1Ch 26:1-19 | KingComments | STEP | After we have had the singers and their service in prophecy before us in 1 Chronicles 25, our eyes are now turned to the gatekeepers. In the New Testament we can recognize them in the overseers, they are the ones who supervise. Like desiring earnestly the gift of prophecy ( ), the aspiring of the office of overseer is encouraged ( ). The gatekeeper has the “task to minister in the house of the LORD” ( ); the overseer has the task to supervise “how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God” ( ). The leaders of the 4,000 gatekeepers in total are mentioned ( ; ). The gatekeepers are at the four large gate buildings. Their big task is to see who is allowed to enter the temple and who is not. Those who are not allowed to enter they must keep outside, while all those who are allowed in must be allowed to enter. We can apply this to receiving believers at the Lord’s Table to participate in the Lord’s Supper. Two dangers must be avoided. One danger is that of generosity, whereby anyone who wishes to do so can be received to the Supper without investigating. If an unknown person comes who claims to be a believer, this should be investigated. There must be witnesses ( ). It is also important to establish that such a person does not live in sin ( ), that he has no wrong doctrine about the Lord Jesus and His work ( ; ) and that he does not belong to a group of Christians where public evil is not disciplined ( ; ). The other danger is a narrowness that refuses all those who do not belong to the same group of churches. Then believers are refused on other grounds than those just mentioned. The refusal of believers because of all kinds of differences in opinion which are not fundamental, is sectarianism. Although not everyone is a gatekeeper, all believers have the task of ensuring that the scriptural conditions for receiving or refusal are maintained. Being a gatekeeper is not an easy task. The Galatians were not good gatekeepers. They had allowed false apostles to enter with their false teachings about the law ( ). Like a true gatekeeper, Paul writes his letter to them, saying that he does not submit to such false brethren for one hour ( ). The investigation of who or what should be admitted to the temple can also be applied to our body. For our body is also called “a temple of the Holy Spirit” ( ). What do we allow to enter through eye and ear and thoughts and what do we absorb into our hearts? From the “gates” of the heart flow “the springs of life” ( ). This is why we must also watch over the entrances and exits of our hearts with the greatest care, and be gatekeepers for ourselves. We must condemn and remove what is not good, and allow what shapes us and makes our life more to the glory of God. Here we find Obed-edom ( ; ). He honored and watched over the ark ( ). Here God honors and blesses him indeed ( ) by giving him eight sons and entrusting him and his sons with the care of a gate and the storehouse. Besides supervising the south gate, he also takes care of the food of the priests. In it we see a picture of teaching in the church (cf. ). That is a great responsibility. His grandsons (sons of his son Shemaiah) are “mighty men of valor” ( ) and “valiant men” ( ). Of one of the sons of Hosah, Shimri, is mentioned something special: “Although he was not the firstborn, his father made him first” ( ). Possible causes for this may be that he has special qualities, given to him by God, with an accompanying spiritual attitude, or because his oldest brother does not care about the things of God. Although nothing of the temple exists yet, David can arrange everything because God has already revealed His plan for the temple to him ( ). According to this plan David arranges everything. The keepers of the gates to be built are already appointed by lot, that is to say by the LORD Himself ( ). As a result, this designation is made without regard to the person.

‏ 1 Chronicles 26:1-19

2. The Divisions of the Gatekeepers

After we have had the singers and their service in prophecy before us in 1 Chronicles 25, our eyes are now turned to the gatekeepers. In the New Testament we can recognize them in the overseers, they are the ones who supervise. Like desiring earnestly the gift of prophecy (1Cor 14:1-3), the aspiring of the office of overseer is encouraged (1Tim 3:1). The gatekeeper has the “task to minister in the house of the LORD” (1Chr 26:12); the overseer has the task to supervise “how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God” (1Tim 3:15).

The leaders of the 4,000 gatekeepers in total are mentioned (1Chr 26:1-11; 1Chr 23:5). The gatekeepers are at the four large gate buildings. Their big task is to see who is allowed to enter the temple and who is not. Those who are not allowed to enter they must keep outside, while all those who are allowed in must be allowed to enter.

We can apply this to receiving believers at the Lord’s Table to participate in the Lord’s Supper. Two dangers must be avoided. One danger is that of generosity, whereby anyone who wishes to do so can be received to the Supper without investigating. If an unknown person comes who claims to be a believer, this should be investigated. There must be witnesses (2Cor 13:1). It is also important to establish that such a person does not live in sin (1Cor 5:13), that he has no wrong doctrine about the Lord Jesus and His work (Gal 5:9; 2Jn 1:10) and that he does not belong to a group of Christians where public evil is not disciplined (2Tim 2:19b; 2Jn 1:11).

The other danger is a narrowness that refuses all those who do not belong to the same group of churches. Then believers are refused on other grounds than those just mentioned. The refusal of believers because of all kinds of differences in opinion which are not fundamental, is sectarianism.

Although not everyone is a gatekeeper, all believers have the task of ensuring that the scriptural conditions for receiving or refusal are maintained. Being a gatekeeper is not an easy task.

The Galatians were not good gatekeepers. They had allowed false apostles to enter with their false teachings about the law (Gal 2:4). Like a true gatekeeper, Paul writes his letter to them, saying that he does not submit to such false brethren for one hour (Gal 2:5).

The investigation of who or what should be admitted to the temple can also be applied to our body. For our body is also called “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1Cor 6:19). What do we allow to enter through eye and ear and thoughts and what do we absorb into our hearts? From the “gates” of the heart flow “the springs of life” (Pro 4:23). This is why we must also watch over the entrances and exits of our hearts with the greatest care, and be gatekeepers for ourselves. We must condemn and remove what is not good, and allow what shapes us and makes our life more to the glory of God.

Here we find Obed-edom (1Chr 26:4-8; 1Chr 26:15). He honored and watched over the ark (1Chr 13:13-14). Here God honors and blesses him indeed (1Chr 26:5) by giving him eight sons and entrusting him and his sons with the care of a gate and the storehouse. Besides supervising the south gate, he also takes care of the food of the priests. In it we see a picture of teaching in the church (cf. Mt 24:45-47). That is a great responsibility. His grandsons (sons of his son Shemaiah) are “mighty men of valor” (1Chr 26:6) and “valiant men” (1Chr 26:7).

Of one of the sons of Hosah, Shimri, is mentioned something special: “Although he was not the firstborn, his father made him first” (1Chr 26:10). Possible causes for this may be that he has special qualities, given to him by God, with an accompanying spiritual attitude, or because his oldest brother does not care about the things of God.

Although nothing of the temple exists yet, David can arrange everything because God has already revealed His plan for the temple to him (1Chr 28:11-13). According to this plan David arranges everything. The keepers of the gates to be built are already appointed by lot, that is to say by the LORD Himself (1Chr 26:13). As a result, this designation is made without regard to the person.