1 Chronicles 6:32-81 And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing… The promised land was to be a well-cultivated country in more ways than one. Not only was its soil to be well tilled, but its population was to be well trained. Harvests of grain were to be gathered from its fields, and fruits of holiness were to be seen in the lives of its sons and daughters. Excellent and ample provision was made for this religious culture. It was to be, as it should be everywhere and always - I. ATTRACTIVE IN FEATURE. The tabernacle service (ver. 32), and subsequently the temple service, was made inviting and enjoyable with sacred song (ver. 32). The singers sang the praises of Jehovah, and care was taken that they should not be absent from their post. Music, pleasant and attractive, was to make the heart more glad when the Israelites were summoned to go up to the house of the Lord. We are not only at liberty, but are under obligation, to draw as large a company as we can attract to the sanctuary by making its services agreeable and inviting. Good reading, good singing, appropriate prayer, simple and short enough to be entered into by the people, earnest and faithful exhortation, provision for all bodily needs, - these are rightful and desirable things; they should be religiously provided. II. WELL ORGANIZED. "They waited on their office according to their order" (ver. 32). Every necessary arrangement was made that, when one course had concluded, another should begin: the temple would never be without those who were wanted to take up what others were laying down. Things must not be left to the impulse of the hour or to happen as they may: everything is to be carefully and systematically arranged in the service of God, in the culture of the soul. III. VARIED IN MANNER OF SERVICE. "The Levites... were appointed unto all manner of service," etc. (ver. 48). These were (1) of many kinds; and they were probably (2) of many degrees of importance. Certainly there were many that were menial, and there must have been some that were valuable and high. The priests, we know, had nearer access to God, and engaged in the more sacred offices (ver. 49). In the Church of Christ there must be these varieties in kind and in degree. We can only cover the whole ground of sacred service, of religious culture, by dividing the work into many parts, and by some taking higher while others take lower posts. Let us feel that (1) any work done for God and at his bidding is highly honourable; (2) those who are apportioned to the simpler offices are least burdened with responsibility; (3) they who undertake the most sacred functions have especial need of human devotedness and Divine direction. IV. BASED ON POPULAR INTELLIGENCE. Here we have the cities through which the Levites were distributed. They were to be scattered throughout the land, to be mingled with every tribe, in order that they might impart religious instruction to all (Deuteronomy 33:10; and see 2 Chronicles 17:9; 2 Chronicles 30:22; 2 Chronicles 35:3). It was their function to "teach the good knowledge of the Lord," to make known and understood the Law of God. The service of Jehovah was to rest on popular intelligence. Ignorance is not the mother of devotion; it is the fruitful parent of superstition and folly. Religion builds on knowledge, thrives on intelligence. It is the aim of those who wish for a land well cultivated for God that in every town and every smallest village the instructor in Christian truth shall be found: 1. Making known the will of God in Christ Jesus. 2. Interpreting and explaining, so far as may be, the mind of the Divine Master. 3. Enforcing his will by earnest words, and by a blameless, beautiful life. - C. Parallel Verses KJV: And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order. |
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