1 Chronicles 24:7-19: a reflection

7Now the first lot came out to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 8the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 10the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 11the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, 12the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 13the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, 14the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, 15the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, 16the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, 17the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, 18the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. 19This was their ordering in their service, to come into the LORD’s house according to the ordinance given to them by Aaron their father, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

This passage records how the priests were organized for their service: divided by lot into twenty-four groups, each with its appointed turn to serve in the house of the LORD. The lots were cast, and each division was given its place in the rotation, so that the service of God's house was shared in an orderly way, each group taking its turn according to the arrangement God had appointed through Aaron. No one grasped for a permanent place; each served in its ordered turn.

Notice the order and fairness in this arrangement. The service was not seized by the ambitious or monopolized by a few; it was divided by lot, so that each group had its appointed turn, its place in an orderly rotation. The casting of lots removed human favoritism and grasping; each took its turn as the lot fell, serving in its appointed time. It was a shared, ordered service, in which each had its place and none needed to grasp for more than its turn.

That ordered, shared service is a picture of how God's work is meant to be done: not grasped or monopolized, but shared, each taking their appointed part in turn. We can be tempted to grasp for prominence in God's work, to want the permanent, central place rather than our turn in an ordered sharing. But the priests served by rotation, each in its appointed turn, none grasping for more. Take your appointed part in God's work contentedly, in its turn, without grasping for prominence or resenting that others have their turns too. The work of God is shared among his people, each with a part; serve faithfully in your turn, as the priests served in theirs, content with the place you are given in the ordered sharing of God's work, rather than grasping for a prominence that was never yours to seize.

Lord, this passage records how the priests were organized for service, divided by lot into groups, each with its appointed turn to serve in your house, so that the work was shared in an orderly way, none grasping for a permanent place, each serving in its ordered turn. Show me in that how your work is meant to be done: not grasped or monopolized, but shared, each taking their appointed part in turn. I can be tempted to grasp for prominence in your work, to want the permanent, central place rather than my turn in an ordered sharing. But the priests served by rotation, each in its appointed turn, none grasping for more. Help me take my appointed part in your work contentedly, in its turn, without grasping for prominence or resenting that others have their turns too. Your work is shared among your people, each with a part; help me serve faithfully in my turn, as the priests served in theirs, content with the place you give me in the ordered sharing of your work, rather than grasping for a prominence that was never mine to seize. Give me a content and faithful heart in my appointed part, Lord.