1 Chronicles 6

The Chronicler recorded many names connected to the important tribe of Levi. This tribe had been given a special role by God regarding the divinely-ordained worship of the people of Israel. The priests and temple workers all came from this one tribe. They did not have their own territory in the Promised Land, but were scattered throughout Israel in designated cities.

Just as it was of great importance to have a list of the descendants of David so that a new king in his line could eventually be established in the land, Israel also needed a record of the high priests which were descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses. The account of Levi in 1 Chronicles began with a selective record of those who held this important religious office with special emphasis on the men who served at the time of the building of the temple and then centuries later during the exile to Babylon. From the descendants of this second man, Jehozadak, the next high priest would come.

The remainder of the chapter gave special attention to certain important functions of the tribe of Levi. The Levites were in charge of “... the service of song in the house of the Lord” according to David's instruction. There were men who led in this sacred duty when God blessed His people with His presence in the temple built by Solomon. The temple was now gone, but it would be rebuilt. Who would the Lord use to lead the people of God in the service of song when the great day of temple rededication came?

The Old Testament worship was not only about song. It was centered around the sacrificial system that the Lord had given to Israel. The Lord's system of worship consisted not only in the offering of animals as ceremonial substitutes for a guilty people, it also included the priestly duty of burning incense as an outward reminder of the sincere prayers of the God's faithful servants. Only the priests could offer up animal sacrifices or burn incense to the Lord. This was the divinely sanctioned way of making atonement for sin.

The final section of this chapter noted the cities and pasturelands that were provided to the three clans of Levi. This detail was significant to the future of a reestablished Israel. The people of the other tribes were to do their part to support the worship of the Lord. How were the Levites to live if the rest of the tribes would not provide for them? This tribe was to be at the center of the Lord's Old Covenant worship, and all of the other tribes were to give of their substance for this sacred service.

The details of Old Testament ceremonies had a rich significance that culminated in the coming of the Messiah. Today the privilege of drawing near to God in song, sacrifice, and supplication is not limited to the sons of Aaron. We have an eternal High Priest in Jesus Christ. His priesthood is different than the old Levitical way. The temporary and ceremonial has given way to the eternal and essential. In our direct connection with the One who is both Sacrifice and Priest we have become a priesthood of all believers. (Revelation 1:6) We do not bring animals to the Lord anymore, but instead we offer up our bodies as living sacrifices. (Romans 12:1) Anything that is permanent that was once restricted to the tribe of Levi is now the privilege of the entire body of Christ.

This is a massive change from the old order of worship and life that prepared the people of God for the coming of the Messiah. We have no desire to return to the former ways. The fulfillment has come. We are not going back to the temporary. We are stretching forward to the resurrection of the dead. Even now we already have bold access to the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.