2 Chronicles 8:12-16 - Homilies By T. Whitelaw

The house of the Lord perfected.

I. THE SACRIFICES ARRANGED . ( 2 Chronicles 8:12 , 2 Chronicles 8:13 .)

1 . The place on which these should henceforth be offered. "The altar of Jehovah before the porch." Hitherto Solomon and others ,had presented burnt offerings before the tabernacle at Gibeon ( 2 Chronicles 1:3 ) and elsewhere ( 2 Samuel 6:13 ). Henceforth these should be laid upon the brazen altar in the temple court. Solomon's doing so at the close of the dedication service was a formal inauguration of the practice meant to be followed.

2 . The times when these should be offered.

3 . The measure according to which these should be offered. According to the daily rate prescribed by Moses ( Exodus 23:14 ; Le 23:37; Deuteronomy 16:16 , Deuteronomy 16:17 ). Though Solomon had been honoured to erect a temple, he did not feel himself at liberty to propound a new ritual, and far less to institute a new religion. For him, as for all before and after, until the fulness of the times, Moses was the sole authority in doctrine and in worship. Since the fulness of the times, Christ, the greater than Moses, is; and will-worship ( Colossians 2:23 ) is as little permissible under the new dispensation as it was under the old.

II. THE PRIESTLY COURSES APPOINTED . ( 2 Chronicles 8:14 .)

1 . The pattern followed. The order of David ( 1 Chronicles 24:1-31 .). Whether, in thus arranging the priesthood, David acted under Divine direction or not, is not material. This detail could safely be left to sanctified prudence; and David, in effecting it, only showed his sagacity in knowing how to get a difficult work performed with ease and efficiency, as well as his regard for order and decorum in all things pertaining to the sanctuary. Solomon, in following David's example instead of resorting to new experiments, approved himself wise.

2 . The number of the courses. Twenty-four ( 1 Chronicles 24:1-19 ). When these were arranged by David, twenty-four chief men were found who claimed descent from the house of Aaron. Of these, sixteen belonged to the sons of Eleazar, and eight to the sons of Ithamar. Consequently, these were selected as the heads of the several courses, their order of succession being determined by lot—to avoid all ground of complaint on the score of favouritism, and to lend the sanction of Divine authority to the order so established ( Proverbs 16:33 ). As this arrangement was made in David's old age, and not after the Exile by another than David (De Wette, Herzfeld), it is probable that few important alterations required to be made.

3 . The nature of their services. To conduct the sacrificial worship of the nation. The Christian Church has only one Priest, who, having once for all offered himself a Sacrifice for sin, and having passed within the veil with his own blood, there to appear in the presence of God for us, has been consecrated for evermore ( Hebrews 7:28 ; Hebrews 9:11 , Hebrews 9:12 ; Hebrews 10:10 ).

III. THE LEVITES INSTRUCTED . ( 2 Chronicles 8:14 .)

1 . Their courses. Three—the Gershonites, the Kohathites, the Merarites, according to the three great families of the sons of Levi; the first two consisting of nine, and the third of six, the three of twenty-four fathers' houses. Hence their courses were probably, like those of the priests', twenty-four in number (Josephus, 'Ant.,' 7.14. 7).

2 . Their charges. To praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required. They were no longer needed to carry the tabernacle or any of its vessels for the service thereof, seeing that Jehovah had given rest unto his people, that they might dwell in Jerusalem for ever ( 1 Chronicles 23:24-32 ; 1 Chronicles 25:1-6 ).

IV. THE PORTERS STATIONED . ( 2 Chronicles 8:14 .)

1 . Their courses. Twenty-four. At least twenty-four men are mentioned as keeping daily guard at the temple gates ( 1 Chronicles 26:13-19 ); and these, it is conjectured, were the heads of twenty-four divisions.

2 . Their stations. "At every gate." Every day were planted at the east gate six men; at the north, four; at the south, four; at the storehouses in the vicinity of the south gate, two and two, i.e. four; at Parbar towards the west, six; in all, twenty-four at the different gates ( 1 Chronicles 26:17 , 1 Chronicles 26:18 ).

3 . Their work. To keep the gates—esteemed an honourable service, and called ministering in the house of the Lord ( 1 Chronicles 26:12 ; cf. Psalms 84:10 ).

LESSONS .

1 . The necessity and beauty of order in Divine worship.

2 . The diversity of offices and gifts in the Church of God.

3 . The dignity of even the humblest service in connection with religion.—W.