1 Chronicles 26:1: “Concerning the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.”

September 14th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

There are no unimportant people in God’s kingdom. There is an old saying attributed to Benjamin Franklin: “For lack of a shoe, the horse was lost. For lack of a horse, the battle was lost. For lack of winning the battle, the war was lost.” The lack of seemingly unimportant, small things can be the cause of great loses. These men listed in 1 Chronicles 26 were “able men with strength” and were “watchmen.” They served as gatekeepers, or guards, and were stationed at several gates leading to the Temple Mount. They probably guarded the gates by standing outside the Court of the Gentiles. It is interesting to again see that our God is the God of order. By giving so much detail here in the Old Testament, we can conclude that to Him every job is important.

David wrote in Psalm 84:10, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. / I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God / Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Obviously David was saying that he would be happy just to open the doors for others. Standing just one day at the door of the temple, being near it, even if not inside, was better than a thousand days fellowshipping with the wicked. We believe David was also looking forward to heaven, and that he would be happy just to be in heaven, even doing the seemingly lowliest job. He was saying, “Give me anything to do, Lord. I’ll wash dishes or open doors, just let me in!”

Where is your ministry and where do you fit in the kingdom of God? There are no unimportant people to the Creator; every job is important. Many have said it, but it is a critical concept to understand: You matter. It’s not what you’ve done or failed to do; it’s you personally that matters to God. God knows what we are all capable of, and He offers us the strength and support to accomplish every good thing He’s set out for us.

“LORD, we want to serve You this day. Please put us in the right place with the right actions and words so that someone finds You today through our witness.”

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1 Chronicles 26 KJV

¹ Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.  ² And the sons of Meshelemiah were , Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, ³ Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh. ⁴ Moreover the sons of Obed-edom were , Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth, ⁵Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.  ⁶ Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour. ⁷ The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah. ⁸ All these of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obed-edom. ⁹ And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen. ¹⁰ Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;) ¹¹Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen. ¹² Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD. ¹³ And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.  ¹⁴And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.  ¹⁵ To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.  ¹⁶ To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward. ¹⁷ Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two. ¹⁸ At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar. ¹⁹ These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari. ²⁰ And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.  ²¹ As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.   ²² The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD. ²³ Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: ²⁴ And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures. ²⁵And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. ²⁶ Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated. ²⁷ Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.  ²⁸ And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren. ²⁹ Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges. ³⁰ Andof the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.  ³¹Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead. ³² And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.