Roles and responsibilities

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY : 1 Chronicles 26 v. 20 – 27 v. 34; 1 Corinthians 14 v. 1 – 21; Proverbs 19 v. 13 – 22

1 CHRONICLES
The treasurers and other officials – there follows a list of the fellow Levites who are put in charge of the treasuries. Ladan’s descendants were in charge of the temple treasuries; Shubael, descended from Moses’ son, Gershon, was the officer in charge of the treasuries;
Shelomith and his relatives are put in charge of the treasuries dedicated by King David (plunder taken in battle) and Samuel;
Kenaniah and sons became officials and judges over Israel;
Hashabiah and his relatives were in charge of the Lord’s work in Israel, west of the Jordan (Jeriah kept the family records);

Army divisions – the heads of the Israelite families are listed (commanders of thousands, hundreds and the officers) – each division consisting of 24,000 men.
Jashobeam in charge of the first division (chief of all the army officers for the first month);
Mikloth in charge of the second division;
Benaiah in charge of the third division (‘the mighty man among the Thirty and over the Thirty’);
Asahel in charge of the fourth division;
Shamuth in charge of the fifth division;
Ira in charge of the sixth division;
Helez in charge of the seventh division;
Sibbecai in charge of the eighth division;
Abiezer in charge of the ninth division;
Maharai in charge of the tenth division;
Benaiah (the Pirathonite) in charge of the eleventh division;
Heldai (the Netophathite) in charge of the twelfth division

a few -ites I’d not heard of before in that list…..

Officers and the tribes – Israel’s officers are listed: Eliezar over the Reubenites; Shephatiah over the Simeonites; Hashabiah over the Levites; Zadok over the Aaronites; Elihu over Judah; Omri over Issachar; Ishmaiah over Zebulun; Jerimoth over Naphtali; Hoshea over the Ephraimites; Joel over the half-tribe of Manasseh; Iddo over the other half-tribe of Manasseh; Jaasiel over Benjamin; Azarel over Dan.
Those age 20 or under aren’t taken; Joab begins the count of the men but didn’t finish – God is angered by this, and the number is not added into King David’s annals / records.

The king’s overseers – a few other responsibilities are listed:
Azmaveth is put in charge of the royal storehouses; Jonathan is put in charge of the outlying storehouses; Ezri is put in charge of the field workers; Shimei is put in charge of the vineyards; Zabdi is put in charge of the wine vats; Baal-Hanan is put in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees; Joash is put in charge of the olive oil; Shitrai is put in charge of the herds of Sharon; Shaphat is put in charge of the herds in the valleys; Obil is put in charge of the camels; Jehdeiah is put in charge of the donkeys; Jaziz is put in charge of the flocks.
All these were officials overseeing King David’s property.
There’s a counsellor – Jonathan; Jehiel takes care of the king’s sons; Ahithophel, another counsellor; Hushai, the king’s friend.
Joab commands the royal army. 1 CORINTHIANS
Apostles of Christ – Those entrusted with planting God’s churches are called Apostles, whom Paul describes as, ‘servants of Christ, and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.’
The must prove themselves faithful. They must live their lives conscious that it is ‘the Lord who judges’, not human beings.
‘He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.’

It is clear that, as co-workers with Christ, we must seek His approval and praise far above any endorsement or praise from people.

Paul has used himself and Apollos as an example of how not to ‘take pride in one man over against another’. Everything good we have, has been passed on, or gleaned, from someone else.
Paul reminds them of the dangers of pride and materialism. He sets in contrast their wealth, riches, pride, living like kings, alongside the lifestyle of the apostles ‘we are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong!…To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless…we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.’
Paul is warning them, as their ‘father through the gospel’, to get their perspective right.
As in a true model of discipleship, Paul urges them to imitate him – in our discipleship we must be inspired by those ‘ahead’ of us, and we must be inspiring others following on. Paul lets them know that he is sending Timothy (‘my son’) to them, ‘He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church’.

interesting to note that Timothy will be a further example to them of ‘the way of life in Christ Jesus’ – it is the way the truths of the faith are lived out daily which need imitating

Paul is disturbed by the pride and arrogance of some within the fellowship, and pledges to be with them as soon as the Lord permits, ‘and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.’
Power can be used well or poorly – ‘the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power’.

PROVERBS
Dads are ruined by foolish sons.
An argumentative wife is like a constantly dripping tap.
Homes and money can be inherited from our parents,
but a wife full of wisdom and integrity is a gift from the Lord.
Being lazy means lots of deep sleep – he who shirks work is always hungry.
He who is obedient when instructed protects his life  – those full of contempt will perish.
He who is generous to the poor blesses the Lord – there will be rewards (in heaven) for such kindness.
Teach your children a disciplined life – there is great hope in such a way of living –
don’t speed their demise by your neglect.
Angry men will pay a heavy penalty – beware getting caught in their traps, again and again.
Seek advice, garner it, and be accountable to others – this is the way to true wisdom in the end.
People have so many plans in their heart – but it is God’s purpose which prevails.
People crave a love which endures, which never fails – admit it – it’s better to be in want than to be a liar.

Let our music rise to You, O Lord Most High

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINETEEN : 1 Chronicles 24 v. 1 – 26 v. 19; 1 Corinthians 3 v. 1 – 23; Psalm 92 v. 1 – 15

1 CHRONICLES
The Division of Priests – Aaron’s sons – Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar – are divided into appointed orders of ministry (e.g. ‘officials of the sanctuary and officials of God’). Shemiah, the scribe, lists their names, in the presence of the king, as they are appointed by drawing lots.
Jehoiarib wins the first lot, and Maaziah the twenty-fourth; each one in between is listed.
‘This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the Lord…’

even then, rotas were drawn up…not a lot has changed, eh?

The Rest of the Levites – the remaining descendants of Levi are listed – the sons of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel, Merari, Mahli, Kish and Mushi – and they draw lots – it was a way of ensuring ‘the families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest’.

The Singers – the role allocated to the ‘singers’ – those David chose from amongst the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun – was that of ‘prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals’.
Asaph’s sons are listed – Asaph supervises them, under the king’s supervision, too, as they prophesy.
Jeduthun’s sons are listed – they prophesy using the harp, thanking and praising God, supervised by their father.
Heman’s sons are listed.
‘All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God’.
The lots are cast, once again to assign ‘young and old alike, teacher as well as student’ their duties.

The Gatekeepers – the sons of Asaph, from the Korahites, are listed. They are described as ‘capable men’, leaders in their families.
Lots were cast for each gate of the temple. East gate fell to Shelemiah; North gate to Zechariah; Obed-Edom got South gate (including the lot for the storehouse, which fell to his sons); West gate went to Shuppim and Hosah.
‘Guard was alongside guard’ – none were alone; either six or four were on duty at each gate (and two at the storehouse).

1 CORINTHIANS
On Divisions in the Church – Paul addresses spiritual maturity in this chapter, and is at his most critical about the Corinthians – they are showing their spiritual immaturity (not ready yet for spiritual solids, still on milk) through their ‘jealousy and quarrelling among you…are you not worldly?‘ The choice to divisively follow different leaders is showing their worldliness.
Paul is quick to identify Apollos and Paul (etc) as ‘servants, through whom you came to believe’ – it is the Lord who appoints each person their task.
‘I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow’
It is God’s work, not the work of human beings, to bring people to faith.
‘We are God’s fellow-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building’.

that is one of those mind-blowing phrases, that we are fellow-workers with God – that He would choose to use us, in the work in His field, constructing His building – may we be faithful workers, sticking closely to His plan and purpose

Paul uses the image of constructing a building – he laid the foundation ‘as an expert builder’ (putting in place the basic building blocks of faith – clear teaching), and others then come and take things to the next level.
‘Each one should be careful how he builds. For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.’

elsewhere, Jesus is referred to as the ‘cornerstone’, the solid rock foundation upon which all else is built in the kingdom
Jesus said, ‘I will build my church…and the gates of hell will not prevail against it’

It is clearly possible to build inappropriately – even with flashy, costly stones (silver / gold etc) – but it will all be tested in the fire (of God’s Holy presence).
‘The fire will test the quality of each person’s work – if what he has built survives, he will receive his reward’.

The temple of God is not a building, but people, Paul insists. ‘You yourselves are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in you’. God’s temple is sacred, holy. No-one should work to destroy what God is building.
Paul concludes this chapter with a reminder of the wisdom and foolishness of the age. ‘The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight’. And he underlines his point about the futility of putting faith and hope in following different leaders, and importance of knowing our identity ‘in Christ’:
‘So, then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, where Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future – all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God’.

PSALM 92
a song of praise written for Sabbath day
My Lord, my God,
how good it is to praise You
to let our music rise to You, O Lord, Most High.
We sing of Your love each sunrise
We sing of Your faithfulness each night
Lyre and harp, play your strings, sing Your praise.

My Lord, my God,
everything You do makes me glad
Your handiwork makes me sing for joy
Your works are great – Your thoughts so deep.
Beyond understanding, beyond knowledge;
though the wicked seem to flourish…like grass…
they will wither and be utterly destroyed.
But You, my Lord, are lifted high, for ever and ever.

My Lord, my God,
Your enemies will be scattered and defeated.
You have lifted my head, and anointed me with finest oils.
I have seen You defeat those who work against me;
I have heard the surrender of those who oppose me.

Those whose lives are put right before You
will flourish like palms, like Lebanon’s cedars
planted within Your household, my Lord,
flourishing within Your courts, my God.
These trees will continue to fruit in old age,
ever fresh, and evergreen
These trees sing out,
‘The Lord is my Rock, my Righteousness. In Him is no wickedness at all.’