1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 25: God gives singers their places

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the singers in God's house, let us pray together. Ask the LORD to show us that every singer had a place, and to lead us to Jesus, who sings with His people.

Praise Yahweh! Sing to Yahweh a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.

Psalm 149:1

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You gave Your house trained singers, and show us Jesus, who sings with His people. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David and the army captains set apart certain sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun to serve with song (verse 1). They were to prophesy with harps, stringed instruments and cymbals (verse 1). Heman is called the king's seer in the words of God, and God gave him fourteen sons and three daughters (verse 5). All of them were under their fathers' hands for song in the LORD's house (verse 6). Two hundred eighty-eight were trained in singing and skillful (verse 7). They cast lots for their places, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the student (verse 8).

As you read 1 Chronicles 25, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God is praised in His house by trained singers, and each one, small or great, has a place.

David and the army captains set apart singers from the families of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun (verse 1). Here to prophesy is joined with giving thanks and praising the LORD (verse 3), so their music was praise sung to God. Two hundred eighty-eight were trained in singing to the LORD, and all were skillful (verse 7). They cast lots for their places, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the student (verse 8). This teaches that God's praise deserves training and care, and that every singer has a place. It matters because the lot gave each singer his place, so no one took a place for himself. It shows God as worthy of the best song His people have, and as the One who gives each servant a place. Paul told Christians to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord (Colossians 3 verse 16). Hebrews says Jesus sings God's praise in the midst of His brothers (Hebrews 2 verse 12).

How does 1 Chronicles 25 show us that God is praised by trained singers, and that every singer, small or great, has a place?

David set apart singers from three families.

David and the captains set apart sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun (verse 1). They served with harps, stringed instruments and cymbals (verse 1). Their music was thanks and praise to the LORD (verse 3). Heman was the king's seer in the words of God (verse 5).

The singers were trained, and each one had his place.

Two hundred eighty-eight of them were trained in singing to the LORD, and all were skillful (verse 7). They cast lots for their places, the small as well as the great (verse 8). The teacher and the student were treated alike (verse 8). Every singer had a place in God's house.

Jesus sings God's praise with His people.

Hebrews says Jesus declares God's name to His brothers (Hebrews 2 verse 12). In the midst of the assembly He sings God's praise (Hebrews 2 verse 12). Paul told Christians to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord (Colossians 3 verse 16). Those who trust Jesus sing with Him.

Memorise

They cast lots for their offices, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the student.

1 Chronicles 25:8

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I sing to God with a glad heart, and have I come to Jesus?

In God's house the singers were “skillful,” and every one had a place, “the small as well as the great.” Jesus joins His people in praise, for He sings to God in the midst of the assembly (Hebrews 2 verse 12).

No song of ours can pay for sin, and no singer was good enough for God. Jesus is the only sinless One. On the cross He carried His people's sin and bore its punishment, and His death paid for it in full. He rose on the third day, and now He leads praise among His people.

So come to Jesus first, and then sing. Turn from your sin and trust Him. Those who trust Him have their sins forgiven, and they will sing His praise with all His people.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God is praised in His house by trained singers, and that Jesus sings with His people. Parents, this chapter is mostly names, so please read verses 1 to 8 aloud and skip the lists of twenty-four groups. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He is praised in His house by singers, and that Jesus sings with His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

Lord God, thank You that Your house had singers, and that every one had a place. Please turn each of us from sin to trust Jesus, who sings with His people. Help us to sing to You this week. Amen.