1Ch 9:17-20 | KingComments | STEP | The gatekeepers ( ) must ensure that nothing enters God’s house that does not belong there. It is the task of every believer with regard to the present temple, the church of God, to watch over it (cf. ). For example, it means paying attention to what is taught, what kind of gospel is brought, how worship is practiced. The standard of assessment is that “all things” are “done for edification” ( ). Although all believers have the task of ensuring that what happens in the church is in accordance with God’s will, this task rests especially on the shoulders of elders or overseers. Besides the fact that the function of gatekeeper is important for the church, the vigilance of the gatekeeper is also important for our body, which is also a temple of the Holy Spirit ( ). We have to watch what enters our hearts through our eyes and ears. “The king’s gate” ( ; ) is the gate through which the king goes from his palace to the temple. This gate will always have been closed and only opened when the king goes through it to the temple and from the temple back to his palace ( ). Although there is no king in Israel when the remnant has returned to Israel, this gate is still honored, probably in the hope that sooner or later the scepter will return to David’s house. Can what is said of Phinehas also be said of us? “The LORD was with him” ( ). This can be said of him because he watched over the honor of the LORD and stood up for it at the moment His honor was at stake ( ). Something is said here about Samuel that we don’t read of him anywhere else ( ). Here it appears that he not only as a prophet spoke the Word of God to the conscience of the people, but also contributed to the service in the house of God. After all, he also grew up in the immediate vicinity of the tabernacle and became completely familiar with the service in it. It is not a forgotten aspect of his service, but the Holy Spirit has thought it good to mention it only here. It reminds us that the service in the house of God must be fully in accordance with the Word of God. Those who serve in the house of God also spend the night close to this house ( ). This allows them to start their service as soon as they wake up. It is good for ministers to be close to their work, to the house of God, and to devote themselves fully to it. For us it means that we are constantly aware that we are in God’s house and that our whole daily life takes place there, while it is night in the world around us. There is diversity and unity in the service of the Levites ( ). We can learn from this that also in the church each has his or her own task to perform and that this task happens at the same time in unity with others. The singers are never free ( ). They are not with , but in the chambers of the temple and constantly praise God, “day and night”, as He, Who always does good, is due. Here the temple is a picture of heaven, of what is happening there ( ). “How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You” ( ; ).

‏ 1 Chronicles 9:17-20

Levites, Gatekeepers and Singers

The gatekeepers (1Chr 9:17) must ensure that nothing enters God’s house that does not belong there. It is the task of every believer with regard to the present temple, the church of God, to watch over it (cf. Mk 13:34). For example, it means paying attention to what is taught, what kind of gospel is brought, how worship is practiced. The standard of assessment is that “all things” are “done for edification” (1Cor 14:26b).

Although all believers have the task of ensuring that what happens in the church is in accordance with God’s will, this task rests especially on the shoulders of elders or overseers. Besides the fact that the function of gatekeeper is important for the church, the vigilance of the gatekeeper is also important for our body, which is also a temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 6:19). We have to watch what enters our hearts through our eyes and ears.

“The king’s gate” (1Chr 9:18; 2Kgs 16:18) is the gate through which the king goes from his palace to the temple. This gate will always have been closed and only opened when the king goes through it to the temple and from the temple back to his palace (Eze 44:2-3). Although there is no king in Israel when the remnant has returned to Israel, this gate is still honored, probably in the hope that sooner or later the scepter will return to David’s house.

Can what is said of Phinehas also be said of us? “The LORD was with him” (1Chr 9:20). This can be said of him because he watched over the honor of the LORD and stood up for it at the moment His honor was at stake (Num 25:6-15).

Something is said here about Samuel that we don’t read of him anywhere else (1Chr 9:22). Here it appears that he not only as a prophet spoke the Word of God to the conscience of the people, but also contributed to the service in the house of God. After all, he also grew up in the immediate vicinity of the tabernacle and became completely familiar with the service in it. It is not a forgotten aspect of his service, but the Holy Spirit has thought it good to mention it only here. It reminds us that the service in the house of God must be fully in accordance with the Word of God.

Those who serve in the house of God also spend the night close to this house (1Chr 9:27). This allows them to start their service as soon as they wake up. It is good for ministers to be close to their work, to the house of God, and to devote themselves fully to it. For us it means that we are constantly aware that we are in God’s house and that our whole daily life takes place there, while it is night in the world around us.

There is diversity and unity in the service of the Levites (1Chr 9:28-32). We can learn from this that also in the church each has his or her own task to perform and that this task happens at the same time in unity with others.

The singers are never free (1Chr 9:33). They are not with, but in the chambers of the temple and constantly praise God, “day and night”, as He, Who always does good, is due. Here the temple is a picture of heaven, of what is happening there (Rev 4:8). “How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You” (Psa 84:4; Heb 13:15).