1 CHRONICLES LESSON 28
We will begin this lesson in I Chronicles 25:1 "Moreover David
and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of
Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps,
with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen
according to their service was:"
David knew the value of worship with song and praise. The men, in
the verse above, are descendents of Asaph, who were called to prophecy
with musical accompaniment. This might seem strange to you on the
surface, but it is not. The book of Psalms are songs, but they are,
possibly, some of the best prophecies in the Bible, as well. We
discussed in previous lessons, that not all ministry involves
preaching. Songs, spiritual music, and praise are all part of worship,
as well.
I Chronicles 25:2 "Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and
Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph,
which prophesied according to the order of the king."
Asaph actually wrote 12 of the Psalms, himself. He was a prophet
of God, but he did his prophesying in song. Some of the most beautiful
messages in the church today come from Hymns like "Amazing Grace". It
appears, that Asaph prophesied to David privately.
I Chronicles 25:3 "Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah,
and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the
hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give
thanks and to praise the LORD."
Jeduthun was of the family of Merari. He was one of the masters
of the sacred music. His name means praise, or praising. He is
sometimes called Ethan. In 2 Chronicles chapter 35 verse 15, he is
called the king's seer. The other six mentioned, here, are his sons.
His prophecy was associated with music.
I Chronicles 25:4 "Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah,
Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah,
Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, [and]
Mahazioth:" I Chronicles 25:5 "All these [were] the sons of Heman the
king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to
Heman fourteen sons and three daughters."
This is, probably, the same Heman in the 88th Psalm. He had
fourteen sons and three daughters, who followed in their father's call
to ministry. He was, also, a seer. He was an inspired musician of
sacred music. His specialty seemed to be on the horn.
I Chronicles 25:6 "All these [were] under the hands of their
father for song [in] the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries,
and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the
king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman."
All of these, mentioned in the previous verses of this lesson,
ministered in music, song, and prophecy in the temple. There is a list
of the various instruments they played in the verse above. As we said
earlier, David was aware of the value of inspired music and song in
the worship services, and was setting all of this up for the worship
in the temple, when Solomon builds it.
I Chronicles 25:7 "So the number of them, with their brethren
that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, [even] all that were
cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight."
These 288, not only understood music and song, but taught others
in the spiritual value of the Psalms. It was then, and is now, a very
integral part of worship to have spiritual music and song prepare your
heart to receive the message God has for His followers. They were
taught, themselves, in this special ministry, and they would teach
others who came later.
I Chronicles 25:8 "And they cast lots, ward against [ward], as
well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar."
This casting of the lots was to determine when they should
minister in the temple. There seemed to be 24 who took the lead. Each
of these 24 had 11 people under them. The one mentioned was the
teacher with 11 scholars they trained.
I Chronicles 25:9 "Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to
Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons [were]
twelve:" I Chronicles 25:10 "The third to Zaccur, [he], his sons, and
his brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:11 "The fourth to Izri,
[he], his sons, and his brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:12
"The fifth to Nethaniah, [he], his sons, and his brethren, [were]
twelve:" I Chronicles 25:13 "The sixth to Bukkiah, [he], his sons,
and his brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:14 "The seventh to
Jesharelah, [he], his sons, and his brethren, [were] twelve:"
I Chronicles 25:15 "The eighth to Jeshaiah, [he], his sons, and his
brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:16 "The ninth to Mattaniah,
[he], his sons, and his brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:17
"The tenth to Shimei, [he], his sons, and his brethren, [were]
twelve:" I Chronicles 25:18 "The eleventh to Azareel, [he], his sons,
and his brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:19 "The twelfth to
Hashabiah, [he], his sons, and his brethren, [were] twelve:"
I Chronicles 25:20 "The thirteenth to Shubael, [he], his sons, and his
brethren, [were] twelve:"
This is a list of the choirs. They did not all sing and play at
once. The one at the beginning of the list would take the first duty
and then on down the line, until each group had served their time in
the service of the LORD, then it would begin at the beginning again.
The following Scriptures are still part of the listing of the singers
and musicians who ministered in the music.
I Chronicles 25:21 "The fourteenth to Mattithiah, [he], his sons,
and his brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:22 "The fifteenth
to Jeremoth, [he], his sons, and his brethren, [were] twelve:"
I Chronicles 25:23 "The sixteenth to Hananiah, [he], his sons, and his
brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:24 "The seventeenth to
Joshbekashah, [he], his sons, and his brethren, [were] twelve:"
I Chronicles 25:25 "The eighteenth to Hanani, [he], his sons, and his
brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:26 "The nineteenth to
Mallothi, [he], his sons, and his brethren, [were] twelve:"
I Chronicles 25:27 "The twentieth to Eliathah, [he], his sons, and his
brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:28 "The one and twentieth
to Hothir, [he], his sons, and his brethren, [were] twelve:"
I Chronicles 25:29 "The two and twentieth to Giddalti, [he], his sons,
and his brethren, [were] twelve:" I Chronicles 25:30 "The three and
twentieth to Mahazioth, [he], his sons, and his brethren, [were]
twelve:" I Chronicles 25:31 "The four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer,
[he], his sons, and his brethren, [were] twelve."
The 24 groups of twelve each make up the 288 mentioned earlier.
The number "12" means a representative of the whole. These 288 would
furnish the ministry in music and song for the temple. They would be
well trained in their behavior in the temple, as well as their
ministry. They would each take their turns ministering in the temple.
The ministry of music and song descended from generation to
generation, just like the priesthood did.
1 Chronicles 28 Questions
1. In verse 1, we find that the sons of Asaph were separated out to
do what?
2. What is said about their music that is unusual?
3. The book of Psalms are ___________.
4. It is, possibly, best of the ______________ as well.
5. What have we discussed about ministry in previous lessons?
6. Asaph actually wrote _______ of the Psalms, himself.
7. Some of the most beautiful messages come in songs like __________
_________.
8. It appears, that Asaph ____________ to David privately.
9. What does the name "Jeduthun" mean?
10. He was of the family of ___________.
11. In 2 Chronicles chapter 35 verse 15, he is called the king's
________.
12. Heman, of verse 4, here, is, possibly, the one of the _______
Psalm.
13. How many sons and daughters did he have?
14. What instrument did he play?
15. Name some of the instruments that were played.
16. How many, skilled in music and song, were there?
17. What was the purpose of the casting of lots?
18. How many ministered at once?
19. What does the number "12" mean?
20. How many groups of 12 were there?
21. Besides their music and singing, what would they be trained in?
Home