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1 Chronicles 26

When people submit to God, God increases power.  Power is found in the strength of a man.  Men are gifts from God. When men love God, life is good and life is pleasant.  When men disobey God our communities, homes, and the lives of our young suffer.  

The chosen men of Isreal from the tribe of Levi are being organized by the administration of King David.  David demonstrates how God wants to lead through man.  There will be many years that will pass before these men would fully operate in their assigned position.  God is instructing the entire organization of how he wants the temple ran.  David is strategizing all parts of the ministry.  He wants the flow of the ministry to be like God who is flawless.  The gatekeeper is needed to protect gates so that those who come and go will be safe from harm.  Anyone who enters the gates without authorization can be deadly.  God placed the gatekeepers to preserve life.

The organization of the treasury is also under construction or it is being newly developed under King David's reign.  Here we find the men of God overseeing the treasury and the treasure in the temple of God.  When people are led by God, it becomes easy to trust the process because God has people who will serve and the outcome of following God's instruction will be a beacon of light for the lost.

Under David's leadership, God qualified strong administrators.  What makes a strong administrator?  A man who fears God and leads people in a manner they can obviously see the integrity in how he treats people fairly.  Under David's leadership, we can use his leadership as a replica in how to set up any organization where people are involved.

The Gatekeepers

26 Concerning the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, [a]Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of [b]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, Eliehoenai the seventh.

4 Moreover the sons of Obed-Edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth; for God blessed him.

6 Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born who governed their fathers’ houses, because they were men of great ability. 7 The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers Elihu and Semachiah were able men.

8 All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom, they and their sons and their brethren, able men with strength for the work: sixty-two of Obed-Edom.

9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, eighteen able men.

10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the first (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him the first), 11 Hilkiah 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 gatekeepers, among the chief men, having duties just like their brethren, to serve in the house of the Lord. 13 And they cast lots for each gate, the small as well as the great, according to their father’s house. 14 The lot for the East Gate fell to [c]Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and his lot came out for the North Gate; 15 to Obed-Edom the South Gate, and to his sons the [d]storehouse. 16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came out for the West Gate, with the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highway—watchman opposite watchman. 17 On the east were six Levites, on the north four each day, on the south four each day, and for the [e]storehouse two by two. 18 As for the [f]Parbar on the west, there were four on the highway and two at the Parbar. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the sons of Korah and among the sons of Merari.

The Treasuries and Other Duties

20 Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasuries of the house of God and over the treasuries of the dedicated[g] things. 21 The sons of [h]Laadan, the descendants of the Gershonites of Laadan, heads of their fathers’ houses,of Laadan the Gershonite: [i]Jehieli. 22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel his brother, were over the treasuries of the house of the Lord. 23 Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: 24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasuries. 25 And his brethren by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.

26 This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things which King David and the heads of fathers’ houses, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated. 27 Some of the [j]spoils won in battles they dedicated to maintain the house of the Lord. 28 And all that Samuel the seer, Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated, every dedicated thing, was under the hand of Shelomith and his brethren.

29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons performed duties as officials and judges over Israel outside Jerusalem.

30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, one thousand seven hundred able men, had the oversight of Israel on the west side of the Jordan for all the business of the Lord, and in the service of the king. 31 Among the Hebronites, Jerijah was head of the Hebronites according to his genealogy of the fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought, and there were found among them capable men at Jazer of Gilead. 32 And his brethren were two thousand seven hundred able men, heads of fathers’ houses, whom King David made officials over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king.