I Chronicles 25
Musicians in service of the LORDverse 1a
Moreover David and the captains of the host separated
to the service of the sons of Asaph – Heman – Jeduthun
who should prophesy with
harps – psalteries – cymbals
Sons of Asaphverses 1b-2
And the number of the workmen according to their service was
of the sons of Asaph = Zaccur – Joseph – Nethaniah
Asarelah – the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph
which prophesied according to the order of the king
Sons of Jeduthunverse 3
Of Jeduthun – the sons of Jeduthun = Gedaliah – Zeri
Jeshaiah – Hashabiah – Mattithiah – six
under the hand of their father Jeduthun
who prophesied with a harp
to give THANKS and to PRAISE the LORD
Sons of Hemanverses 4-5
Of Heman – the sons of Heman = Bukkiah – Mattaniah – Uzziel
Shebuel – Jerimoth – Hananiah – Hanani – Eliathah
Giddalti – Romamti-ezer – Joshbekashah – Mallothi
Hothir – Mahazioth
all these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer
in the words of God – to lift up the horn
And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters
Families all trained in musicverses 6-7
All these were under the hands of their father for song in the
house of the LORD with cymbals – psalteries – harps
for the service of the house of God
according to the king’s order
to Asaph – Jeduthun – Heman
So the number of them with their brethren that were instructed
in the songs of the LORD – even all that were cunning
was two hundred fourscore and eight
List of 24 lots for the musiciansverses 8-31
And they cast lots – ward against ward – as well the small
as the great the teacher as the scholar
Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph – the second to Gedaliah
who with his brethren and sons were twelve
the third to Zaccur – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the fourth to Izri – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the fifth to Nethaniah – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the sixth to bukkiah – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the seventh to Jesharelah – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the eighth to Jeshaiah – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the ninth to Mattaniah – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the tenth to Shimei – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the eleventh to Azareel – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the twelfth to Hashabiah – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the thirteenth to Shubael – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the fourteenth to Mattithiah – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the fifteenth to Jeremoth – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the sixteenth to Hananiah – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the seventeenth to Joshbekashah – he – his sons and his brethren
were twelve
the eighteenth to Hanani – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the nineteenth to Mallothi – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the twentieth to Eliathah – he – his sons and his brethren were twelve
the one and twentieth to Hothir – he – his sons and his brethren
were twelve
the two and twentieth to Giddalti – he – his sons and his brethren
were twelve
the three and twentieth to Mahazioth – he – his sons and his
brethren were twelve
the four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer – he – his sons and his
brethren were twelve
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Deshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. (5012 “prophesied” [naba] means speak by inspiration, make self a prophet, in a ecstatic state (in music), communicate a message from a deity or under the influence of divine spirit)
DEVOTION: The LORD is a God of order. HE divided the priests into twenty four orders and here the musicians were divided into twenty four orders. The priests had a group of musicians that worked with him during the times of the morning and evening sacrifices. Music is important to worship. When the priests were active the musicians were active.
Some families are musical. The families have the gift of music. It seems that most if not all of the children have the ability to carry a tune. There are families that are not musical. They have trouble carrying a tune in a basket.
Worship of the LORD is necessary. It is commanded throughout the Word of God. God’s people are to come together regularly to worship the LORD. The service in the Old Testament included the priest, Levites and people. Each had responsibility before the LORD. The priests offered their sacrifices. The Levites helped them with the sacrifices. Some of the Levites were the once who sang and played the musical instruments to lead the people as they came to the temple and left the temple with singing. Each musical group of Levites had a time period that they were to serve. Some had suggested two week periods and then the next order of priests and Levites served.
This chapter lists the twenty- four groups of singers that were to serve the LORD in the temple. They were to use musical instruments in their times of service to the LORD. The messages of their songs were from the LORD. They sang the words of God. We find that music has an influence over people for good or bad. Here we have an example of the good influence of music, which was, a message from God.
The message was one of thanks and praise to the LORD. God inspires the psalms that are recorded in the Bible. These are not just men’s words, but words given by the Holy Spirit to the singers. The church throughout history has sung the Psalms in their services.
We need to sing Scripture as often as we can in our worship services. The music prepares the worshiper for the message of the LORD. If the music or singing is bad, then the message might not come across to the people. We need all those with the ability to stay on key to be involved in the choirs at our local churches. Our worship services use music to prepare hearts for the Word of God.
Those in the pews can make their joyful noise unto the LORD. If some don’t sing, they might not be ready for the message. What message did we hear from the singing in last Sunday’s service? What message were we ready for because we sang to the LORD with our whole heart? Remember the words to the songs are important. If the words are not Biblical, we should not sing the songs.
Did your singing last Sunday encourage the pastor in his preaching of the Word of God. Was there enthusiasm in your voice? Did you understand the words of the music?
CHALLENGE: Do visitors know that we love the LORD by our attendance and singing? Is there zeal for the LORD evident in your church services?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 Of Jeduthhun: the son so fJeduthun;Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. (3034 “give thanks” [yadah] means to praise, confess, take confession, to express gratitude, to show appreciation for someone, laud, to celebrate, or give voice)
DEVOTION: The worship services for the children of Israel were full of times of expressing gratitude for all that the LORD had done for the nation and for the individual families. They would sing the psalms on their way to the worship services as many families would walk with relatives and friends to the feasts and they would sing together before they arrived at the Temple.
Our lives need to be full of praise and gratitude for all the LORD has done for us over the years. If we look back and see how HE has provided for us over the years we should be showing gratitude but some of the time most of us want more than HE has provided or we think that we deserve more than HE has provided.
These thoughts don’t come from a mature believer but one who has given way to the enemy who puts these thoughts in our mind. He wants us to think that we deserve more blessings than the LORD is giving us because we have done so much for the LORD.
We deserve a place in the lake of fire for eternity but HE has provided us a mansion in heaven. This is what we should be looking forward to instead of possessions here on this earth.
The LORD wants us to be content with what we have and thank HIM for those things that we have with an attitude of joy. We should be singing praises to HIM because of the salvation HE has provided through the death of HIS Son on the cross.
There should be a smile on our face each time we meet someone who needs to know the LORD. It should make them ask questions about our smile. If they hear us give a testimony of how great a God we serve they should want to know more because of proper attitude of thanksgiving.
So many people in this world think they have nothing to sing about but with Jesus Christ in our heart and life we always have something to sing about to HIM.
CHALLENGE: Always make a joyful noise unto the LORD for all the blessings you have from HIM on a regular basis.
: 6 And these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Herman. (5656 “service” [work, enforced labor, service which is rendered, work done by one person or group that benefits another, business, labor, ministerial duties)
DEVOTION: Fathers took the lead in the family. They made the music for the house of the LORD and taught their families to sing to the musical instruments. This was a family time of service to the LORD. During these family times it was the father who led the way.
It is an awesome responsibility for a father to train his children to worship the LORD properly. He has to show them by example before he can teach them through instruction. If he doesn’t have a heart to sing praises the children will know it and follow his example rather than his instructions later in life.
God wants us to be genuine in our worship of HIM each Sunday in our local churches. I have watched many people from the pulpit area as they took part in the singing part of the service. It was sad to see some men just stand there and not open their mouth to sing because they thought they didn’t have a singing voice or they just were not in the mood to sing because of something that was happening in their lives.
This however became a problem because the rest of the family was following his lead. We need to have fathers who lead their families in worship both in church and at home. There should be regular times of devotions with children in the home with the father leading these times when he is home.
We have family devotions and I would sing at the end and have the children sing. They knew I liked to sing but I didn’t have a voice that could keep a tune in a basket. My children can sing better but I always thought it was good to start the day before school with singing.
CHALLENGE: Fathers today really need to set the pace for their families to properly worship the LORD. If it is genuine the children will realize that faith can be genuine and they will give their hearts to the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 7 So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight. (995 “cunning” [to understand, see, to pay attention, consider, teach, examine, to be skilled or proficient in some activity or specialty)
DEVOTION: There are many people who are skilled in singing songs in a worship service. Here we have those who were leaders in the worship of the LORD in song. They had this responsibility to make sure that there was praise going up to the LORD during worship services for the children of Israel.
Today we have song leaders in our churches to help the people of the congregation sing the songs with the instruments, so that, everyone is working together to make a joyful noise unto the LORD.
I love to sing but I am usually not in tune. This was a problem. I tried to find people who could carry a tune to lead the singing in all three of my churches. It was hard to find individuals who could sing with enthusiasm. I don’t like dead singing. If there is not life during the singing than when I went out to preach it was not good.
I needed to have enthusiasm in the singing part of the service if I was going to preach a good sermon. It was hard to find the people not encouraged with the singing to have them encouraged to listen while I preached.
So I took it upon myself to lead singing (usually off key) to have the congregation involved with enthusiasm while singing, so that, they were ready for the message from the Word of God.
The LORD knew it was important to sing praises to HIS name for people to get enthusiastic in the preaching of the Word. The leaders in song helped the people stay awake for the message from the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Those leading the singing have to be excited about praising the LORD, so that, they could be awake enough to listen to the preaching of the Word of God.
: 8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teachers as the scholar. (8527 “scholar” [talmiyd] means pupil, someone who takes up knowledge or beliefs form a teacher, a disciple, one taught, or learner.)
DEVOTION: Everyone is important to the LORD. These Levitical families included the young and the old. It didn’t matter what the age of those who served as long as they started at the correct age.
So when the lots were cast for who was going to serve when the young and the old were included in the choice. It was not only the older ones who could serve because of age. It was a dependence on the Holy Spirit for the lot to fall on the right individuals to serve at the times assigned.
The only way that those with no experience could serve was to give them a chance to serve. Too often we wait for individuals to get to a certain age and then we include them in the service of the church. We need to be training individuals from a young age to serve the LORD with their gifts.
Many choirs just have old people in them instead of a mix of young people and adults. It is good to train both together if there is a good singing voice available no matter what the age.
Also this should include those who can play musical instruments. The young people should be trained to work with those who are older. The mix was good. The Holy Spirit has just the right number of people in our churches to make a joyful sound unto the LORD. Too often we are leaving people in the pews that should be up in the choir or in the musician section of the service.
No one should hide their gift from the church. If gifted by the LORD serve HIM with joy. There are many who are in front of the church who don’t have the gift and yet are leading because those with the gift are sitting in the pew wondering why the LORD has allowed someone without a voice or a talent in music to lead. It is not HIS problem it is the problem of those who have the gift and will not come forward and serve.
CHALLENGE: If you have the gift, don’t sit in the pew – help make the service a better time for all. Sing or play your instrument to the glory of the LORD.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Sing with musical instrumentsverses 1, 5, 6
Sing with thanksverse 3
Sing with praiseverse 3
Sing the Words of Godverse 5
House of the LORDverse 6
Service of the LORDverse 6
Songs of the LORDverse 7
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Words of Godverse 5
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personalverses 3, 6, 7
God – Elohim (Creator)verse 5
Words of Godverse 5
House of the LORDverse 6
House of Godverse 6
Songs of the LORDverse 7
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Serviceverse 1
Prophesyverses 1-3
Give thanksverse 3
Praise the LORDverse 3
Instructed in the songs of the LORDverse 7
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Davidverse 1
Captains of the hostverses 1, 6
Sons of Asaph – Herman – Jeduthun
Prophesy with harps, psalteries
Cymbals
Sons of Asaph listedverses 2, 9
Prophesied according to order of king
List of Asaph’s sons 24
Sons of Jeduthun listedverse 3
Prophesied with harps
Gave thanks and praise
Sons of Herman verses 4, 5
King’s seer in the words of God
Lift up the horn
Cymbals, psalteries, harps
Number of all the familiesverses 7-31
288 in all
24 groups listed
Cast lotsverse 8
Teacherverse 8
Scholarverse 8
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
2 Asaph, however, “prophesied” to a degree beyond that of simply recreating the hymns of others, as directed “under the king’s supervision.” For Asaph and his descendants were directly inspired to compose at least twelve of the canonical psalms (50, 73–83; cf. comment on 16:5). (Payne, J. B. (1988). 1, 2 Chronicles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, p. 424). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
The order of the king is likewise taken notice of, v. 2 and again v. 6. In those matters indeed David acted as a prophet; but his taking care for the due and regular observance of divine institutions, both ancient and modern, is an example to all in authority to use their power for the promoting of religion, and the enforcing of the laws of Christ. Let them thus be ministers of God for good. (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 577). Peabody: Hendrickson.)
25:2–31. The sons of Asaph are listed in verses 2, 9a, 10–11, 14 (Jesarelah, v. 14, is another spelling for Asarelah, v. 2; cf. niv marg. for v. 14). With their sons and relatives they made up 4 of the 24 divisions of musicians. The sons of Jeduthun (v. 3) with their sons and relatives, constituted 6 divisions (vv. 9b, 11 [Izri is spelled Zeri in v. 3; cf. niv marg. for v. 11], 15, 17, 19, 21). The sons of Heman (v. 4) consisted of 14 divisions in all, each of whom is named in the list of lots (vv. 13, 16, 18 [Azarel is a variant of Uzziel in v. 4; cf. niv marg. for v. 18], 20, 22–31). The 24 divisions, each with 12 men, totaled 288 men (v. 7). The appointments of specific responsibilities by lots guaranteed that there would be no favoritism in assigning their duties (v. 8). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 613–614). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Over time, the musical families listed in chapter 25 may have come to function more or less like professional guilds. Here their function is described as musical “prophesying” (v. 1), that is, serving as spokesmen for God. Combining this with other biblical data, the musical psalm singers could declare a message from God, confess God’s works and character, and recite God’s great works. (Bowling, A. C. (1995). 1-2 Chronicles. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 276). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House)
25:2 according to the order of the king: This underscored the leading role David took in the religious life of the nation (23:27). Even as king, David ordered that proper worship be given to the Lord. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 525). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 2. Of the sons of Asaph, &c.] Who were separated, and by lot appointed, to the service of singers in the temple: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah; called Jesharelah, ver. 14. these had the 3d, 4th, 5th, and 7th lots, ver. 9, 10, 12, 14. under the hands of Asaph; under his instruction and authority: which prophesied according to the order of the king; which Asaph composed psalms under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, and was ordered by King David to sing them, and by whose command they were inserted in the book of Psalms, where they now stand with his name to them. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 36). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
The whole of what is here said of the order in which they were placed, and of the method taken to prevent jealousies arising from the natural infirmity of the human heart, may serve to teach us that in all ages man hath been the same; all striving for pre-eminency. How blessed that sweet direction of Jesus, had we but grace to practise it: Whosoever will be great among you let him be your minister: and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant! (and observe, Reader, what follows by way of enforcing the precept:) even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, pp. 403–404). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
25:1–8 David and the leaders of the Levites divided the musicians into the three family groups of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman (see 6:31–47), who prophesied with musical instruments, i.e., wrote songs. In some cases, their songs seem to have become part of OT Scripture, for Asaph is named in the titles of Psalms 50 and 73–83, and Jeduthun in the titles of Psalms 39, 62, and 77. In addition, Heman here may be the same person as Heman the Ezrahite named in the title of Psalm 88 (cf. also 1 Chron. 6:33). The verb “to prophesy” (Hb. naba’) indicates that their songs were prompted or guided by the Spirit of God. This shows that “prophecy” is not always a direct announcement of God’s plans; it indicates that the person is operating as God’s authorized spokesman, here providing the right way for God’s people to sing to him (they prophesied … in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord, 25:3). (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (pp. 736–737). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
The Battle Is the Lord’s
“And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:47)
These were the ringing words of faith uttered by young David as he faced the Philistine giant, Goliath. Without armor, or spear, or shield, and with only a sling and five smooth stones, David confronted the nine-foot champion of the pagan army in the name of the true God, and soon the giant lay dead with his face to the ground.
The battle must always be the Lord’s. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Spiritual battles are not won by bullets, nor by ballots, nor by any human means. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7). “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. . . . Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy” (Psalm 33:16, 18).
We even have a mandate to attack the enemy in His stronghold. Christ taught, “Upon this rock [of faith in Christ as divine Savior] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18)
It is easy, in trying to do a work for God, to rely on human abilities and devices, but these will fail, for the battle is the Lord’s. When the battle is going well, we must not boast, for the battle is the Lord’s. When the battle is going hard, we must not despair, for the battle is the Lord’s.
He is our strength. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). (HMM (The Institute for Creation Research)
Don’t you love hospitality? Isn’t it a pleasant experience to enter someone’s home and feel welcome? Hospitality is the mark of an open and giving heart. The secret to hospitality is love. If you love your guests and go out of your way to make them feel loved, you will be an exceptional host or hostess. Hospitality is such an important Christian character trait that elders in the church must be “hospitable” (1 Timothy 3:2).Abraham was a man given to hospitality. Likewise, hospitality should be a trait in our own lives. (Quiet Walk)
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