1 Chronicles 23:25-28 KJV
For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:
And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.
For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:
Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;
John Gill says that the purifying work of these priests was, "to keep the house, and all the apartments in it, courts and chambers, clean, by sweeping and washing them, and carrying out all the filth thereof made by the sacrifices, and otherwise."[1]
These Levites were, for years, charged with the duty to carry the tabernacle and the vessels of worship from place to place. No one else was supposed to do that assignment, and a breach of that assignment actually cost Uzza his life. But now, times have changed and so have the needs. Once the Temple was completed the tabernacle would be dispensed with and the articles of worship would be forever kept in one place. And these men, whose assignment had been so important, were now charged with "…sweeping and washing... and carrying out...the filth..."
I marvel at the willingness of these men to have their function so changed. There is no indication of revolt or rebellion. It appears that they willingly made the changes in their duties.
And what an important assignment this is! Caring for the things of the Lord; keeping them clean and orderly and well kept, is as important work of the Lord as is any other ministry in worshiping and serving the Lord.
Let us first be willing to make whatever changes are necessary to see the Lord's name glorified.
Let us not fuss and feud when we must give and change as times and needs change but happily and willingly follow God's man as he places new burdens in our lives
Let us secondly see every assignment in the work of God as vital and essential. No task, if done for the Lord is menial. Every task deserves to be done to the very best of our abilities.
For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:
And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.
For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:
Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;
John Gill says that the purifying work of these priests was, "to keep the house, and all the apartments in it, courts and chambers, clean, by sweeping and washing them, and carrying out all the filth thereof made by the sacrifices, and otherwise."[1]
These Levites were, for years, charged with the duty to carry the tabernacle and the vessels of worship from place to place. No one else was supposed to do that assignment, and a breach of that assignment actually cost Uzza his life. But now, times have changed and so have the needs. Once the Temple was completed the tabernacle would be dispensed with and the articles of worship would be forever kept in one place. And these men, whose assignment had been so important, were now charged with "…sweeping and washing... and carrying out...the filth..."
I marvel at the willingness of these men to have their function so changed. There is no indication of revolt or rebellion. It appears that they willingly made the changes in their duties.
And what an important assignment this is! Caring for the things of the Lord; keeping them clean and orderly and well kept, is as important work of the Lord as is any other ministry in worshiping and serving the Lord.
Let us first be willing to make whatever changes are necessary to see the Lord's name glorified.
Let us not fuss and feud when we must give and change as times and needs change but happily and willingly follow God's man as he places new burdens in our lives
Let us secondly see every assignment in the work of God as vital and essential. No task, if done for the Lord is menial. Every task deserves to be done to the very best of our abilities.
[1] E-Sword 7.7.7, John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, Dr. John Gill (1690-1771)
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