Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
And each morning and evening they stood before the LORD to sing songs of thanks and praise to him. (1 Chronicles 23:30 NLT)
Observation
Another list this morning. I understand the importance of these historical records—sometimes recording genealogies, sometimes recording civil assignments within David’s kingdom. If I were a descendent of Aaron and eligible to serve as a priest, I’d want these records available to prove my qualifications. Still, they don’t do much for me devotionally.
There is one verse I find interesting, however. 1 Chronicles 24:28-32 lists the responsibilities of the Levites now that the Ark of the Covenant was secure within the city of Jerusalem and didn’t need to be carried about from place to place. It’s a list of lengthy and varied responsibilities, and reading it reminded me of the variety of tasks my employment sometimes requires. But in the middle of it all, it says…
And each morning and evening they stood before the LORD to sing songs of thanks and praise to him. (1 Chronicles 23:30 NLT)
I like that. One of the duties…responsibilities…assignments of the Levites was to make sure that “morning and evening they stood before the LORD to sing songs of thanks and praise to him.”
That’s an assignment easily overlooked in a life busy with other obligations. And it might seem that a “missed” morning or evening here or there wouldn’t be all that significant. But the fact is, stopping to sing praise was as important as—and one might argue even more than—any other obligation a Levite carried.
Pausing consistently—rhythmically, if you will—to remember and celebrate God brings a stability to life like nothing else can. That’s why things like regular Sunday worship and consistent personal quiet times—though often minimized in our busy days—remain just as important (and just as beneficial) as ever. That’s why I want to “pause to praise” so consistently you’d think it was my job!
I am going to put myself out there on this section of reading but, I believe it also holds a very important message.
ReplyDeleteDavid has come full circle in his lifetime and has stepped down from his position of responsibility. I know that many of us derive our self worth from our activities. But none of us can take responsibility for everything. We may need to turn to some help and give some of our burdens to others. We all need to determine our limits and then stand by them. Being loaded down with responsibilities can be just as destructive as being irresponsible. I know personally I am the type to try and get everything done by myself only to be more frustrated when my expectations were not met....Glen H