order were essential for maintaining the harmony and stability of the new community, just as they are today for without capable ministers of secular law, we would have total chaos in our land as it exists in many nations across the globe.

The church also serves today to keep order within its ranks. Pastors and Elders are appointed by God to shepherd and guide His people by teaching from the scriptures the commands and ways of the Lord. They also confront those in their care who are in error or have sinned. Their work is to be done in love in order to correct, forgive and restore them not to chastise, punish or reject. 

 

The Chronicles of the Kings: Worship as Prophesy.

1 Chronicles 25

This chapter contains the roster of those Levites who served as temple musicians. This indicates that the playing of musical instruments as well were basic parts of the temple liturgy. The Chronicler refers to their service as the ministry of prophesying. Prophesying is not necessarily composed of predictions of future events as is commonly thought. The word does contain warnings and commands which, if ignored and deliberately disobeyed, will result in predictable and dismal consequences for the rebellious. Prophesying is the proclamation of God’s word, will and authority.

It is quite interesting to note that the proclamation of God’s word was almost always accompanied by or in the form of music and singing. To the ancient Hebrews worship music glorified the Lord, as much of it does today. Worship music should always be directed to the Lord because He is the audience. Thus worship music and singing should detail and proclaim the truth of God’s word as well as extol Him for who He is and all that He has done.

 Yet too often modern churches and Christians think that worship is for our benefit, for our blessing, that it is something we experience. Too often people equate worship is repeating “I praise you” “I worship you” “I love you” or other such phrases and words, but that is not worship. God is exalted by us enumerating His specific deeds, acts, and attributes. We may receive a blessing from such worship and indeed it may encourage us up by stirring up our faith, hope and love, but these should never be the goal. God alone is the audience. He alone is the subject and object of worship music and song, not us. 

 

The Chronicles of the Kings: Qualifications for leaders.

1 Chronicles 24

The Chronicler recorded the names of the priests who were to function in the ministry of sacrifice. These he referred to as officials of the sanctuary and officials of God. They are both because the Lord chose them specifically to serve in His Temple and to serve over His people. Good leaders were needed to administer the Law and to ensure the proper worship of the Lord. They had to be capable and talented but they were also required to be Holy, separated from sin and unto the Lord. These were divided by lot into 24 units, each unit to serve 2 weeks per year. The Hebrew calendar was lunar so that there were 48 weeks per year. 

The Chronicler mentioned them to draw attention to the necessity of godly and competent leadership that was vital for the worshipping community, the entire Jewish people. Without godly and able leadership, chaos would result. 

Godliness and talent are not always found together in leadership these days. Our government and most corporations are led by men and women with charisma, skill and ability who fall quite often to the temptations of greed and lust. The result of course is criminality, selfishness and chaos. Even in Christian churches we find many leaders who are guilty of embezzlement, egotism, pride and sexual immorality. This is because many churches have bought into the worldly view that charisma, good looks and talent are what are necessary for the proper functioning of God’s Kingdom. Such things are not indicators of holiness. A life of service and humility are good keys to selecting godly leadership.

 

The Chronicles of the Kings: Kingdom ministry roles.

1 Chronicles 23

Here we encounter another list of names of Levites. Now that the Temple was to be built there will no longer be any need for the portable Tent of Meeting that Moses constructed in the wilderness. That being the case, the list of duties outlined for the Levites in Numbers 3-4 have become obsolete. Then the Levites were responsible for transporting the Ark and the Tent and all the accompanying furniture. With a permanent place for the Ark and the altar, those Levites had to perform different functions. There is no such thing in God’s kingdom as downsizing. Every member of the Kingdom has a task or ministry to carry out.    

There were 4 basic duties under this reassignment that the Levites were to carry out. Some Levites were assigned as guards or gatekeepers. Some were assigned to clean and maintain the Temple precinct. Some were assigned to assist the priest in the duties of the sacrifices. Finally, some were assigned as musicians and singers. These Levites, as we see, filled supporting roles that were vital to the proper conduct of worship. 

This indicates to us that all believers have a vital role to play in the Kingdom of God. Some may have major roles of speaking and preaching, but the majority will serve in supporting roles. Nevertheless those in supporting positions are vital to the work of God’s kingdom and must never be taken for granted or belittled for their service. Those who work in administration, finances, hospitality and cleaning serve the church in ways that ensure the proper functioning of the entire Body of Christ. They are just as important as those who preach and teach. 

 

The Chronicles of the Kings: The Kingdom Worldview

1 Chronicles 22

As we read the exchange between King David and his son Solomon we sense that there is a deep connection between the two men.  We also note that God’s covenant is renewed from father to son establishing a strong continuity between their reigns. The work of David has brought rest to the land which is the fulfillment of the covenant the Lord made with Abraham but is now fully realized under Solomon. The Chronicler intends fact as a means of comfort the returned exiles from Babylon. The thought comforts us as well for we know we can rest in peace amid trials and persecution secure in the awareness that we are held by a God who always keeps His word. 

The passage also highlights the continuity of the Law of God as well as the necessity for obedience to God’s will. There is also continuity of worship for Yahweh is the only God there is and He is to be worshipped as He has commanded. Thus if we desire to live at peace with God we must offer glory and honor to no one other than Him. We owe our faith and allegiance to Him above all else including our nation and all our relationships and activities. All of our affiliations and pursuits all our relationships and loyalties must be routed and filtered through our relationship with Almighty God. All that is incompatible with this primary relationship is to be avoided as sinful, worthless or at best, unnecessary. 

Perhaps we would do well to think of that popular Christian phrase which asks “What would Jesus do?” If we were to consider all of our choices, options and desires with a Christian worldview, we would find this quite a helpful way to choose. Yet at the same time we would find it difficult to implement for the priorities  of the Kingdom of God usually conflict with the values of the world. 

 

The Chronicles of the Kings: Satan’s involvement in David’s sin.

1 Chronicles 21

Although we have encountered this incident regarding David’s census and God’s ensuing punishment by plague, the Chronicler adds a subtle but significant point. He starts his account by mentioning that Satan was the one who tempted David to take a census, whereas in Samuel, we were told it was God. Although this seems like a contradiction it is not. When we combine these 2 points we discover that the Lord used Satan as His agent to carry out His will. This does not in any way absolve David from guilt. He still sinned by taking a military census to exalt his pride. 

Nor does the involvement of Satan mean that God does evil, a thought which skeptics love to emphasize in an effort to deny the authenticity and inerrancy of God’s word. The eyes of faith see differently for we know that the Lord knows everything. Nothing happens apart from His plan and His sovereign will including the evil that men do and the evil acts of Satan. The spiritual warfare we see taking place here underscores the fact that the Lord sets limits on both. It is He who sent the death angel to take the lives of the people of Israel. It is He who stopped the plague by staying the angel’s sword on the threshing floor. This tells us that God has already defeated evil for the Temple will be at the place where this happened. Evil is defeated by what the Temple sacrifices prefigure, the ultimate sacrificial offering of Jesus, the Son of God on the cross.

 

The Chronicles of the Kings: Spiritual warfare.

1 Chronicles 19-20

The growth of Israel under David threatened many of her neighbors. Wars continued with the Ammonites and the Philistines. These peoples had to be exterminated because they were a threat to Israel’s purity and holiness. If they were not dealt with, then the Israelites would be seduced by their gods. The gods the pagans worshipped usually were inspired by demons. These demons inspired the practitioners to incorporate into their worship all sorts of sensual activities including ritual prostitution as well as other forms of sexual immorality. Demons know that the pull of the flesh is a very strong one that can lead an individual astray very easily. Humans are easily seduced and enslaved by such behavior. One enslaved, the chains of such sin are difficult to break.

We see that David and his men dealt with the foreign enemies. Armies as well as individuals and small groups went into battle and defeated their foes. The victory in every case was the Lord’s. In the same way we believers must go into the spiritual battle against the demonic forces in this world, both as individuals and in community with our fellow Christians. The forces we face tempt people and lead them into the captivity of sin through the allure of sexual immorality among other things. These demons seduce people through the bait of self-centered material indulgence promulgated through our culture and our media. The truth of God’s word is our weapon as are prayer and worship. These prepare us to go into this battle ready  for a fierce fight for the devil’s hold on our world is quite strong.

 

The Chronicles of the Kings: David’s conquests.

1 Chronicles 18

Although here we see David’s armies, under the leadership of Joab conquering the enemies of Israel, God is the one who is responsible for their victories. Some of the nations were conquered in battle and some,  intimidated by the unstoppable force of Israel’s might, thought it better to make peace. David’s conquests made him seem like a new Joshua for like him, David led the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land. He too defeated allowing the people of Israel to rest and prosper under the Lord’s hand of blessing.

The Chronicler used these tales of David’s conquests to advise the returned exiles to do the same: rest and enjoy the hand of the Lord’s blessing. Although they were not a free nation nor did they possess an army, they were protected by the Lord for He was using their Persian overlords to defend them. Now they had an opportunity to build a cohesive community centered on worship of Yahweh. After all, the kingdom of God is not limited to one land. It is spiritual and ethical. 

This anticipates the reign of Christ. His kingdom is not political but spiritual. We who are His subjects are called upon to fight spiritual battles against God’s enemy, Satan. Our battles are fought with prayer and the preaching of God’s word. Each person who accepts Christ is territory which has been wrested from the control of the enemy. Yet it is God by His Spirit who obtains the victory.

 

The Chronicles of the Kings: An Eternal Kingdom.

1 Chronicles 17

Once David had settled into his capital and palace, he decided it was time to build the Lord a permanent dwelling place, a Temple to replace the Tent of Meeting. The Lord had other ideas. He wanted to build a “house” or dynasty for David, to bless him, all Israel and their descendants. The Lord promised to establish the throne of David forever. At the time which the Chronicler wrote, this may have seemed an empty promise since the kingdom had fallen. Nevertheless the writer wanted his audience to know that the Lord never breaks His word. He had not forgotten His people despite the circumstances.

The promise of a permanent King on the throne of Israel may strike us as strange as well since neither modern Israel nor the Jews have a King to rule them. We may think God has failed to keep His word. Yet that King does rule for it is Jesus who occupies that throne. And because Jesus is both God and man, He occupies that throne forever. However, since He is Spirit and His kingdom is spiritual it knows no territorial bounds. Neither does the Lord require a building to house Him. 

A lot of money has been spent by well-intentioned Christians through the last 2 millennia on fine church buildings adorned with gold, precious metals, and other finery. No doubt many of those who constructed such great and beautiful edifices did it as an act of devotion to the Lord. These have had their rewards, but the truth is that the Lord is rightly served and exalted by the love, obedience and righteousness of His saints.

 

The Chronicles of the Kings: God is everywhere.

1 Chronicles 16

The song of worship which David sings here combines portions of three different Psalms. These can serve us as examples of worship and prayer as they enumerate specific works and attributes of the Lord. We are told not just to worship and praise God but we tell God why we do in concrete terms and images!

The first portion, from Psalm 105, extols the Lord as the One who keeps His covenant with His people Israel. The second portion, from Psalm 96, exalts Him as not just the God of Israel, but the God of all the earth. There is no God but He for all others that are called gods are nothing. The last portion, from Psalm 106, praises the Lord who out of His goodness and mercy brings salvation to those He loves. They are combined here as David renewed the covenant with Yahweh. The Chronicler used this incident to remind the audience that God is God of all the earth. He is One who keeps His word, always. Therefore, He is absolutely trustworthy even in the midst of circumstances that make it seem that He does not care. 

The end of this chapter tells us that David kept the Ark in Jerusalem, but left the tent of Meeting that Moses built in Gibeon. Offerings and sacrifices were made at Gibeon. It appears that the ministry at Jerusalem was primarily that of music. Again this is to show that God is not confined to one place, or to be worshipped in only one place. He is not like the pagan gods who are limited to a local area. God is a spirit who is everywhere. As we worship in our churches on Sundays we must remember that we can worship the Lord any day, at any time and any place. Sunday is just one day when we worship in a special way, corporately, as the Body of Christ. As His Body we are His dwelling place.