1 Chronicles 26:1-32 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 26:1-32. Let’s go!
1 Chronicles 26:1 (NIV)
1 The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.
On verses 1-3: Here the Chronicler begins to list the men who served as gatekeepers at the temple. Their role was to welcome those who entered the temple and also prevent dangerous or unclean things from entering. They were part greeter team, part usher, part security, and 100% the first impression people received when people came to worship at the temple. The fact that the Chronicler lists in detail who served as gatekeepers shows how important the gatekeeper ministry was, and continues to be today. If you are part of a greeter team, ushering team or security team at the church, thank you! Your role is a crucial one. You are the front door of the church and the first impression people receive when they come. In fact, for people who have never been to church before, you are their first impression of your church and of Jesus. So never underestimate your role as a greeter, usher, or security person. When you serve as a greeter, usher or security, know that your attitude, your demeanor and how proactive, observant and loving you are make a huge difference in people’s experience at church.
1 Chronicles 26:4-5 (NIV)
4 Obed-Edom also had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh and Peullethai the eighth. (For God had blessed Obed-Edom.)
On verses 4-8: Remember Obed-Edom, the one who got to keep the ark in his house and God blessed everything he had? Later Obed-Edom would serve as a musician in the temple as well as a gatekeeper. Here we see how God blessed Obed-Edom even more with children eight sons of his own and that Obed-Edom’s descendants were “capable men with the strength to do the work” of the temple (v8). Praise God. May we be like Obed-Edom – people who love God’s presence, who love to serve God with passion, and who reproduce others who will also serve God with strength and passion.
1 Chronicles 26:10 (NIV)
10 Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first),
On verses 10: Usually the firstborn in the family was entitled to special blessing, including a supermajority share of the family inheritance, special status, and decision-making authority. Apparently a father had the right to give the rights of the first to a son who was not the firstborn. In this case, Hosah gives Shimri the rights of a firstborn even though he was not the actual firstborn. This reminds me that Jesus is known as the “firstborn of all creation” (meaning that he was created per se, but that He has special status in the Father’s eyes and a right to His Father’s inheritance). Yet instead of clinging onto that firstborn status, in amazing humility and love He gave that firstborn status to us so that we could become children of God and royal heirs of God’s family. He traded his treasured firstborn status for our orphaned and forsaken status. Like Shimri, we were given the rights and status of a firstborn even though we were not.
1 Chronicles 26:10 (NIV)
10 Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first),
On verses 12-19: Just like the musicians and the priests, the gatekeepers also casted lots to determine when they would serve. Once again, it’s a lesson for us that good organization, fairness and impartiality should inform the way we serve at church.
1 Chronicles 26:20-22 (NIV)
20 Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things.
21 The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli,
22 the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries of the temple of the LORD.
On verses 20-28: Here the Chronicler lists those Levites who were in charge of guarding the temple treasuries. It’s a reminder that the church needs an excellent, well organized finance team to manage, protect and keep records of finances. If you serve in the finance ministry of your church, what an important role you play.
1 Chronicles 26:29-32 (NIV)
29 From the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were assigned duties away from the temple, as officials and judges over Israel.
30 From the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives–seventeen hundred able men–were responsible in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the LORD and for the king’s service.
31 As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth year of David’s reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead.
32 Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.
On verses 29-32: Here the Chronicler lists other people who were not priests, temple helpers, gatekeepers or treasurers, but who played other very important roles, such as acting as officials and judges (v29), serving in other ministries (v30), and advisors (v32). What can we learn from this? It takes a great team to make worship possible for a community. Whether you serve on stage or off stage, on Sundays or other days, with people or alone, inside the church building or outside, thank you for all that you do! You have a hugely important role to play as you serve in God’s church.
Heavenly Father, thank You for every single person in my church who serves, whether it’s in public or in private, with a team or alone, inside the church building or outside. As Psalm 16:3 says, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. Thank You for all that they do to serve You and Your church and to make our church an amazing place to worship the Lord. Like You blessed Obed-Edom, would You bless them in every way, protect them, honour their humble service, and expand their territory! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
