1 Chronicles 25:1, 8 “David and the commanders of the army set apart for service some . . . who were to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals. . . . They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.”
Observation: Since chapter 23, David had been organizing the Levites for their service to the nation and God; these verses today are a continuation of that administrative job.
Application: I am awed by how lovely the kingdom of God is, in two ways. First is the assignment of duties. David and his army generals met to assign the playing of musical instruments to lead the armies of God’s people. Somehow it’s hard to imagine our president and secretary of defense concerning themselves with who would prophesy to the troops with musical instruments. But I know from numerous passages how essential it was that God’s armies be led into battle with a spirit of praise. The primary change in the New Testament seems to be that every child of God is to be a worshiper; worship is no longer a spectator sport assigned to just some select few.
Secondly, in verse 8, I see that there were no favorites. All who played these instruments were considered equally qualified regardless of their experience or skill level. Isn’t this, too, a lovely picture of how God sees us today? Apparently both in David’s time and in ours, it is never our own skill that qualifies us to be used of the Lord; rather, if we will make ourselves available for service, He will breathe on us, and it will be His effectiveness manifest through us that pleases Him. Chapter 26, verse 13 illustrates the same thing regarding the assignment of guards for the temple: it wasn’t the biggest or meanest or those best with a bow and arrow; God was apparently going to work through all those in given tribes who made themselves available.
God used a burning bush to press Moses into service, and any old bush was just fine with God; there was nothing special about the one He chose; it was simply available. These verses are humbling, indeed, as I realize afresh my utter inability to bring anything of value to the table insofar as serving the Lord is concerned.
Prayer: Lord, give me a heart to be available to You. I am so thankful that You fill me with Holy Spirit abilities, for as You call on Him to act through me, He will never disappoint.