Operation of the Temple

I Chronicles Chapter 23

David was now an old man and he appointed Solomon to be King over Israel. He summoned all the leaders and priests for the coronation ceremony. All the Levites who were thirty years old or older were counted and the total was thirty-eight thousand. David split twenty-four thousand to supervise the work on the Temple, another six thousand to serve as judges and officials. He chose four thousand to work as gatekeepers and another four thousand to praise the Lord with musical instruments. He divided the Levites into divisions named after the clans descended from the three sons of Levi- Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The Descendants of each tribe are listed in verses 7 through 22.

These descendants of Levi by clans were registered carefully by name. Each had to be twenty years or older to qualify for service in the house of the Lord. David told them that the Lord gave them peace and he would always live in Jerusalem. Now the Levites no longer had to carry the Tabernacle and its utensils from place to place.

The work of the Levites was to assist the priests, the descendants of Aaron, as they served at the house of the Lord. They took care of the courtyards and side rooms and helped perform ceremonies of purification and served in so many other ways listed in verses 29 through 32.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: David couldn't build the Temple, but he made the preparations and took the job seriously. Why was the census of the Levites acceptable when the other was not? Because it counted only those used to serve god and the census was not based on pride or self-sufficiency.

Priests and Levites were supported by Israel's tithes and revenues from certain cities that had been given tothem. Worship in the house of the Lord could not have taken place without the combined efforts of the priests and Levites.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Tithing is still done in our churches. Often we do not tithe the amount that we should. We must bear in mind that the tithe goes to many things including salaries, property management etc. Without tithing, many of our churches could not survive.

This chapter tells us that without the priests and Levites, there would not have been worship in the house of the Lord. What kind of service do you provide in your own church? Remember that you are a very important part in the functioning of your church. No job is more important, whether it be serving on the governing body or serving in an outreach program or being an usher. All of these things makes the church operate. Praise the Lord for the little part you have in making sure others have a place to worship.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.