1 Chronicles 25:25-31: a reflection

25for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 26for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 27for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 28for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 29for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 30for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 31for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.

As the musicians for the temple worship are organized, their order of service is determined not by rank or seniority or self-assertion, but by lot. Division after division, each of the same number, receives its place in the order by lot: the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, and so on. No one pushed himself forward to claim a higher place; each received his appointed place by the casting of the lot, which was understood to reflect God's own ordering. Each had his place, and each received it not by striving but by God's assignment.

Notice how each received his place: by lot, not by self-assertion or rank. The order was not settled by who was most prominent or who pushed hardest for a better place; it was settled by lot, each division receiving its appointed turn from God's ordering. No one claimed a higher place for himself; each accepted the place assigned to him. And each division was of equal number, equally valued, each with its own turn to serve. The place each held was received from God's assignment, not seized by striving.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can strive and jockey for a higher place, rather than receiving the place God assigns. We can push ourselves forward, seeking a more prominent place in whatever we serve, resenting a lesser one; but the musicians received their places by lot, from God's ordering, and accepted them. Do not strive and jockey for a higher or more prominent place in God's service; receive the place God assigns you, as the musicians received their places by lot, and serve faithfully in it. Your place in God's service is not something to seize by self-assertion, but to receive from his ordering; accept the place he gives you, whatever its prominence, and serve there, as each division of musicians accepted its appointed turn, rather than striving to claim a higher place than God has assigned you.

Lord, as the musicians for the temple worship were organized, their order of service was determined not by rank or seniority or self-assertion, but by lot. Division after division, each of the same number, received its place by lot. No one pushed himself forward to claim a higher place; each received his appointed place by the casting of the lot, understood to reflect your own ordering. Each had his place, and received it not by striving but by your assignment. Show me how each received his place: by lot, not by self-assertion or rank. The order was not settled by who was most prominent or who pushed hardest; it was settled by lot, each division receiving its appointed turn from your ordering. No one claimed a higher place; each accepted the place assigned to him. And each was equally valued, each with its own turn to serve. Take that to my heart, for I can strive and jockey for a higher place, rather than receiving the place you assign. I can push myself forward, seeking a more prominent place, resenting a lesser one; but the musicians received their places by lot, and accepted them. Keep me from striving and jockeying for a higher or more prominent place in your service; help me receive the place you assign me, Lord, and serve faithfully in it. My place in your service is not something to seize by self-assertion, but to receive from your ordering; help me accept the place you give me, whatever its prominence, and serve there.