Read 1 Chronicles 6
Questions from the Scripture text: Whose families do 1 Chronicles 6:1–3 trace? What direct line do 1 Chronicles 6:4-15 trace? Which two events receive special mention in this line (1 Chronicles 6:10, 1 Chronicles 6:15)? What branches are traced further in 1 Chronicles 6:16-30? Upon which priestly service do 1 Chronicles 6:31-47 focus? Who appointed them (1 Chronicles 6:31)? When was this initiated (1 Chronicles 6:32)? In anticipation of what? Who joined their fathers in this? What is noted in 1 Chronicles 6:39, 1 Chronicles 6:44? What other service is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:48? And whose service, where, is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:49-53? With repetition from which line (cf. 1 Chronicles 6:4-8)? Finally, what provision is listed in 1 Chronicles 6:54-81?
Why are the Levites so central to Israel? 1 Chronicles 6 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighty-one verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Levites are central to Israel because their priesthood anticipates the great benefits and privileges into which Christ Himself brings us.
Just as with the order of camping in the wilderness, the Levites occupy the center of the genealogies in 1 Chronicles.
The Lord redeems a people in order to make His presence to dwell among them. We are also reminded of this by the fact that the Levites were spread throughout Israel (1 Chronicles 6:54-81). This was, in part, because the Lord was their portion (cf. Deuteronomy 10:9). But it was also so that the Levites would be throughout Israel, to teach them God’s judgments and law (cf. Deuteronomy 33:10).
The Lord also provides mediators to atone for His people. We see this in the double repetition of the high priests’ line in 1 Chronicles 6:4-8 and 1 Chronicles 6:49-53. It began with Levi, came into a new phase with the temple (1 Chronicles 6:10), and was preserved despite the exile (1 Chronicles 6:15). The mention of Jehozadak is important, because is son Joshua (or Jeshua, cf. Ezra 5:2) would be high priest for the returned exiles. The chronicler here puts his legitimacy beyond a doubt.
The Lord gives to His people to praise Him. It is interesting that the priestly singers are given seventeen verses (1 Chronicles 6:31-47), and the rest of the service of the tabernacle is given just one (1 Chronicles 6:48). These singers were specially appointed by David (1 Chronicles 6:31) in anticipation of the temple (1 Chronicles 6:32).
Thinking about our Lord Jesus’s priesthood, it becomes clear why the Levites would be so “central” in the chronicler’s account after the exile. They needed to be encouraged that God’s plan to bring the Christ into the world was still in full force, and they needed to take up the responsibility of rebuilding the temple and resuming the priestly service in it. Two other contemporary books (Haggai, Zechariah) emphasized this.
Jesus ministers the presence of God to us. He is “God with us,” Immanuel. Christ’s Spirit comes to dwell in us; He unites us to Christ and enables us to draw near to God through Christ. We realize how wonderful true Christian worship is, as we see the importance of the priesthood that anticipated God’s presence with us in Christ.
Jesus is the Mediator Who atoned for us once for all. This He did at the cross. Then, He ascended into glory—that reality of which the Holy of Holies was a shadow copy—consecrating our worship there by virtue of His blood. And not only did He ascend, but He is our anchor there, and we enter past the veil through Him.
Jesus leads us in praise to God. He is the great Singer in Christian worship (cf. Hebrews 2:12). He leads us in praise to God. The fact that we all sing is a great privilege of New Testament worship, for the melody now is not played upon priestly instruments but by the grace of Christ in the heart (cf. Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16).
How is drawing near to God, through Christ, central to each day of your life? How is it central to each week of your life? How do your habits reflect the importance of drawing near to God? Why do you need Jesus to be Your Priest? What use are you making of His provision of atonement? What does it mean to you that Jesus is the One Who leads us in praise?
Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You for the priesthood of Christ. Please forgive us for how we have taken for granted the marvelous privilege that we have, that we may draw near to You in Him. We confess that we have much neglected this privilege, failing to appreciate it in our hearts and failing to make good use of it in our habits. And thank You for His offering His own blood as an atoning sacrifice at the cross. Sometimes, we have made too little of our sins, rather than seeing how dreadful they must be to require such a Priest and such a Sacrifice. At other times, we have made too little of His atonement, continuing under the weight of our guilt, rather than knowing our full and free forgiveness in Him. Finally, we thank You for the honor of singing Your praise in the public worship. How marvelous that Jesus sings through us! But we have often failed to sing in the awareness of the glory that was occurring. Please forgive us, and cleanse us from our sin, through Christ, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP51B “From My Sins, O Hide Your Face” or TPH456 “Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”
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