1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: Well, hello and good morning friends and faithful listeners, and 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: thank you for tuning into the Bible Explain podcast on 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: this lovely Monday morning. 4 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 2: So we're going to get. 5 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: Into First Chronicles chapter twenty three today and discuss the 6 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: levites and how they are broken up into different divisions 7 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: to do different jobs in the temple that is about 8 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: to be built, and of course, how does all of 9 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: this relate to today. Well, I hope you, faithful listeners, 10 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: had a wonderful weekend. I actually entered the Federal duck 11 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: stamp competition this year and the judging was on Thursday, 12 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 1: and my painting did not make it to the second round. 13 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 1: I did have one judge vote for it to move 14 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: into the second round, but only one, and you need 15 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: at least three judges to want it to move forward 16 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: in order for it to actually move forward. So that 17 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: was a little bit bummed out by that. But it 18 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: was such a fun experience, both from the painting of 19 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: the duck to the process of the judging. The entire 20 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: experience was fantastic and I have duck stamp fever. I 21 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: am looking forward to entering next year's contest and hopefully 22 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 1: my painting gets through to the second round, we shall see. 23 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: But of course, faith listeners, tell me what you guys 24 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: did over the weekend. I do love hearing from all 25 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: of you. And of course, if you ever have a 26 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: prayer request, do not hesitate to reach out. You're going 27 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: to find my email listed in the description of this episode, 28 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: and I will pray for you for the week. Let's 29 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: go ahead and read First Chronicles twenty three today, the 30 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: entire chapter, and as usual, I will be reading from 31 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: the web today, but feel free to grab the version 32 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: of the Bible that you prefer. And if you can't 33 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: read the Bible write at this minute because you're working 34 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: or driving, then I always encourage you to go back 35 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: when you can and read through it yourself, because you 36 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: know I am a human being and I make mistakes, 37 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: so please, I encourage you guys to always do that, 38 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: and don't just take my words for it. Read it 39 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: for yourself, and let the Holy Spirit work through what 40 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,279 Speaker 1: you are reading. First Chronicles twenty three, the entire chapter. 41 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: Let's jump right in together. Now, David was old and 42 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 1: full of days, and he made Solomon his son, king 43 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: over Israel. He gathered together all the princes of Israel 44 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: with the priests and the Levites. The Levites were counted 45 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: from thirty years old and upward, and their number by 46 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: their polls manned by man was thirty eight thousand. David said, 47 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: of these, twenty four thousand were to oversee the work 48 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: of Yahwei's house, six thousand were officers and judges, four 49 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: thousand were doorkeepers, and four thousand praised Yahweh with the 50 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: instruments which I made for giving praise. David divided them 51 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: into divisions according to the sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, 52 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: and Murari. Of the Gershnites Leiden and Scheme. The sons 53 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: of Leyden, Jehiel, the Chief, Zatham and Joel three. The 54 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: sons of Shame, Schelmouth, Haziel and Herron three. These were 55 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: the heads of their father's houses. 56 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 2: Of Leiden. 57 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: The sons of Shame, Jayhath, Zena, Jayush and Beria. These 58 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: four were the sons of Shame. Jahath was the chief 59 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: and Ziza the second. But Jaeyush and Beriah didn't have 60 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: many sons. Therefore they became a father's house in one reckoning. 61 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 1: The sons of Kohath, Amram, Iszar, Hebron and Uziel four. 62 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: The sons of Amram, Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was 63 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: separated that he should sanctify the most holy things, he 64 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: and his sons forever, to burn incense before Yahweh, to 65 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: minister to him, and to bless in his name forever. 66 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: But as for Moses, the man of God, his sons 67 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: were named among the tribe of Levi. The sons of Moses, 68 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: Gersham and Eliezer. The sons of Gersham Shebuel the chief. 69 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: The son of Eliezer was Rahabiya the Chief, and Eliezer 70 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: had no other sons. But the sons of Rahabiyah were 71 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: very many. The son of Eazar Schelmuth the Chief, the 72 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: sons of Hebron, Jeria the Chief, Ameria the second, Jehaziel 73 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: the third, and Jacamium the fourth. The sons of Uziel, 74 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: Micah the Chief and Ishia the second. The sons of 75 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: m Marai, Molli, and Mushi. The sons of Mali, Eliezer 76 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: and Kish. Eliezer died and had no sons, but daughters only, 77 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: and their relatives. The sons of Kish took them as wives. 78 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: The sons of Mushi, Molli, Adir, and Jeremyth three these 79 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 1: were the sons of Levi after their father's houses, even 80 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 1: the heads of the father's houses, of those who were 81 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: counted individually in the number of names by their poles 82 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 1: who did the work for the service of Yaowai's house 83 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: from twenty years old and upward. For David said, Yahweh, 84 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, 85 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. Also the Levites will 86 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its 87 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: vessels for its service. For by the last words of David, 88 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 1: the sons of Levi recounted from twenty years old and upward, 89 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 1: for their duty was to wait on the sons of 90 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: Erin for the service of Yahway's house, in the courts, 91 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 1: in the rooms, and in the purifying of all holy things, 92 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 1: even the work of the service of God's house, for 93 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: the show bred also, and for the fine flower, for 94 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: a mule offering, whether of unlevend wafers or that of 95 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: which is baked in the pan, or of that which 96 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 1: is soaked, and for all measurements of quantity and size, 97 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: And to stand every morning to thank and praise Yahweh, 98 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: and likewise in the evening, and to offer all burnt 99 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,239 Speaker 1: offerings to Yahweh on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, 100 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: and on the feasts in number according to the ordinance 101 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: concerning them, continually before Yahweh, and that they should keep 102 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 1: the duty of the tenem meeting, the duty of the 103 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: Holy Place, and the duty of the sons of Aaron 104 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: their brothers for the service of Yahweh's house. So in 105 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: the last few chapters of First Chronicles, we are going 106 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: to get into basically David's last commands for his people 107 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: before he dies. And what's really interesting about this is 108 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: shows how dedicated David was to the Temple that the 109 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: last things he's telling people to do is all related 110 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: to the temple pretty much. So David's heart was definitely 111 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: for God's Temple, like that is what he knew needed 112 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 1: to succeed in order for Israel to succeed. David understood 113 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: that if if Israel was far away from God, that 114 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: if they were not worshiping Yahweh, that Israel as a 115 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: nation would fail, and that is why David dedicated so 116 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: much time to making sure that the temple was special, 117 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: that people would want to go there to worship Yahweh, 118 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: that things would be done the proper way, that organization 119 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: will be put in place so that people could effectively 120 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: go and worship Yahweh at the temple. So I think 121 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: that's what David's mindset was in his last days, that 122 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: this is what needed to be done in order for 123 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: Israel to succeed after him. So it says in verse 124 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,359 Speaker 1: one that David was old and full of days, and 125 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 1: he made Solomon his son, king over Israel. Now what's 126 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 1: really funny is that the chronicler does not mention a 127 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: single thing about the tumultuous way that Solomon got to 128 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: the throne because David's kids were all kind of bad, 129 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: like they all were fighting with the each other and 130 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: trying to kill each other. You guys remember the famous 131 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: story of Absalom, right, one of David's sons tried to 132 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: kill David in order to get the throne. Well, that 133 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: actually happened again in First Kings Chapter one. David's son 134 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: ad in Nija tried to become the next king, tried 135 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: to usurp the throne in a very similar way actually 136 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: that Absalom had done years prior to this. But Solomon 137 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: was going to be the next king, that is who 138 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: David dedicated the throne to mainly because God had actually 139 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: told David that Solomon would be the son that would 140 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: raise up the temple, and so I think David knew 141 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: from God himself that Solomon was supposed to be the 142 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: next king. But David's other son, ad Nija, obviously wanted 143 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: the throne for himself, and you can read that story 144 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: in First King's Chapter one, verses thirty two through fifty three, 145 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: where at Nija is just deciding that he's going to 146 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: become the next king, and he starts like blowing these 147 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: trumpets throughout all the city's streets while his father is 148 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: still alive, by the way, telling people with all these 149 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: heralds that he is the next king, that David has 150 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: dedicated the throne to him, and that was not true, 151 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,119 Speaker 1: and ultimately ad Nija did not win. Actually, he tried 152 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: to usurp the throne twice, once before Solomon became the king, 153 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: when David was still alive, and once afterward, actually after 154 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: Solomon had already become the king and David had died. 155 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: He tried to do it in a different way by 156 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: marrying one of David's concubines, which would have given him 157 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: some legitimacy to the throne, and Solomon I believe at 158 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: that point ended up having him killed because he kept 159 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 1: trying to take the throne away from Solomon. But the 160 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: chronicler does not mention any of that, which is kind 161 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: of funny, and instead just goes straight to the Levites. 162 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 1: So that kind of shines a light a little bit 163 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: on who the. 164 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 2: Author of Chronicles was. 165 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: Most people think it was the priest Ezra, and Ezra 166 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: was really focusing in on the rules of the temple 167 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: and on the building of the temple and who the 168 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: Levites were, because Ezra knew that this was important going forward, 169 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: especially since Ezra was writing this after the Babylonian exile 170 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: when people are starting to come back to Israel. But 171 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: going back to First Chronicles twenty three, verse two, it 172 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: says after David had made Solomon his son king over Israel, 173 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: it says he gathered together all the princes of Israel 174 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: with priests and the levites, which, by the way, David 175 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: never gave up the throne really until after he died, 176 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: but he dedicated the throne to Solomon, which has talked 177 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: about in First Kings Chapter one. But after all this happens, 178 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 1: and this tumultuous thing takes place. He gathered together all 179 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 1: the princes of Israel, with the priest and the Levites, 180 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: and it says the Levites were counted from thirty years 181 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: old and upward, and their number by their polls man 182 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 1: by man was thirty eight thousand. Now keep in mind 183 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: right here that the Levites, it says, were counted. A 184 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: few chapters back, we actually saw David go and count 185 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: the people, and that was considered to be a very 186 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: big sin. But this show's right here that there was 187 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: certainly something more going on in David's heart rather than 188 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: just counting the people, because we do see censuses taking 189 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: place several times in scripture. Actually in Numbers chapter four, 190 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 1: God commanded Moses to take a census. So censuses in 191 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 1: and of itself are not sins. Because even David right 192 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,439 Speaker 1: here counts the Levites. He took a census of the Levites. 193 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: That wasn't a sin. So we know a few chapters 194 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: back when David counted the people, there was certainly something 195 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 1: more going on than just taking a census, but we 196 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: just don't know what that was. But anyway, David takes 197 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: the census here of these priests. It says the levites 198 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: were counted in verse three from thirty years old and upward, 199 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 1: and their number by their polls man by man was 200 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: thirty eight thousand. So that's a lot of levites, you 201 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: guys might be thinking, thirty eight thousand levites. David said, 202 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: of these, twenty four thousand were to oversee the work 203 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: of Yaway's house, six thousand were officers and judges, four 204 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: thousand were doorkeepers, and four thousand praise Yahweh with the 205 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: instruments which I made for giving praise. And you might 206 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: be like, why in the world is David setting up 207 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: all of these levites, like thousands of levites for each job, 208 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 1: for just one temple. You know, how much work could 209 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: possibly need done at this one temple. Well, very likely 210 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,439 Speaker 1: these levites were not working all at the same time. 211 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: You know, I really highly doubt that four thousand levitical 212 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: doorkeepers were standing next to the door of Yahway's temple 213 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: like blocking the entrance to get in. They probably worked 214 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: in shifts and took months off. You know, I'm sure 215 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: that this was very highly organized, and in fact, this 216 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: is the first time in Israel's history that we really 217 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: see this organization taking place other than when God first 218 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: instituted it way back in the wilderness. You know, God 219 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: initially organized all of this, but then as the Israelites 220 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 1: moved into the Promised Land, they never organized any of this. 221 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 1: It was like the wild West in Israel's history, especially 222 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: during the time of the Judges, like nothing of this 223 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: nature was taking place. David was the first person to 224 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 1: reinstitute this organization of the Levites, and he did this 225 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: once again because he wanted God's temple to be a 226 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: place where everyone could easily go to worship Yahweh. He 227 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: understood the necessity of all of this. In verse six, 228 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 1: it says David divided them into divisions according to the 229 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 1: sons of Levi Gershin, Cohath, and Marari. And then in 230 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: verses seven through twenty one, it talks again about the 231 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: families of the Gershnites, the Coothites, and the Maraites. And 232 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 1: I'm not going to go back over these three families, 233 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: but i will remind you, guys what each of these 234 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: divisions are. So the Gershonite Levites were the Levites who 235 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:21,559 Speaker 1: oversaw the temple coverings, so this would include any tapestries. 236 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: This included the ropes and the tents and all of 237 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: the things I suppose that went into making the temple 238 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: look beautiful. The Coothite Levites were the only ones allowed 239 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: to be priests. So no, not every single Levite was 240 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: a priest, but every single priest at this time had 241 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: to be a Levite. Now that all ended, of course, 242 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: when Jesus came and became the first priest who was 243 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: not a Levite, because Jesus was of the tribe of Judah. 244 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: It says in the Book of Hebrews that Jesus is 245 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: now our high priest, no longer under the order of 246 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: Moses and Aaron, but under the order of malc Kisa 247 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: Dek okay and Malchisedek was talked about way back in 248 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 1: the book of Genesis, and we will certainly get into 249 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: who Malchisa Dek was when we move into the Book 250 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: of Hebrews. But Malchisa Dek was a very important priest 251 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: back in the days of Abraham. In fact, he was 252 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: Abraham's priest before the nation of Israel even was born. 253 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: But up until the time of Jesus, every priest had 254 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: to be a Levite, but not every Levite was a priest. 255 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: Most of these Levites just made sure that the day 256 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: to day operations of the temple were running smoothly. So 257 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: the Gershanites could not be priests. The Coothites could be. 258 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: But the Coothites, not all of them became priests. But 259 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: they did have to oversee the temple furniture as well, 260 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: so they maintained and took care of the altar, the stands, 261 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: the implements, everything that was necessary for the functioning of 262 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: the temple. And they were also supposed to oversee the 263 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: Ark of the Covenant, but of course that all changed 264 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: now that there is a permanent temple in place. The furniture, 265 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: like the Ark of the Covenant, is not going to 266 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: be moving around anymore, so the Coothites no longer had 267 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: the responsibility of carrying the Ark of the Covenant. After 268 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 1: the temple was built, and then the last division of 269 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: the Levites were called the Maraites, and the Maraites oversaw 270 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: the construction of the temple, so they maintained the building 271 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: structure itself. They made sure everything was to code. I 272 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: guess they would update things as things were breaking down. 273 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: That was the job of the Miraites. So in a nutshell, 274 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: the three divisions of the Levites were the Miraites, the Coothites, 275 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: and the Gershenites. The only people of those three divisions 276 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: that could become priests were the Coothite males, specifically from 277 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: the lineage of Aaron, Moses's brother. So then, of course, 278 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: in verses seven through twenty three it goes into those 279 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: three divisions of the Levites a little bit more in depth. 280 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: But like I said, I'm not going to go back 281 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: over that again because in the next chapter actually this 282 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: is talked about once again, so you can see how 283 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: the author really focused in on the tribe of Levi 284 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: for a good reason actually, and we will get into 285 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: that a little bit more in depth in the next chapter. 286 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: But jumping down to verse twenty four, it says that 287 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: these were the sons of Levi after their father's houses, 288 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: even the heads of their father's houses, of whom were 289 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: counted individually in the number of names by their polls 290 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: who did the work for the service of Yaway's house 291 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: from twenty years old and upward. So it's really interesting 292 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: about that, is David had the Levites counted from twenty 293 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: years old and upward. But earlier on in this chapter, 294 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: in verse three, it says the Levites were counted from 295 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: thirty years old and upward, and that was according to 296 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: the law. In Numbers chapter four, verses one through three, 297 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: God himself specifically said that the Levites were supposed to 298 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: work from thirty years old and upward. You always spoke 299 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 1: to Moses and to Aaron, saying, take a census of 300 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: the sons of Kohath, from among the sons of Levi, 301 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 1: by their families, by their father's houses, from thirty years 302 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: old and upward, even until fifty years old, all who 303 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: enter into the service to do the work of the 304 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:23,719 Speaker 1: tent of meeting. So God himself instituted that levites who 305 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: were supposed to help in the temple were to be 306 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 1: at least thirty years old. Now, later on, in Numbers 307 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: chapter eight, God did say that twenty five year olds 308 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: could help as well. Numbers eight, starting in verse twenty three, 309 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: you always spoke to Moses, saying, this is what is 310 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: assigned to the Levites. 311 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 2: From twenty five. 312 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: Years old and upward, they shall go in to wait 313 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: on the service in the work of the tene meeting. 314 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: And from the age of fifty years they shall retire 315 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: from doing the work, and shall serve no more, but 316 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: shall assist their brothers in the ten of meeting to 317 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: perform the duty, and shall perform no service. This is 318 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 1: how you shall have the leetes do their duties. So 319 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: God specifically puts a age limit in place. A Levite 320 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: who wanted to help in the temple had to be 321 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: at least twenty five years old, and they could be 322 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: no older than fifty years old. But David in First 323 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: Chronicles twenty three just kind of ignores the age limit, 324 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 1: and it says that he counted the people from twenty 325 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 1: years old and upward. And no one has any clue 326 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: as to why David did this, because in a sense, 327 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: David was kind of breaking the Old Testament law that 328 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 1: God put in place. There's a lot of speculation. It 329 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: could be that David made the age limit for Levites 330 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,439 Speaker 1: a little bit younger because that was also the age 331 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:51,119 Speaker 1: where a young man could join the military, and so 332 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: David wanted it even across the board. It could be 333 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: that David thought that younger men were more necessary for 334 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: or the work of the temple. Maybe he just wanted 335 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,239 Speaker 1: like young guns in there who were able to do 336 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 1: physical work. Could also be that he thought that more 337 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,439 Speaker 1: people were necessary in order for the functioning of the 338 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: temple to go smoothly. He just wanted more manpower. But 339 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 1: it is kind of bizarre that David ignored the age 340 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: limit that God himself put in place in the Book 341 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,360 Speaker 1: of Numbers, and no one knows why he did that. 342 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: But in verse twenty five, David does explain why he's 343 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: putting all this organization in place. 344 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 2: Here's what it says. 345 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: For David said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given 346 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. Also, 347 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 1: the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle 348 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,159 Speaker 1: and all of its vessels for its service, for by 349 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: the last words of David, the Sons of Levi recounted 350 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 1: from twenty years old and upward. David explains, He's like, 351 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,400 Speaker 1: the reason I'm putting this organization into place is because 352 00:19:55,760 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 1: God now has chosen Jerusalem as his home. He is 353 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: going to stay here forever, which we know is not 354 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: really the case, because you know, the people's sinned and 355 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: so God did not live in Jerusalem forever. But I 356 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:15,880 Speaker 1: do believe God did choose Jerusalem because Jerusalem to this 357 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: day is a very special place. We know that there 358 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:23,880 Speaker 1: is something very very holy and special about it, because Christians, Muslims, 359 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: and Jews all want their piece of Jerusalem. So something 360 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: is very special about Jerusalem, and we all understand that. 361 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: But God was not going to dwell in a place 362 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 1: where sin was running rampant, which unfortunately took place only 363 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: a couple generations after David died. In fact, by the 364 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: time of the Babylonian exile, the temple had gotten so 365 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 1: bad that there was like prostitution happening in it, where 366 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 1: people could go into the temple, rent a prostitute and 367 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: have like ritualistic sex with that prostitute inside of Yahweh's temple. 368 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 1: All this was taking place, and in fact God actually 369 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:05,439 Speaker 1: told his prophet Ezekiel, he said, look at what they 370 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: are doing inside of my temple. It is disgusting. And 371 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: he showed Ezekiel what was going on, like all of 372 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 1: these hidden rooms where the priests would go in to 373 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,159 Speaker 1: like worship other gods and do like weird rituals to 374 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: these other gods inside of the temple to Yahweh, and 375 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 1: they were doing it kind of secretly, and God opened 376 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,919 Speaker 1: that up to the public. He showed through Ezekiel what 377 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: these priests were doing inside of his temple, so God 378 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: was not going to live in a corrupt temple. But regardless, 379 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: David knew that Jerusalem was special, and that's why he's 380 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 1: building the temple in Jerusalem. And so he says, the 381 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and 382 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 1: all of its vessels for service. Back in the wilderness, 383 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 1: we know that the Levites one of their jobs was 384 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: to carry all of the tabernacle furniture and the tabernacle itself. Actually, 385 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: because the tabernacle is just a big tent, that was 386 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,479 Speaker 1: one of their jo But now that there is a 387 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 1: temple being built, David says, the levite's job is going 388 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: to be different now. So we have to put a 389 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:12,360 Speaker 1: new structure in place, different organization, different roles for these 390 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 1: Levites to do. And that is why David is organizing 391 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: this all ahead of time. And then it lays out 392 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:22,679 Speaker 1: what the new duties of the Levites were going to be. 393 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 1: For their duty was to wait on the sons of Aaron, 394 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 1: in other words, the Coethite priests for the service of 395 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: Yahweh's house in the courts, in the rooms, and in 396 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: the purifying of all the holy things, even the work 397 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 1: of the service of God's house for the show bred, 398 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: also for the fine flour, for a meal offering, whether 399 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 1: of unleavened wafers, or that which is baked in the pan, 400 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: or that which is soaked, and for all the measurements 401 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 1: of quantity and size, And to stand every morning and 402 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: thank and praise Yahweh, and likewise in the evenings, and 403 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the Sabbath, on 404 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: the new moons, and on the feasts in the number 405 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 1: according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Yahweh, that 406 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: they should keep the duty of the tene meeting, the 407 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: duty of the holy place, the duty of the sons 408 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: of Erin their brothers for the service of Yahweh's house. 409 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 1: I love that the last verse there is very unifying 410 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: for the Levites. Even though they are assisting the sons 411 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: of Erin, meaning the priests, that doesn't mean that they're 412 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 1: not doing important responsibilities. 413 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 2: All of these jobs. 414 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 1: Were very important for the functioning of the temple. Even 415 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: though they were not positions in the spotlight. They probably 416 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 1: were thankless positions at many times, you know, cleaning the courts, 417 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:44,640 Speaker 1: making the show, bread. These were not jobs that were 418 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 1: in the spotlight like the priest had, but yet they 419 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:52,160 Speaker 1: were such important jobs for making sure that the temple 420 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: ran effectively. Yes, the priests had an important job as well, 421 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:01,119 Speaker 1: which was teaching the law to the people, offer ring sacrifices, 422 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: offering prayers, you know, taking care of the spiritual health 423 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:07,920 Speaker 1: of the people visiting the temple. But the jobs in 424 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: the background were also so important. The gatekeepers would keep 425 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: watch over the temple to make sure that nobody nefarious 426 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,160 Speaker 1: was coming in. They're kind of like the security detail. 427 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 1: The musicians would offer praises to God and encourage the 428 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 1: people to worship through prayer and through psalms and hymns 429 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:33,560 Speaker 1: and whatever else. There were levites who were craftsmen who 430 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: would make sure that, you know, things were up to 431 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: date and looking pretty in God's house. There are levites 432 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:43,959 Speaker 1: who probably just went in and cleaned and swept and 433 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 1: took care of the little details that nobody would think 434 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 1: about to make sure that God's house just looked beautiful 435 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: all the time. And that's how it is with the 436 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:57,160 Speaker 1: church as well. There are jobs that nobody is going 437 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:01,680 Speaker 1: to notice, but they are jobs that are so important, 438 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 1: you know, I went to a ministry meeting at my 439 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: church yesterday, and the one thing that I was really 440 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: impressed with was the fact that there was so much 441 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: organization behind the scenes taking place that I didn't even 442 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: realize was going on behind the scenes. Nobody sees those positions, 443 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 1: but yet they are so important for the functioning of 444 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 1: the church. And I encourage all of you faithful listeners, 445 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 1: if you are looking for something to do at your church, 446 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: maybe do one of those positions that doesn't seem like 447 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:36,639 Speaker 1: it gets a lot of thanks, or it kind of 448 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,440 Speaker 1: seems sort of innocuous. Maybe step into one of those 449 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: positions because I can guarantee that people are needed for 450 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:47,200 Speaker 1: those positions, but I can also guarantee that you might 451 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 1: actually have a very enjoyable time filling that role. A 452 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:55,120 Speaker 1: lot of times when I'm the happiest serving it's when 453 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 1: I'm doing things behind the scenes. I just really like 454 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: doing those types of roles because you get to know 455 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: more people in the church, you kind of get to 456 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 1: form a team with them. So if you're looking for 457 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:10,960 Speaker 1: a role to step into in your church, maybe start 458 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 1: in one of those smaller roles, like greeting people when 459 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: they walk through the door, or serving coffee, or doing 460 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:19,439 Speaker 1: the soundboard, or being part of the security team or 461 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: the medical team if your church has that, or even 462 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 1: being part of the cleaning detail or whatever other capacity 463 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: your church might have for you to step in and serve. 464 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 1: You might find you very much enjoy those roles. And 465 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 1: when you're in it, I think you're going to see 466 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:37,560 Speaker 1: how important those jobs actually are. And for those of 467 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:39,959 Speaker 1: you who already are doing those types of jobs in 468 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,159 Speaker 1: your church, I commend you because you're not getting the 469 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 1: spotlight all the time, you're not getting thanks all the time, 470 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: and yet you're showing up and you're doing these positions 471 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 1: that are just so so needed for the functioning of 472 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:56,239 Speaker 1: your church. Keep at it, and when people don't thank you, 473 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 1: just know that God sees you and that God is going. 474 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:01,120 Speaker 2: To reward you for that work. 475 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 1: Faithful listeners, I've just been getting some of the nicest 476 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 1: comments and reviews on the podcast, and on occasion I 477 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: like to read those comments because I want to thank 478 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: you guys. So the two comments I'd like to read 479 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:17,119 Speaker 1: today are from Spotify. The first one was from Mike Spicer, 480 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:22,360 Speaker 1: and he wrote, I have sifted through countless biblical podcasts 481 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:25,160 Speaker 1: and this one by Jen is the best. Keep up 482 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: the great work. Well, thank you, Mike. I do appreciate 483 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:33,679 Speaker 1: that very greatly. I'm glad that the Bible explained struck 484 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,239 Speaker 1: a chord with you. Very very happy to hear that. 485 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 1: And then I also have a comment here from Varren Muchasa, 486 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:43,160 Speaker 1: I believe that's how you pronounce it, who is from 487 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:46,920 Speaker 1: Zimbabwe and Varren says, hi there, thank you so much 488 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,639 Speaker 1: for taking your time to record these podcasts. Do not 489 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:52,719 Speaker 1: lose heart and keep on keeping on. These podcasts are 490 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,159 Speaker 1: really helping me on my daily devotional and I always 491 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 1: look forward to them every morning. Thank you Varon for 492 00:27:58,960 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: that encouragement. 493 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 2: Not gonna lie. Sometimes I do lose heart. 494 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: When doing this podcast, especially when things don't work out. 495 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,240 Speaker 1: I actually got a new interface for my MIC just 496 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 1: recently because my old one was getting old. I'm like, 497 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 1: all right, it's time to update to a new one. 498 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 1: And of course it didn't work. So halfway through this 499 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 1: podcast when I was recording it, the podcast just like 500 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:24,640 Speaker 1: stopped recording and I'm like, oh my gosh. I hate 501 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 1: when things just don't work. Just let them work the 502 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: way I expect them to work. Well, I just needed 503 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: to update my drivers. 504 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 2: That was it. 505 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 1: It was a very very easy fix, and I certainly 506 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:37,880 Speaker 1: did not need to have as much irritation and discouragement 507 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 1: over it that I did lesson hopefully learned for next time. 508 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 2: So yes, I do appreciate the encouragement. 509 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 1: Of all of these very nice comments that I get. 510 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: All right, faithful listeners, I will see you guys tomorrow. 511 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,560 Speaker 1: We are going to be in First Thessalonians chapter two, 512 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 1: talking more about that fascinating book, and of course we 513 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: will be getting into the discussions of Jesus returning, because 514 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 1: that is what for Thessalonians focuses on very deeply. So 515 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 1: I hope to see you guys tomorrow six am or 516 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: whenever you choose to wake up and listen. But until tomorrow, 517 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:12,920 Speaker 1: happy listening and God bless