Year 9, Day 298: 1 Chronicles 26

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Today we hear about the gatekeepers and the treasurers.  One of those tasks sounds relatively underwhelming.  The other task is probably interesting for all the wrong reasons.  There is danger all around this passage.

Since the gatekeepers come first, look there at the beginning.  I can’t believe that very many people would like to sign up for the gate keepers.  It’s like the greeters in the morning at church.  One might also think of them as a bouncer standing outside a bar. 

The gatekeepers had two very important duties.  They were to watch over the people and make sure that people understood there were expectations for purity.  This means they were really like bouncers.  At the same time, they were the first people that visitors saw at the temple.  They were the first impression for worship.  While they kept the gate, they needed to do so in a manner that made people want what was within the gate.

The other group within this chapter are the money keepers.  Who wouldn’t want to be in charge of the money?  Unfortunately, this is a job that many people covet without thinking about the pitfalls.  With great power comes great responsibility.  In fact, as we get into the rest of the story of the Hebrew people, we’ll see that at one of the lowest points of rebellion the issue is that the money collected for the temple is being diverted to personal gain!

I find chapters like this one to be very intriguing.  It brings out interesting dynamics within people.  It shows us that the overlooked aspects of life are often important.  It also shows us that there is great danger within things to which our heart is naturally attracted.  The reaction to simple chapters like this can reveal as much about the reader as the subject of the chapter.

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