05.23.2014 Old Testament: 1Ch 9.17–27

To read the Bible in a year, read First Chronicles 8–10 on May 23, In the year of our Lord 2014

By Don Ruhl

The Bible devotes much space to the work of the Levites and priests at the temple, but the Lord considered other jobs important also, and thus He had the Holy Spirit record those jobs and the people in charge of them, in the Scriptures, including the gatekeepers,

And the gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brethren. Shallum was the chief. Until then they had been gatekeepers for the camps of the children of Levi at the King’s Gate on the east. Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, from his father’s house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, gatekeepers of the tabernacle. Their fathers had been keepers of the entrance to the camp of the Lord. And Phinehas the son of Eleazar had been the officer over them in time past; the Lord was with him. Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was keeper of the door of the tabernacle of meeting. All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve. They were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their trusted office. So they and their children were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, the house of the tabernacle, by assignment. The gatekeepers were assigned to the four directions: the east, west, north, and south. And their brethren in their villages had to come with them from time to time for seven days. For in this trusted office were four chief gatekeepers; they were Levites. And they had charge over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. And they lodged all around the house of God because they had the responsibility, and they were in charge of opening it every morning (1 Chronicles 9.17–27).

These men had charge of the house of God. The Lord was with Phinehas who had charge of these gatekeepers, and that shows what the Lord thought of this job. David and Samuel, a king and a judge, assigned the times for the work of the gatekeepers, again showing just how vital this work was.

Whatever you do for the church, which is the house of God now, do it with your best ability, and do not despise what you do, nor let anyone despise what you do. We do all for the glory of God.