1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 6: Singers and priests in God's house

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the tribe of Levi, let us bow our heads and pray together. Ask the LORD to show us that He gave His house singers and priests, and to lead us to Christ, the great Priest.

Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh, who stand by night in Yahweh’s house!

Psalm 134:1

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You gave Your house singers and priests, and show us Jesus, the great Priest. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

This long chapter lists the tribe of Levi, the tribe set apart to serve God in His house. It begins with Levi's sons and follows the priests down to Jehozadak, who went into exile (verses 1 to 15). In verses 31 to 47 David puts men over the service of song, and Heman, Asaph and Ethan are named. Aaron and his sons offered on the altar and made atonement for Israel (verses 48 and 49). The chapter ends with the cities the Levites received among the other tribes (verses 54 to 81).

As you read 1 Chronicles 6, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God gave His house singers to praise Him and priests to make atonement.

Levi's tribe was set apart to serve in God's house, and this chapter records their families, their cities and their work. They served first in the tent, and then in Solomon's temple (verses 10 and 32). David put singers over the service of song, because praise was part of the work of God's house (verses 31 and 32). Aaron and his sons offered on the altars to make atonement, which means a sacrifice God accepted covered sin. So God gave His house two works, song to praise Him and sacrifice to answer sin. A sinful people need atonement, and the chapter keeps praise and sacrifice together. It shows God as the One who sets the way of worship and provides the way for sin to be covered. Hebrews says each priest offered the same sacrifices day after day (Hebrews 10 verse 11). Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10 verse 12).

How does 1 Chronicles 6 show us that God gave His house singers to praise Him and priests to make atonement?

David set singers in the house of the LORD.

David put men over the service of song after the ark came to rest (verse 31). They sang before the tent until Solomon built the house (verse 32). Heman, Asaph and Ethan are named as their leaders (verses 33, 39 and 44). The singers served in their order, so praise in God's house was done with care.

Priests offered sacrifices and made atonement for Israel.

Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense (verse 49). They did all the work of the most holy place (verse 49). Atonement means that sin was covered by a sacrifice God accepted. They did this as Moses the servant of God had commanded (verse 49).

Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever.

Hebrews says each priest stood day after day and offered the same sacrifices again and again (Hebrews 10 verse 11). Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever, and then He sat down (Hebrews 10 verse 12). His people now offer praise to God through Him (Hebrews 13 verse 15).

Memorise

These are they whom David set over the service of song in Yahweh’s house, after the ark came to rest there.

1 Chronicles 6:31

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I sing to God, and am I trusting Jesus, the one sacrifice for sin?

David set men “over the service of song.” Aaron's sons offered on the altar “to make atonement for Israel.” Praise and sacrifice stood side by side in God's house. Jesus brings both together, because He is the Priest who made the offering for sin, and He is the One His people praise.

Those priests offered again and again, because sin went on. Jesus offered Himself once for all. On the cross He bore the punishment for His people's sin, and His one offering is enough. Death could not keep Him. He rose, and He lives for ever.

Do not trust your own singing or your own goodness to cover sin. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus, the one sacrifice. Whoever trusts Him is forgiven, and may sing God's praise with all who belong to Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God gave His house singers and priests, and that Jesus is the one sacrifice for sin. Parents, this chapter is mostly names, so please read verses 31 to 32 and 48 to 49 aloud. 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 gave His house singers and priests, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!

Psalm 71:23

Lord God, thank You that You gave Your house singers and priests who made atonement. Thank You for Jesus, the one sacrifice for sin. Please turn each of us from sin to trust Him, and teach us to sing to You. Amen.