Our reading challenge for the day is 1 Chronicles 25-29. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
1 Chronicles 25 - See how the music - the liturgy - is well cared for. These clans of musicians were appointed by God through human means to see that God’s people would faithfully sing His praises.
1 Chronicles 26 - As the nation of Israel has settled down with Jerusalem as its capital the Levites end up serving as civil servants in some ways. They keep the gates of the city and will care for the temple and its treasuries in one place rather than working with the tabernacle and moving from place to place.
1 Chronicles 27 - We see a sort of numbering of troop strength. Yet this one may not be incurring God’s judgment. Observe that the forces are divided out for service in different months. There is a legitimate civil reason for numbering these people, as it is important to keep the military forces balanced from month to month. It is also important to know how many people need to be fed, clothed, and housed while on duty. This is different from taking a wholesale census so as to find out how well the troops can defend the nation.
1 Chronicles 28-29 - See again the concern of the author of Chronicles. The religious life of Israel is first and foremost in these chapters, as David passes the kingdom and all the plans for a glorious temple to his son, Solomon. We know of the problems in David’s later years from Kings, but the author of Chronicles emphasizes the centrality of God’s provision and command through David.
We, like David, are at the same time saint and sinner. Though our lives may be plagued by sin and shame, at the same time we can look to the Lord in hope, being instruments of his grace.
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