Day 122. 1 Chronicles 24-26

I apologize in advance. This reading is not very interesting. So let's treat it as a "bye"--at the same time remembering what we have said before—that every word of scripture was gospel—good news-- for someone at some time.
In 1 Chronicles only the direct descendents of Aaron—the families of his sons Eleazar and Ithamar—are priests. All the rest of the tribe of Levi—called in our text "Levites"—have support functions relating to the maintenance of the tabernacle and the conduct of worship. Today's reading continues the account of the King David's reorganization of the priests and Levites in preparation for the building of the Jerusalem temple.
We do not usually think of church musicians in this way, but in the breakdown of the functions of the Levites they are treated as prophets. In chapter 25 we are told that "David and the officers of his army"—we should not forget that Israel is a military state—"set apart" certain families of Levites who are to "prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals" (21:1). They are prophets because they proclaim God's word in songs. Their performances are not altogether spontaneous, however--there is a provision made here for training in singing and instrumental music (25:7), presumably in a school attached to the temple and established for that purpose of training young musician-prophets.
Some Levite families once entrusted with the moving of the tabernacle are now in David's new scheme made "gatekeepers"—security guards for the temple precincts. Other Levites were commissioned to take "charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of dedicated gifts." These include "booty won in battles" that has been dedicated to "the maintenance of the house of the LORD" (26:27). Many of these gifts go back to the days of Samuel the seer and King Saul (26:28). Now all this accumulated treasure is organized and prepared for the great task of building Solomon's temple, which is the climax of the Books of Chronicles.