INTERESTING FACTS : GABRIEL DUVALL - SOLDIER; JUDGE; SELECTED AS DELEGATE TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION; COMPTROLLER OF THE U. S. TREASURY; U. S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

 

"I RESIGN MY SOUL INTO THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY WHO GAVE IT, IN HUMBLE HOPES OF HIS MERCY THROUGH OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST."

 

DAILY READING : 1 CHRONICLES 6

 

TEXT : 1Ch 6:31 And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest. 1Ch 6:32 And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.

 

THEME : GENEALOGIES AND GIFTS

 

"This chapter begins with the fathers and heads of the tribe of Levi, 1Ch_6:1, and reckons up the high priests in the line of Eleazar, to the Babylonish captivity, 1Ch_6:4 gives an account of the families of the sons of Levi, 1Ch_6:16 and of those Levites that were employed as singers, and in other ministrations in the sanctuary in the times of David and Solomon, 1Ch_6:31, then follows a repetition of the sons of Aaron in the l ine of Eleazar, to the said times, 1Ch_6:50, and a recital of the dwelling places of the Levites in the several tribes, 1Ch_6:54." [John Gill]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : EVERY MAN AND WOMAN IN CHRIST SHOULD VALUE WORSHIPPING GOD THROUGH SONG!

 

Since chapter six of 1st Chronicles is a genealogy of the tribe of Levi, and the order of Levitical service, I thought to offer you Matthew Henry's commentary on verses 31 - 53. I cannot improve on his work, and believe you will benefit from his remarks.

 

In general, Matthew Henry points out the difference of responsibilities based on God's call for service in the Temple. This shows us how we, as members of the Body of Christ, are gifted and called to serve Christ - each in our own capacity, according to the measure of faith given to us. Thankfully, God does not require, request, or approve of us doing the work He called someone else to do. For this reason, we have the confusion, controversy, and weariness in the Church today. That is to say, we must do what God has called us to do, and only what He has called us to do. A nything beyond that is presumption. Anything below that is dereliction of duty, for which each individual will be held responsible before God. Read what Jesus said about gifts, talents, their use, and giving an account before Him at His return.

 

"And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.   After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." [Matthew 25:15 - 30]

 

Specifically, Matthew Henry gives us some insight into Temple worship. This should encourage and exhort all who profess Christ to value the singing and playing of instruments as a God pleasing, God ordained method of giving Him glory when we are in His presence - as individuals and as a corporate Body.

 

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." [Eph_5:19; Col_3:16] 

 

"When the Levites were first ordained in the wilderness much of the work then appointed them lay in carrying and taking care of the tabernacle and the utensils of it, while they were in their march through the wilderness. In David's time their number was increased; and, though the greater part of them was dispersed all the nation over, to teach the people the good knowledge of the Lord, yet those that attended the house of God were so numerous that there was not constant work for them all; and therefore David, by special commission and direction from God, new-modelled the Levites, as we shall find in the latter part of this book. Here we are told what the work was which he assigned them.

 

I. Singing-work, 1Ch_6:31. David was raised up on high to be the sweet psalmist of Israel (2Sa_23:1), not only to pen psalms, but to appoint the singing of them in the house of the Lord (not so much because he was musical as because he was devout), and this he did after that the ark had rest. While that was in captivity, obscure, and unsettled, the harps were hung upon the willow-trees: singing was then thought unseasonable (when the bridegroom is taken away they shall fast); but the harps being resumed, and the songs revived, at the bringing up of the ark, they were continued afterwards. For we should rejoice as much in the prolonging of our spiritual privileges as in the restoring of them. When the service of the ark was much superseded by its rest they had other work cu t out for them (for Levites should never be idle) and were employed in the service of song. Thus when the people of God come to the rest which remains for them above they shall take leave of all their burdens and be employed in everlasting songs. These singers kept up that service in the tabernacle till the temple was built, and then they waited on their office there, 1Ch_6:32.

 

When they came to that stately magnificent house they kept as close both to their office and to their order as they had done in the tabernacle. It is a pity that the preferment of the Levites should ever make them remiss in their business. We have here an account of the three great masters who were employed in the service of the sacred song, with their respective families; for they waited with their children, that is, such as descended from them or were allied to them, 1Ch_6:33. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were the three that were appointed to this service, one of each of the three houses of the Levites, that there might be an equality in the distribution of this work and honour, and that every one might know his post, such an admirable order was there in this choir service. 1. Of the house of Kohath was Heman with his family (1Ch_6:33), a man of a sorrowful spirit, if it be the same Heman that penned the 88th psalm, and yet a singer. He was the grandson of Samuel the prophet, the son of Joel, of whom it is said that he walked not in the ways of Samuel (1Sa_8:2, 1Sa_8:3); but it seems, though the son did not, the grandson did. Thus does the blessing entailed on the seed of the upright sometimes pass over one generation and fasten upon the next. And this Heman, though the grandson of that mighty prince, did not think it below him to be a precentor in the house of God. David himself was willing to be a door-keeper. Rather we may look upon this preferment of the grandson in the church as a recompense for the humble modest resignation which the grandfather made of his authority in the state.

 

Many such ways God has of making up his people's losses and balancing their disgraces. Perhaps David, in making Heman the chief, had some respect to his old friend Samuel. 2. Of the house of Gershom was Asaph, called his brother, because in the same office and of the same tribe, though of another family. He was posted on Heman's right hand in the choir, 1Ch_6:39. Several of the psalms bear his name, being either penned by him or tuned by him as the chief musician. It is plain that he was the penman of some psalms; for we read of those that praised the Lord in the words of David and of Asaph. He was a seer as well as a singer, 2Ch_29:30. His pedigree is traced up here, through names utterly unknown, as high as Levi, 1Ch_6:39-43. 3. Of the house of Merari was Ethan (1Ch_6:44), who was appointed to Heman's left hand. His pedigree is also traced up to Levi, 1Ch_6:47. If these were the Heman and Ethan that penned the 88th and 89th psalms, there appears no reason here why they should be called Ezrahites (see the titles of those psalms), as there does why those should be called so who are mentioned 1Ch_2:6, and who were the sons of Zerah.

 

II. There was serving-work, abundance of service to be done in the tabernacle of the house of God (1Ch_6:48), to provide water and fuel, - to wash and sweep, and carry out ashes, - to kill, and flay, and boil the sacrifices; and to all such services there were Levites appointed, those of other families, or perhaps those that were not fit to be singers, that had eith er no good voice or no good ear. As every one has received the gift, so let him minister. Those that could not sing must not therefore be laid aside as good for nothing; though they were not fit for that service, there was other service they might be useful in.

 

III. There was sacrificing-work, and that was to be done by the priests only, 1Ch_6:49. They only were to sprinkle the blood and burn the incense; as for the work of the most holy place, that was to be done by the high priest only. Each had his work, and they both needed one another and both helped one another in it. Concerning the work of the priests we are here told, 1. What was the end they were to have in their eye. They were to make an atonement for Israel, to mediate between the people and God; not to magnify and enrich themselves, but to serve the public. They were ordained for men. 2. What was the rule they were to have in their eye. They presided in God's house, yet must do as they were bidden, according to all that God commanded. That law the highest are subject to."