God’s Word for You
1 Chronicles 23 Summary: Changing roles
by Pastor Timothy Smith on Monday, May 6, 2024
The next five chapters of 1 Chronicles describe the preparation and allocation of the people who personally served in ministry in the temple. The church is made up of people; the structure of physical churches is a comparatively minor aspect of worship. How many European churches stand as monuments to the construction and design genius of their age, and yet stand empty today, with no human voices resounding within their walls apart from visitors who shout to see how long the echo will last?
David foresaw the need for large numbers of assigned priests and Levites as well as support staff for the proper function of the temple as a place of worship. We will look briefly at these chapters, stopping for a few details in each chapter along the way.
Chapter 23 begins “When David was old and full of years.” The king made Solomon king, therefore the two of them briefly ruled together. David had said, “Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days” (Psalm 102:24), which surely means, “Do not let me die unprepared.” “Those who are tired of life and desire death, like David, Abraham (Genesis 25:8) and Paul (Philippians 1:23) are removed (from the world) at the end of their days, for they have said goodbye to life” (LW 14:186).
It was at this time that David counted the priests and Levites. There was no sin of pride in this; he needed to know how many men were available for service in the temple. Of the 38,000 that were counted (age 30 and up), the distribution of service went this way:
24,000 for temple service (in divisions)
6,000 officials and judges (in divisions)
4,000 gate keepers (in divisions)
4,000 musicians (in divisions)
One of the original functions of the priests and Levites could be dispensed with, even though it had been handed down from the time of Moses. Since the ark and the tabernacle would no longer need to be moved from place to place, the divisions who carried it could be reassigned. This is the main point of the chapter:
25 For David said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God. (ESV)
Verse 27, taken by itself, seems to suggest that “The Last Words of David” might have been the title of a scroll describing David’s reign, something not in the Bible (such as 2 Samuel) but a secular record. So the words translated here “For by…” in verse 27 could also be, “For according to ‘The Last Words of David.’” But there is no other information here about such a document, and since it has not survived and isn’t part of the text of the Bible, we don’t need to give it any further thought.
The emphasis of the chapter is that the duties of the Levites were redistributed. No longer would they carry the tabernacle or its furnishings, except perhaps on one occasion. What happened to the tabernacle after it was used for the final time? 2 Chronicles 1:13 appears to describe this moment, at least the final time the high place at Gibeon was used by Solomon. Was the tent of Moses brought inside the temple of Solomon and stored away with reverence in one or more of the many store rooms there (1 Chronicles 28:12)? Such “chambers” are even mentioned here in verse 28. Whatever became of the ancient tent and its fixtures, the Levites were put in charge of taking care of those things, of cleansing (ceremonial washing), and of doing any other service that was required.
It is a good thing for everyone to occasionally do tasks that would ordinarily be done by someone else. On Boxing Day (the day after Christmas), the British army has the tradition of officers and enlisted men trading places for a day—a day when, admittedly, very little happens. But the officers clean, sweep, mop, take inventory, and so on, while the enlisted men are forced to make decisions, give orders that affect the entire camp, and so on. A pastor should remember how to work a broom or a mop from time to time, know where the trash and recycling go, do the dishes, and sometimes even help set up for Communion or wash the dishes afterward. While we have volunteers or even paid staff that does many things, a called worker who is willing to get his hands dirty will at least be able to answer questions for new volunteers. It is far better to say “I know” because I’ve done a thing than to say “I don’t know” or “I imagine” because I’ve never done it. Paul said: “Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). And again: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Your work may change from time to time, from year to year, and even into and out of ministry. Do whatever the Lord gives you to do; rejoice and give him glory as you do it, for this pleases him most.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. To receive God’s Word for You via e-mail, please visit the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church website.