1 Chronicles 9

“These are the singers, heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night.  These heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites were heads throughout their generations.  They dwelt in Jerusalem.” 1 Chronicles 9:33-34 (NKJV)

No doubt, today’s passage is a nugget of Scripture that every worship leader would like mentioned at their annual job review.  The words “free from other duties” are convenient whenever the pastor calls for staff members to “up their game” and volunteer during their off hours!  But before any music staffers claim 1 Chronicles 9:33 as their life verse, perhaps they should take notice that music was required day and night, every day and night.

In 1796, a cabinet-maker named C.F. Martin founded the Martin Guitar Company in New York City.  Guitar making was a craft he had learned from his violin-making father, Johann Georg Martin, in Germany.  These days, Martin Guitar Company is run by Chris Martin IV, the great-great-great-grandson of the company’s founder.  It is safe to say that before a “Martin” child is born, their career in guitar manufacturing has already been determined!

In today’s chapter, notice the term “throughout their generations.” The Lord reminds the Levites that their duties/careers had been pre-assigned before they were even born!  Specific tasks were assigned to each specific family among the Levites.  And they were to teach their children how to do the family ministry task perpetually.  There was no discussion, “But I want to be a dentist!” If your family carried the poles to the tabernacle, that would be your job.  In our post-modern culture, the idea of a pre-determined occupation is like a pie-in-the-face of individual liberty.  But take a step back and consider that the God of all creation has given you a role to play in His kingdom.  And that role is so vital that He personally chose for you to be born into your specific family with its specific task so that you can be trained to both execute and revere your calling to His glory.

Before you laugh off this notion that the Lord pre-assigned work for specific people in ancient days, remember that He has also selected specific work for YOU!

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)

The Levites had no real estate inheritance in the Promised Land.  Their inheritance was to serve the Lord; hence, their dwelling places had to be allocated from among the other tribes’ land.  But when Israel was eventually driven from the land because of their rampant idolatry, the Levites were the only tribe to retain their inheritance.  Likewise, there is no “Christian homeland.”  Our inheritance is to serve the Lord!