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Monday 9 May 2011

Day 130: Temple duties

More of the same today. If you brought the Chronicler into the 21st century, and put him to work organising a cathedral, he’d be quite happy. He loves organisation.

The temple guards
1 Chronicles 26:1-19
The temple treasurers
1 Chronicles 26:20-28
Administrative duties
1 Chronicles 26:29-32
David’s military force
1 Chronicles 27:1-15
Chiefs of the 12 tribes
So we hear about all the people and the their responsibilities. Clearly this is a big retrospective list, it names people who are older than David and therefore probably dead (Elihu, David’s brother, and Jonathan, his uncle), it names people that we know have fallen from favour (Ahitophel), but it served as a roll call of the great and the good in David’s reign.
David summons the people for a farewell speech - shorter than Moses’ by a long way, but similar in character. He issues a familiar command: “Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land.” (28:8) This was Moses’ refrain.
David is doing all he can to ensure a smooth handover of power. He has declared that Solomon is to be his successor, hopefully preventing any of his other sons from trying their luck, and he has to trust that God will look after Solomon, and that Solomon will look to God.

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