To Live in the Presence of God

The resettling of Israel in the land of promise after their exile in Babylon begins in 1 Chronicles 9. 

1 Chronicles 9:2–3 (ESV) Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. 3 And some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem:

We note the first tribe mentioned in the last tribe taken captive - Judah, the royal and ruling tribe of Israel. They inhabited Jerusalem, the place where God's temple was located. Judah was consistently first in Israel's endeavors. First into the war for the land, first into the military exploits of the monarchy, and now first to resettle the city of God upon Israel's return. No wonder Jesus comes from this tribe. He's the ruler of heaven and Earth who also serves as author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

The second thing the chapter wants us to see is that the priests are the main ingredient in the resettling of the land beginning with the temple. For Israel, God's presence in the Temple was primary. They are mentioned as "gatekeepers" several time in the chapter:

1 Chronicles 9:22–27 (ESV) All these, who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were 212. They were enrolled by genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer established them in their office of trust. 23 So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, that is, the house of the tent, as guards. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south. 25 And their kinsmen who were in their villages were obligated to come in every seven days, in turn, to be with these, 26 for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted to be over the chambers and the treasures of the house of God. 27 And they lodged around the house of God, for on them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning.

Notice their role. They were to guard the tent. They were to settle on all four sides as was prescribed in the book of Exodus. They lodged around the house of God. To be a priest was a sacred duty to protect the place of God's dwelling. Now you have to ask, why does God insist on using men to "protect" the place of His dwelling? Are they not just men? Is He not God who can and would defend Himself?

The answer is not that they were protecting God from men. They were protecting men from God. It is a great misnomer in the church and especially in America that God is just this big grandfatherly teddy-bear character in they sky who functions as our life-coach. Not true. He is holy and righteous and altogether pure. He lives in "unapproachable light" (1 Timothy 6:16). Without an intercessor between us and God we'd be burned up and consumed.

Lamentations 3:22 (NIV) Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Now what you see here in 1 Chronicles is not just a picture of ancient Israel's worship set up around the Temple, but you see the need for the Lord Jesus Christ who absorbed the wrath of God from us. He takes the danger we would experience in meeting with God for us. Because He is our great and perfect High Priest, we have boldness to enter.

Praise God!

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