In 1 Chronicles 6 we read of the priestly descendants of Levi. From verse 16 to the chapter's end, we read of the 3 main families- Gershon, Kohath and Merari and we read how this relates to the 24 orders of priests verses arranged by order by Samuel together with David. From verse 54 to the end of the chapter we learn of their settlements - for unlike the twelve tribes they were given no allotted inheritance. It was their job to dwell among the tribes of the nation and to teach Yahweh's ...
In 1 Chronicles 6 we read of the priestly descendants of Levi. From verse 16 to the chapter's end, we read of the 3 main families- Gershon, Kohath and Merari and we read how this relates to the 24 orders of priests verses arranged by order by Samuel together with David. From verse 54 to the end of the chapter we learn of their settlements - for unlike the twelve tribes they were given no allotted inheritance. It was their job to dwell among the tribes of the nation and to teach Yahweh's Word. Joseph's two sons each are given a portion meaning that Joseph receives the double portion. In this way he is treated as the firstborn and because of his Joseph's portion, Levi is not counted among the tribes and receives no allotment among Israel. In Ezekiel chapter 19 we hear a lament about the princes of Judah, who are compared to young lions. David himself was the lion of the tribe of Judah and was a mighty conqueror whose territory became great. But the nation divided and was weakened. The northern kingdom of Israel went into captivity long before the southern kingdom of Judah experienced its death throes under its last four kings. Because Judah's evil rulers they became vassals to both Egypt and Babylon. Verses 10-14 describe the stripping bare of Judah who had been a fruitless vine verses compare with the parable of Psalm 80 verses 8-13. These fruitless people stand in marked contrast to the Son of God verses see the words of Psalm 80 verses 14-19; and John 15 verses 1-11. Luke 16 verses 1-13 speaks of the parable of the dishonest manager. That lazy and double-dealing manager's behaviour is thoroughly unscrupulous. However, in view of his reluctance to work this corrupt steward his secured by unjustly favouring future "friends" who will take care of him. When that servant is dismissed from his job, he hopes that his newly acquired friends will look after him. Jesus does not in any way commend dishonest behaviour, but our Lord says that utilising resources for future outcomes is a behaviour in which 'the children of this age' outshine the 'children of light'. The parable can be explained that we hope to receive of our Lord "the true riches" (eternal life) and we are taught that what we have i.e. any material wealth and how we have used it is likely to be an index of our faithfulness. All we have God has richly given us. Are we bountiful in bestowing it to help others? Or are we selfish? The Law and the Prophets belonged to an era until John the Baptist came. Now we must seize the initiative and press into the Kingdom of God. Jesus teaches us that divorce is to be abhorred and that a divorced person should not remarry. The chapter then outlines the parable of the rich man - who is called by some Dives - and Lazarus (the beggar). Note it is a parable addressed to the Pharisees and is not in any way a literal story. It was a derisive taunt of the Pharisees, who had adopted the Grecian mythology about ‘immortal souls'. The parable also has a strong message to the high priest Caiaphas and the priestly Sadducean class. Caiaphas had five brothers each of whom succeeded to the rank of high priest. The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection (Acts 23 verses 7-8). Within a short time of our giving this parable he would raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11). And resulting in the Sadducees plotting to kill Jesus. The Sadducees also sought to kill Lazarus because he was a living proof of what they would not believe. Again, the parable can be explained at a number of levels. Even in Jesus' derisive taunt punctuation can make the world of difference. The rich man died and was buried in hell - this is universally true for all of us. Then in the words of the parable followed the resurrection which will be for those who are rejected a time of torment - weeping and gnashing of teeth for the rejected (Matthew 25). Note Jesus tells that the import of the parable is to teach resurrection (verses 30-31). Both classes of leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees) stood condemned because of their failure to "hear the Law and the Prophets". Another clear import of the parable is that a failure to show mercy in our lives today will guarantee our excision from God's kingdom tomorrow.
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