2 Chronicles 23:18

2 Chronicles 23:18

Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.

a. This is about 130 years after David died.

b. rejoicing [8057 * simchah] [Strong: from 8056; blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival):--X exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing).][Gesenius: joy, mirth, gladness, mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure

joy (of God), glad result, happy issue.]

c. singing [7892 * shiyr][Strong: a song; abstractly, singing:--musical(-ick), X sing(-er, -ing), song.][Gesenius: song, lyric song, religious song, song of Levitical choirs.]

1. “…whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.”

a. Some of the last things David did before he died, was organize the duties of the Levites within the tabernacle, especially since the Tabernacle was no longer carried from place to place by the Levites. Their duties were minimized by the stationary Tabernacle so David reorganized their duties, by the leading of the Spirit of God. One of the duties which was a major change in the way burnt offerings were carried out, that is during the burnt offerings praise and thanksgiving and worship were to take place.

1). 1 Chronicles 23:24-32 These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.

For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:

And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.

For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:

Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;

Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;

And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;

And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:

And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.

a). Their duties were to serve the priests in the service of the Tabernacle by washing and cleansing all the holy vessels. John Wesley believed this included the cleansing of all the chambers, the priestly garments. The weights and measures of all the holy things were also in their care. David also instituted the practice of praising and thanking God during the morning and evening sacrifice and all the burnt offerings during the Sabbaths, the new moons, and during the feasts. This was done by the leading of God along with two or three witnesses. This is shown in 2 Chronicles 29:25-30.

b). 2 Chronicles 29:25-30 And he [Hezekiah] set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.

And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.

 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.

Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.