To Thank and Praise the Lord

“To Thank and Praise The LORD”
I Chronicles 23:30

Introduction

  • I know this is my love of history being exhibited here but, both books of Chronicles do not make it clear as to who authored the books. However, Jewish tradition strongly favors Ezra (the priest) as the chronicler. (See Ezra 7:1-6)
  • The original title of “Chronicles” was “The Annals” in Hebrew which means events or happenings.
  • Here in I Chronicles 23, we see David relinquishing his crown to Solomon to be king over Israel in verse 1.
  • A law of God established in Numbers 4:3, was that no man (women never considered) was to be a priest until he became 30 years of age.
  • A 5 year apprenticeship began when they were 25 (Num. 8:24) and in some case at 20 years of age (I Chron. 23:24, 27).
  • Men are not considered to be mature enough to be in control of God’s business or God’s house, or God’s children until 30 years of age.
  • Paul brings that to light the qualifications of a “bishop” meaning pastor or leader of the church in 1 Timothy 3:4…One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5) (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6) Not a novice (inexperienced person), lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
  • David and Solomon knew how to rule their own house and therefore were blessed and ordained of God to lead Israel (God’s house).
  • David and Solomon were not a novice (inexperienced person). They knew what needed to be done and how to do it.
  • David gathered all the Levites 30 – 50 years old (38,000).
  1. Of these 38,000 were chosen 24,000 to supervise or lead the others in worship and look after the church.
  2. 6,000 were officers and judges
  3. 4,000 were gate keepers
  4. 4,000 were music and praise people of the instruments that David had made specifically for worship.
  • This chapter shows us that David and Solomon knew how to worship the LORD.
  • Praise and thanks to God for His greatness and blessings upon us when we do not deserve it is necessary for spiritual growth.
  • You’ve heard that cigarette smoking can stunt your growth physically. Being thankless and ungrateful will stunt your spiritual growth.

 

I. In The Morning and Evening

  A) The Levites daily activity

  • In our text verse of I Chronicles 23:30, we can see where the priests had a tradition or habit if you want to call it that “…to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;
  • At the offering (of animal sacrifices) it was always necessary to praise and thank the LORD in the morning and evening.
  • Devotion to God is expressed in action. Very little action means that there is very little devotion to God. Much action is proof of your devotion to God.
  • Now then, one may ask… “What does all of this about the priests and the men of God that were chosen to do a work in the temple/house of God have to do with Thanksgiving?”
  • FIRST – we see their daily activity that consisted of standing, thanking God, and praising God twice a day. EVERY DAY, not just on the Sabbath.
  • SECOND – we recognize the blessings of God upon those who serve the Lord sacrificially (With daily sacrifices.) What is meant by “daily sacrifices” for the Jews then was to bring and animal to the priests for forgiveness of sins. For the Gentiles today “daily sacrifices” is for us to sacrifice our time in prayer, in bible reading, in helping others, in being obedient to His word, etc.
  • So, what was the “blessings of God” for Israel in I Chronicles 23? Look at verse 25…For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:
  • How many of you here today have lived in the same city since birth? I would probably say that maybe 1 out of 50 people today can say that.
  • How many would say that they would rather stay in one city all their life or as the Lord said here “forever?”
  • The blessing of the LORD telling Israel this is for “comfort.” It creates pure happiness knowing that you have a place to live without anyone threatening to evict you or force you to leave.
  • This is something to be thankful for! Israel had no worries so long as they did what the LORD commanded of them.
  • That being said, we know that Israel suffered through many wars, Jerusalem being destroyed many times, bad kings ruled them, and famines and pestilences, and so on.
  • All these problems were brought upon the Jews for their failure to continue to daily thank and praise the LORD daily.

B) Attending to the needs

  • Not only were they to be honoring God with their worship and praise and thankfulness, but also making sure that the needs were met. What were the needs?
  • Now look at I Chronicles 23:32…And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.
  • The word “charge” has several meanings in the Bible. The meaning here is “needs.” The word in the Hebrew is “mishmeret.” Meaning to keep guard, keep watch, to take care of, etc.
  • So the verse here is telling us that the priest’s duties were to take care of, or tend to the needs of the tabernacle, the Holy place, and the son’s upcoming priests who were servants in God’s house.
  • The duties of the priests, and God’s children of daily sacrifices and prayers and giving thanks and praise to God were so overwhelming that God realized the burden upon his people and well many were faithful, but yet how many were burdened and overwhelmed by all of it.
  • And that is when our heavenly Father saw the need of a Savior who will replace the Law of burden and renew our joy in serving Him.
  • All these duties have become the duties of the High Priest Jesus Christ.
  • This causes me to be extremely thankful today for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
  • The sad part is that, today we have become so lazy in our worship and praise and thankfulness that we should be rejected of God.
  • The Jewish priests did all the above twice “daily.”  The Jewish people went to the temple daily and prayed, tended to their sheep and goats and other animals that needed to be cared for as the sacrificial animals.
  • We can’t even come to one service weekly! Shame on you for unthankfulness to the Lord. You know what? This proves the bible true as well… Look at
    II Timothy 3:1…This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (avoid being near these kinds of people).
  •  This is today folks and it is getting worse.

II. Are We Truly Thankful?

  A) For a gracious God

  B) For our Savior

  C) For our Family

  D) For our church