The Work of The Levites
December 5, 2019
Commentary
This passage centers around the duties of the Priests and Levites. The Priests and Levites had different jobs in and around the temple. The Priests were authorized to perform the sacrifices while the Levites were set apart to help the Priests. The Levites did the work of elders, deacons, custodians, assistants, musicians, repairmen, etc.
Both the Priests and the Levites came from the tribe of Levi, but Priests also had to be descendants of Aaron who was Israel’s first high Priest (Ex. 28:l-3). Both were supported by tithes and special revenues from certain cities that had been designated for them.
David lowers the age limit for Levitical service to 20 from the previously designated 30 (v. 24). A possible reason for this is that once the worship was centralized in the temple at Jerusalem there would be less need to transport the tabernacle (v. 26), but there would be a greater need of Levites to direct the services in the temple.
Application
The responsibilities of the Priests and Levites were different, but they were equally important in God’s plan. No matter what place of service I may have in the church, it is important to the overall body of Christ and the work of the Lord. I want to be respected but never elevated on a pedestal.
1 Chronicles 23:24– 32 (NET)
24 These were the descendants of Levi according to their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the Lord’s temple and were twenty years old and up. 25 For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given his people rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem. 26 So the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the items used in its service.” 27 According to David’s final instructions, the Levites twenty years old or older were counted.
28 Their job was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the Lord’s temple. They were to take care of the courtyards, the rooms, ceremonial purification of all holy items, and other jobs related to the service of God’s temple. 29 They also took care of the bread that is displayed, the flour for offerings, the unleavened wafers, the round cakes, the mixing, and all the measuring. 30 They also stood in a designated place every morning and offered thanks and praise to the Lord. They also did this in the evening 31 and whenever burnt sacrifices were offered to the Lord on the Sabbath and at new moon festivals and assemblies. A designated number were to serve before the Lord regularly in accordance with regulations. 32 They were in charge of the meeting tent and the Holy Place, and helped their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of the Lord’s temple.