In David’s last years, he assisted his son Solomon in the building of the great temple by drawing up plans, setting aside resources and organizing temple support. The sons of Levi were originally charged with carrying the parts of the tabernacle under the order of the priests. But now with a temple in the making, they were no longer needed to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment from place to place.
David directed them to assist the priests with other temple duties, “being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God’s temple—as well as the rows of the bread of the Presence, the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and all measurements of volume and length.” [1 Chronicles 29:28b-29 HCSB]
Honestly, I am not sure I would have been all that enamored with cleaning, purifying, measuring, and baking, but David added another duty and that is the one I would have loved. “They are also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and likewise in the evening.” [vs30 HCSB]
Every morning and every night they were to stand in the Presence of the LORD in His Holy Temple and give thanks and praise. Every morning upon waking, every night before sleeping, their attention would be on the LORD God Almighty. They would probably sing many of the songs of thanksgiving David wrote. They would praise God for all He had done for Israel. They would see the magnificent temple dedicated to Him built by Solomon and their hearts would be raised to the heavenlies with their voices.
Of course, now, God Almighty’s Wonderful, Amazing, Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. We do not have to wake up and drive to a “place” – no matter how magnificent that “place” may be – we simply can praise and offer thanksgiving every morning and every night (and maybe throughout the day) wherever we are.
Maybe it is time we got organized to do just that!
