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service? Can there be any happiness, or safety, without it? If all these things be needful to bring it to pass; then how highly

CHAPTER XXV.

1 The number and offices of the singers. 8 Their division by lot into four and twenty orders.

must God regard that for which he provides M

such immense preparations? And, if the service of God be of so important a nature in itself; and the best of men in all ages have esteemed it as such; and our highest happiness be concerned therein; then what must be the state of those persons, who despise it as a mean and contemptible thing; or neglect it, as if it were of no concern?

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But there is one thing mentioned in this chapter, which shews how needful it is, that this matter should be attended to as it ought. Not only will they perish who never serve the Lord. Many will come to the like end, who do serve him; because they serve him not aright. God can only be acceptably worshipped, or served, as he hath been pleased to appoint. Any attempt to render that service in any other way, than cording to such ordination, must be attended with the greatest peril. Behold the case of the two sons of Aaron. 66 They died before the Lord" (v. 2). Why is their case so often named? What was the offence for which they were cut off? It was not because they did not serve the Lord at all; but because they presumed to do so in an unauthorised manner. They offered " strange fire before the Lord." That was their sin. That was the crime for which they perished. How, then, do you serve the Lord? Is it in the appointed way? Do you serve him with the Spirit in the gospel of his Son? Are you accepted in Christ? Do you serve God in the faith of Christ? Any thing and every thing, contrary to the spirit of obedience rendered in the gospel of Christ, is "strange fire;" and exposes the blind, ignorant, formal, or presumptuous offender to the wrath of a holy God. They were destroyed by fire: probably to denote the fiery indignation incurred by their offence; and the awful end of those, in the future world, who die in their sins. Let all beware of offering strange fire before the Lord. Let us stand in awe, and sin not. Let us keep in the way of life; always abiding in Christ, and aiming to serve God acceptably, in the gospel of his dear Son, with reverence and godly fear.

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OREOVER David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service.

was:

2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and 'Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.

3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; 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.

4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, 'Uzziel, 'Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:

5 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.

6 All 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 Heman.

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.

8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:

10 The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

11 The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

12 The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

13 The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

14 The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

15 The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

16 The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

17 The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

18 The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

19 The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

20 The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

23 The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

25 The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

26 The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

27 The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve :

28 The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

29 The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:

30 The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve: 31 The four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve. (1) Otherwise called Jesharelah,

ver. 14.

(2) Heb. by the hand of the king. So ver. 6.

(3) Or, Izri, ver. 11.

(4) With Shimei mentioned, ver.

17.

(5) Or, Azareel, ver. 18. (6) Or, Shubael, ver. 20. (7) Or, matters.

(8) Heb. by the hands of the king.

THE arrangements for the service of God are still carried on in this chapter; in which we have the number and offices of the singers, together with their division into courses, four and twenty in number. Some of these prophesied with harps, psalteries, and cymbals. Some prophesied according to the order of the king. Some prophesied with the harp to give thanks, and to praise the Lord. The sons of Heman, the king's seer, "in the words of God" are named. The whole number would be occupied in the house and, service of the Lord with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, according to the king's appointed regulations.

From these things, thus ordered and recorded, we may learn another fact concerning the nature of the true worship and service of our gracious God. We have already observed that it is an important service. remark that it is a joyful service.

Here we Indeed,

Look over all

how can it be otherwise? this provision for its due performance: examine all the items of their appointed service and work; and to what other conclusion can you come than this, namely, that the true service of Almighty God must be accompanied with, and be productive of, the highest satisfaction and joy? Let us consider how the case stands. Whom do we serve? A reconciled God; a most tender and merciful Father. How do we serve him? In the faith of his dearly beloved Son, who loved us, and gave himself for us. When do we thus serve him? When we are reconciled and at peace; when we are pardoned and accepted in the Beloved; when our sins are forgiven us for his namesake; when we are justified and have peace with God through Jesus Christ; when we are made his children by adoption and grace; when we have the witness of the Spirit and the earnest of the Spirit in our heart, and are enabled to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. In short, we are enabled to serve God in the gospel of his Son, when we are enabled to worship Him in Spirit, and can rejoice in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh. Can the Lord be thus worshipped and thus served without feeling some happy and joyful sensations in the soul? You will observe, here is no working for life to be thereby obtained. The true service of God springs from life already received. This makes all the difference. The spirit of bondage is utterly inconsistent with the faith of Christ. The servants of the Lord are freemen; not slaves. His service is perfect freedom; not a burden, nor a task. Christ is loved and delighted in by all his happy children. Here is no legal terror; no superstitious dread; no lifeless formality; no boasting or self-righteous hope. None who thus serve the Lord ever say, "God, I thank thee, I am not as other men are." All who are thus engaged know the effect of that humble cry, "God, be merciful to me a sinner." The predominant feeling of the soul is, "We love him because he first loved us." "Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name." "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart." (1 John iv. 19;

Ps. ciii. 1; and exix. 32.) And what is this but the fruit of the gospel of peace; the beginning of heaven upon earth; the earnest of heaven in the heart? Sabbaths, sermons, prayer, praise, the humble mind, the devoted heart, the watchful walk, and the holy life, all constitute a joyful surrender of the whole heart and soul to the triune God of our salvation. And where dwells peace, happiness, comfort, joy, and love, but in that bosom where the Lord is thus served with joyful

ness and singleness of heart? May we be enabled thus to love and serve him, and enjoy the comfort and blessedness of it both now and for ever!

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MONCERNING the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was 'Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.

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2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.

4 Moreover the sons of Obed-edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,

5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.

6 Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.

7 The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.

8 All these of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obed-edom.

9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.

10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)

11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.

12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having |

VOL. II.

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the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.

17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.

18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

19 These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.

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21 As concerning the sons of 'Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, eren of Laadan the Gershonite, were 10 Jehieli.

22 The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.

23 of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:

24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.

25 And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his

son.

26 Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.

27 "Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.

28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.

29 ¶ Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.

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30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were "officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.

31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.

32 And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.

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THIS chapter describes the division of the porters; the charge of the gates, the treasures, the officers, and judges. Now, in seeking to make some improvement of these things, there is one person here especially mentioned of whom much may be said.

The person here alluded to is Obed-edom. He and eight of his sons are expressly mentioned as forming part of the charge of the house of the Lord. Surely he must have been a happy man! Here are a father and eight sons all truly engaged in the service of God. How few parents are so blessed as he was! How few families are like this! You will observe that all this is ascribed to the "blessing of God." On enumerating him with his several sons, when the inspired historian comes to the end of the list, he adds, "for God blessed him" (v. 5). That is, not only did God bless that eighth child, but he blessed all the eight; and he blessed the father of them too. Happy father! Happy sons! Happy the fathers and the sons wherever that blessing of God rests upon them!

But, how came this man to be so blessed? To answer this question we must go back to a circumstance mentioned in his history, some few years before. When David undertook to bring up the ark of God to the place

he had prepared for it, as recorded in the thirteenth chapter, and the Lord smote Uzza that he died for presuming to put forth his hand to take hold of it, and David abandoned it in fear; it is said that Obed-edom received it into his own house, and retained possession of it for three months. To which is added, that "the Lord blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had." In the book of Samuel it is said, "all his household." (2 Sam. vi. 11; 1 Chron. xiii. 14.)

Here, then, you may see the origin of this blessing. Obed-edom was a Gittite; but the Lord blessed him. Whether he knew the Lord before this took place is not named. But from that time he is spoken of as a blessed man. Probably, that very event, which filled David with fear, might have been the means of his conversion. To see a man struck dead, like Uzza, was a very solemn and awakening event. Possibly, it made him to think of his own soul, and cry for mercy. To see the ark of God deserted, as it then was on that account, he could not endure. Whatever the consequences might be, he resolved to give it shelter. He that had just begun to receive the grace of God into his heart, now determines to receive the ark of God into his house: and the Lord blessed him. He blessed his own soul. He blessed his children also, and all that he had. In the space of three months the father and eight sons were brought under the saving blessing of the Lord; and from that time forth Obed-edom and his family had a special charge assigned them in the appointed service of the God of Israel.

How wonderful are the Lord's ways! The death of one is the life of another! The fear of one leads to the joy of another! When the Lord calls one of a family, he often brings more. Where the true ark of salvation is received, there the blessing of the Lord rests. Oh, that God might bless many families as he did Obed-edom! that it might be said of many among us, the Lord blesses those families and all that they have!

Oh,

But, may we not also learn another lesson? Death at any time, and under any circumstances, is a solemn event, and affords a loud call to all. But some kinds of death are

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OW the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.

2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

3 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.

4 And over the course of the second month was 'Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.

5 The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

6 This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son.

7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

13 The tenth captain for the tenth month. was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

14 The eleventh captain of the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was 'Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

16¶ Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:

17 Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel of the Aaronites, Zadok:

18 Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael: 19 Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:

20 Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:

21 Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:

22 Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.

23 ¶ But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.

24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.

25¶ And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:

26 And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:

27 And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:

28 And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that were in the low plains was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:

29 And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the

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