1 Chronicles 23:21-32: a reflection

21The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only; and their relatives, the sons of Kish, took them as wives. 23The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three. 24These were the sons of Levi after their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’ houses of those who were counted individually, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the LORD’s house, from twenty years old and upward. 25For David said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people; and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26Also the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service.” 27For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were counted, from twenty years old and upward. 28For their duty was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the LORD’s house—in the courts, in the rooms, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of God’s house; 29for the show bread also, and for the fine flour for a meal offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all measurements of quantity and size; 30and to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise in the evening; 31and to offer all burnt offerings to the LORD on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before the LORD; 32and that they should keep the duty of the Tent of Meeting, the duty of the holy place, and the duty of the sons of Aaron their brothers for the service of the LORD’s house.

Among the duties assigned to the Levites was a beautiful daily rhythm: to stand every morning and every evening to thank and praise the LORD. Their duty was to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, the account says, and likewise in the evening. Day by day, morning and evening, the Levites were to stand before God to give him thanks and praise; it was a regular, daily rhythm woven into the life of God's people, so that thanks and praise to God marked the beginning and end of each day. This shows the value of a daily rhythm of thanksgiving and praise to God, morning and evening. Thank and praise God every morning and evening. A daily rhythm of praise marks the day with thanks to God. Morning and evening, give God thanks and praise. Daily praise weaves gratitude to God through our days.

Notice the regularity and rhythm of this appointed praise. The Levites were to stand and thank and praise God not occasionally, not only when they felt like it, but every morning and every evening, day by day, as a regular part of their duty and the life of God's people. Thanks and praise to God were woven into the daily rhythm, marking the beginning and end of each day. This reflects something worth taking into our own lives. It is good to give God thanks and praise regularly, as a daily rhythm, not only sporadically or when we happen to feel like it, but as a settled habit that marks our days. To begin the day with thanks and praise to God, and to end it likewise, weaves gratitude and worship through our lives, keeps us mindful of God, and honors him. Such a rhythm does not depend on our fluctuating feelings; it is a settled practice of turning to God in thanks and praise morning and evening, whatever the day holds. We do well to cultivate such a daily rhythm of thanksgiving and praise, giving God thanks at the start and end of each day, keeping gratitude and worship woven through our lives. Cultivate a daily rhythm of thanks and praise, morning and evening. Give God thanks at the start and end of each day. A settled habit of praise honors God and keeps us mindful of him. Weave gratitude and worship through your days.

That is worth taking to heart, for a daily rhythm of thanksgiving and praise to God, morning and evening, weaves gratitude and worship through our lives, as the Levites stood to thank and praise God every morning and evening. We can give God thanks only sporadically, when we happen to feel like it; but the Levites praised God as a daily rhythm, morning and evening, day by day. A settled habit of praise honors God. Cultivate a daily rhythm of thanks and praise to God, morning and evening, rather than only sporadic praise, weaving gratitude through your days. Cultivate a daily rhythm of thanksgiving and praise to God, morning and evening, weaving gratitude and worship through your days rather than praising only sporadically or when you feel like it, as among the duties assigned to the Levites was to stand every morning and every evening to thank and praise the LORD; for day by day, morning and evening, the Levites were to stand before God to give him thanks and praise, a regular daily rhythm woven into the life of God's people so that thanks and praise marked the beginning and end of each day, which reflects something worth taking into our own lives, since it is good to give God thanks and praise regularly as a daily rhythm, not only sporadically or when we happen to feel like it, but as a settled habit that marks our days, so that to begin the day with thanks and praise to God and to end it likewise weaves gratitude and worship through our lives, keeps us mindful of God, and honors him, and such a rhythm does not depend on our fluctuating feelings but is a settled practice of turning to God morning and evening whatever the day holds, so that we do well to cultivate such a daily rhythm of thanksgiving and praise, giving God thanks at the start and end of each day.

Lord, among the duties assigned to the Levites was a beautiful daily rhythm: to stand every morning and every evening to thank and praise you. Their duty was to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, the account says, and likewise in the evening. Day by day, morning and evening, the Levites were to stand before you to give you thanks and praise; it was a regular, daily rhythm woven into the life of your people, so that thanks and praise to you marked the beginning and end of each day. This shows the value of a daily rhythm of thanksgiving and praise to you, morning and evening. Show me the regularity and rhythm of this appointed praise. The Levites were to stand and thank and praise you not occasionally, not only when they felt like it, but every morning and every evening, day by day. Thanks and praise to you were woven into the daily rhythm. This reflects something worth taking into my own life. It is good to give you thanks and praise regularly, as a daily rhythm, not only sporadically or when I happen to feel like it, but as a settled habit that marks my days. To begin the day with thanks and praise to you, and to end it likewise, weaves gratitude and worship through my life, keeps me mindful of you, and honors you. Such a rhythm does not depend on my fluctuating feelings; it is a settled practice of turning to you morning and evening, whatever the day holds. Take that to my heart, for a daily rhythm of thanksgiving and praise to you weaves gratitude and worship through my life. Keep me from praising you only sporadically, when I happen to feel like it; help me cultivate a daily rhythm of thanks and praise to you, Lord, morning and evening, giving you thanks at the start and end of each day and weaving gratitude and worship through my days.