1 Chronicles 24:20-31: a reflection

20Of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. 21Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief. 22Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. 23The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 24The sons of Uzziel: Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. 25The brother of Micah: Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. 26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno. 27The sons of Merari by Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. 29Of Kish, the son of Kish: Jerahmeel. 30The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers’ houses. 31These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites, the fathers’ households of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

As the service of the house of God is organized, the remaining Levites are assigned their duties, and the manner of their assigning is notable: they cast lots, just as their brothers had, in the presence of the king and the priests, the chief and the younger reckoned alike. The offices were not handed out by favoritism or grasped by the ambitious; they were assigned fairly, by lot, so that each family received its appointed part without partiality. The head of a household and his younger brother were treated the same way, each given his share by the impartial casting of lots. The work of God's house was ordered fairly, every family receiving its part without favoritism, the assignments made openly and impartially rather than by ambition or preference.

Notice how the duties were assigned: fairly, by lot, without favoritism. There was no jockeying for the better positions, no handing out of offices by preference or ambition; the lots were cast in the presence of the king and priests, openly and impartially, and each family received its appointed part. The chief and the younger were treated alike, each given his share by the same fair method. The service of God's house was ordered without partiality, so that no one grasped a better place and no one was cheated of his part. Fairness and order marked the assigning of the work, each given his part impartially. The arrangement guarded against both ambition and favoritism, giving every family its due share in the service of God.

That is worth taking to heart, for the work of God is to be ordered fairly and impartially, each given his part without favoritism. We can be tempted to grasp for the better positions in any shared work, or to hand out roles by favoritism; but the service of God's house was assigned fairly, by lot, each family given its part without partiality, the chief and the younger treated alike. There is a fairness and order fitting for the work of God, guarding against both ambition and favoritism. Do not grasp for the better place or assign roles by favoritism; let the work be ordered fairly, each given his part impartially, as the Levites' duties were. Order the work of God fairly and impartially, giving each his part without favoritism and neither grasping for a better place nor showing partiality, as the Levites' duties were assigned by lot with the chief and the younger treated alike; for the service of God's house was arranged without favoritism, guarding against both ambition and preference, and there is a fairness fitting for God's work that gives every one his due part impartially.

Lord, as the service of your house is organized, the remaining Levites are assigned their duties, and the manner of their assigning is notable: they cast lots, just as their brothers had, in the presence of the king and the priests, the chief and the younger reckoned alike. The offices were not handed out by favoritism or grasped by the ambitious; they were assigned fairly, by lot, so that each family received its appointed part without partiality. The head of a household and his younger brother were treated the same way, each given his share by the impartial casting of lots. The work of your house was ordered fairly, every family receiving its part without favoritism. Show me how the duties were assigned: fairly, by lot, without favoritism. There was no jockeying for the better positions, no handing out of offices by preference or ambition; the lots were cast openly and impartially, and each family received its appointed part. The chief and the younger were treated alike. The service of your house was ordered without partiality, so that no one grasped a better place and no one was cheated of his part. Take that to my heart, for the work of you is to be ordered fairly and impartially, each given his part without favoritism. I can be tempted to grasp for the better positions in any shared work, or to hand out roles by favoritism; but the service of your house was assigned fairly, by lot, each family given its part without partiality. There is a fairness and order fitting for your work. Keep me from grasping for the better place or assigning roles by favoritism; help me order the work fairly, Lord, each given his part impartially, as the Levites' duties were assigned with the chief and the younger treated alike.