Context No. 3563 of 4322 · 1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 6:77-81: in context

77To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its pasture lands, and Tabor with its pasture lands; 78and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands, 79Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands; 80and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahanaim with its pasture lands, 81Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.

This continues the list of towns given to the Levites throughout the tribes, cities with their surrounding pasturelands, scattered among Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad. As before, the point is that the Levites, who had no territory of their own, were provided for and settled among all the tribes.

God saw to it that those set apart for his service had places to live and land for their animals, even though they held no inheritance like the others. There is a quiet assurance in these dry lists: God does not forget to provide for those who serve him. The Levites had given up an ordinary inheritance in order to belong wholly to God, and God made sure they lacked nothing they needed, distributing them where they could both serve and be sustained. Those who give themselves to God's work can trust him to provide their portion, town by town, need by need, even when they let go of the securities others hold.

Do I trust that God will faithfully provide for me as I give myself to his service, even when I let go of the ordinary securities others hold?

Sources

1 Chronicles 6:77: "To the rest of the Levites... were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its pasture lands, and Tabor with its pasture lands."
Numbers 35:2: "Command the children of Israel to give to the Levites cities to dwell in... and pasture lands for the cities around them."
Matthew 6:33: "Seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well."