In the Job Description

In charge of the bread

I was reading 1 Chronicles, and came to these verses in chapter 23 . . .

“The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the temple of the Lord: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God.  They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the special flour for the grain offerings, the thin loaves made without yeast, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.”

Those are verses 28 and 29.  It’s all very practical.  The Levites had responsibility for the temple courtyards, for the bread, for the flour, and for other things to help the temple run smoothly.  Then we read in verse 30 and 31 . . .

“They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord.  They were to do the same in the evening and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals.  They were to serve before the Lord regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.”

Part of their job

Their responsibilities included giving thanks and praise to God, it was part of their job.  They were to give thanks and praise at prescribed times – every morning, in the evening, and when burnt offerings were presented at different times.

They weren’t to give thanks and praise only when they felt like it, or only when something extra special happened.  It was to be routine, woven into their days and the patterns of their other work.

Practice the discipline?

So, what about you and me?  Do I practice the discipline of giving thanks and praise?  Of course, I’m free to give thanks and praise whenever and wherever I want to.  But sometimes being free like that, means that I never do.

What do you think?