1Ch 23:15-17 | KingComments | STEP | The division of the Levites into divisions in this section is to keep the overview and also that no one can evade his task. “God is not [a God] of confusion but of peace” ( ). A good division of tasks promotes peace. The application for us is not a question of human organization, but of giving heed to the Holy Spirit “distributing to each one individually just as He wills” ( ; cf. ). There is also care if a family is small ( ). Then families can work together. The description of the task of the Levites ( ) is much more extensive, because the task of the priests is great in content. First of all, the priest must ensure the holiness of the most holy things. This requires a constant contact with the holy God. Then he burns incense, which refers to prayers ( ). It is his privilege to minister to the LORD, which is true for his whole life and especially in the sanctuary. To that end he is a priest. A priest is directed toward God. Only then is he able “to bless in His name forever” outside the sanctuary. His ministry is a matter for his whole life; blessing in the Name of the LORD is a matter done for eternity. In summary, we see that priests sanctify, sacrifice, minister and bless. For us, it means that we must first live a holy life. This is necessary if we are to have a proper awareness of the most holy things. This leads us to bring sacrifices to God and to serve Him all our life. This is not limited to the meetings of the church. The call is that we “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” ( ). It is even so that we present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God ( ), while the results of the priestly service are also mentioned, because those results are brought to God (cf. ). There are two aspects to our priesthood. One aspect is the holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God in the heavenly sanctuary. The other aspect is the royal priesthood, where we come out of the heavenly sanctuary with blessing for those around us ( ). Therefore, we should not limit our priestly task to Sunday worship. Our whole life should be worship. All believers are called to this priestly service. If we don’t do such a service, the cause often lies in foreclosures that we owe to ourselves, or because of incompetence or wrong education. Moses is called “the man of God” ( ; ; ). This special title does not mean that his sons are given priestly status. They are ‘ordinary’ Levites ( ).

‏ 1 Chronicles 23:15-17

David Divides the Levites Into Divisions

The division of the Levites into divisions in this section is to keep the overview and also that no one can evade his task. “God is not [a God] of confusion but of peace” (1Cor 14:33a). A good division of tasks promotes peace. The application for us is not a question of human organization, but of giving heed to the Holy Spirit “distributing to each one individually just as He wills” (1Cor 12:11; cf. 1Cor 12:18). There is also care if a family is small (1Chr 23:11). Then families can work together.

The description of the task of the Levites (1Chr 23:13) is much more extensive, because the task of the priests is great in content. First of all, the priest must ensure the holiness of the most holy things. This requires a constant contact with the holy God. Then he burns incense, which refers to prayers (Psa 141:2). It is his privilege to minister to the LORD, which is true for his whole life and especially in the sanctuary. To that end he is a priest. A priest is directed toward God. Only then is he able “to bless in His name forever” outside the sanctuary. His ministry is a matter for his whole life; blessing in the Name of the LORD is a matter done for eternity. In summary, we see that priests sanctify, sacrifice, minister and bless.

For us, it means that we must first live a holy life. This is necessary if we are to have a proper awareness of the most holy things. This leads us to bring sacrifices to God and to serve Him all our life. This is not limited to the meetings of the church. The call is that we “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” (Heb 13:15). It is even so that we present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God (Rom 12:1), while the results of the priestly service are also mentioned, because those results are brought to God (cf. Rom 15:16).

There are two aspects to our priesthood. One aspect is the holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God in the heavenly sanctuary. The other aspect is the royal priesthood, where we come out of the heavenly sanctuary with blessing for those around us (1Pet 2:5 ; 9).

Therefore, we should not limit our priestly task to Sunday worship. Our whole life should be worship. All believers are called to this priestly service. If we don’t do such a service, the cause often lies in foreclosures that we owe to ourselves, or because of incompetence or wrong education.

Moses is called “the man of God” (1Chr 23:14; Deu 33:1; Psa 90:1). This special title does not mean that his sons are given priestly status. They are ‘ordinary’ Levites (1Chr 23:15-17).