In 1 Chronicles 24:1-26:19, we encounter again today more lists of names. In chapter 24, we see “the divisions of the sons of Aaron” (verse 1). The priests and the Levites were ordered into twenty-four divisions. Verses 7-18 give us the “appointed order of ministering” of the priests “when they entered the temple of the LORD according to the prescribed regulations by their forefather, Aaron” (verse 19). In verses 20-30, we see the “rest of the descendants of Levi” listed “according to their families” (verse 20). Chapter 25 provides for us a list of “the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals … and for the music of the temple” (verses 1-6). “All of them were trained and skilled in music for the LORD” (verse 7). In chapter 26, we read about the “divisions for the gatekeepers – descendants of Korah and Merari” (verses 1-19). Generally, we are not very endeared to reading through long lists of names, and because we are unfamiliar with those to whom these names belonged, perplexed, we often wonder, “Who were these people?” For some of us (like me), it’s difficult enough to remember – especially over the years – names and faces, and it’s easy for us to get bogged down in lists of unknown or strange information – especially about those who are dead and gone. Yet, we want to believe that, as we are important and because we matter, so did they. And God informs us that we do matter - each of us is precious (cf., Psalm 139:13-16: Isaiah 49:14-16; Jeremiah 31:3; and Romans 5:8). Thus, every time we read a list that’s not very exciting, we need to thank God that all those people mattered enough to Him to be included in His lists. And so do we.
Today, Psalm 92 spoke to my heart. I especially appreciated the contrasting analogy of the “grass” (verse 7) and the “palm tree” (verse 12) as representatives corresponding to “the wicked” and “the righteous.” God’s “thoughts” are truly profound (verse 5), but “senseless people do not know” (verse 6). Because a good and wise God created mankind, we might wonder, “How could there be senseless people?” Clearly, we don’t have to look too far to see them. Senselessness must be a choice – a self-induced condition whereby people find themselves content to live in their limited, mindless, and dulled state of “foolish understanding” (verse 6). Such individuals do not wish to exert any of the effort necessary to learn, determine, or discern the truth. This Psalm indicates that we need daily to sharpen the “eyes, ears, and voices” of our spiritual senses by “praising the LORD, making music to His name, affirming His love and His uprightness” (verses 1-14). If we do this, God promises that “we will flourish and bear fruit, even into old age” (verse 14). Continuing to advance in age, I pray that my life would indeed represent such a proclamation before the world – not so much for my own sake – but for His.
1 Corinthians 3 informs us of a truth similar to that of 1 Chronicles 24-26 and Psalm 92. We must guard ourselves against the world’s deceptive “standards for wisdom” (verse 18) and rise above them. If we trust those standards, we have “deceived ourselves” (verse 18). By those standards, we should become “fools” in order that we “may become wise” (verse 18). What does Paul mean by that? He further writes, “the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight” (verses 19-20). Paul is saying that the world’s standards are not worthy of our trust. They are disingenuous, unreliable, and they fail. Men who follow those standards like to boast about their so-called “wisdom,” but to God, it is utterly “futile” (verse 20). Until we accept the truth of what God is saying here, we “deceive ourselves” (verse 18) and become “caught in our own craftiness” (verse 19). To become truly wise, we must trust the eternal truth of God’s Word – exclusively.
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