1 Chronicles 23:1-32
Q.1. How did David ensure that the Temple fulfilled the purpose for which God had planned it? – (1 Chr.23:1-11)
David became old and frail. He was kept warm by a Shunammite woman. However, he was still wise enough to install the new king, in spite of a conspiracy (1 Kgs.Chpt.1). David finished well. In his senior years he did more than set out provisions for a magnificent Temple. He organized the Levites for the service of this Temple – 3 The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward, and their number by census of men was 38,000. 4 Of these, 24,000 were to oversee the work of the house of the Lord; and 6,000 were officers and judges, 5 and 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 were praising the Lord with the instruments which David made for giving praise (1 Chr.23:3-5). David was much more than a Commander-in-Chief of the army. He was also a passionate promoter of the worship of God.
Q.2. What important role was given to Aaron’s descendants? – (1 Chr.23:12-20)
The Aaronic priesthood was restricted to Aaron’s descendants – … And Aaron was set apart to sanctify him as most holy, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister to Him and to bless in His name forever (1 Chr.23:13). The leading of Israel in its worship required careful dedication.
Q.3.What was the role of the Levites? How did David change their ministry in Israel? – (1 Chr.23:21-32)
With the Tabernacle in the Royal City, the job profile of the Levites was changed – 24 These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers’ households … by their census, doing the work for the service of the house of the Lord, from twenty years old and upward. 25 For David said, ‘The Lord God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever’ (1 Chr.23:24-25). Added to their high calling to support the priesthood, they were instructed – 30 … to stand every morning to thank and to praise the Lord, and likewise at evening, 31 and to offer all burnt offerings to the Lord, on the sabbaths, the new moons and the fixed festivals in the number set by the ordinance concerning them, continually before the Lord (1 Chr.23:30-31).