David certainly lays the groundwork for his son Solomon to build the temple in Jerusalem, including the national convention to establish the importance for unity and support.

Did you get a good grip on how many people will be supervising the work on the building of the temple?

David believed that the glory and honor of God should be extolled in the music at the temple whether vocal or instrumental.  And what a choir…4,000 voices praising the Lord. Imagine that!

There is a seemingly rather obscure verse hidden away in today’s reading concerning the twenty four divisions of the priests and their appointed order of service in 1Chronicles 24:10

the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

The priest Zechariah, father of John the Baptist was in the order of Abijah.  The date on which he served in the temple sets the timeframe of John’s conception and sets the timeframe of the birth of Jesus.

Part of the duties of the Levites were to serve the Lord by standing every morning and evening to praise and thank the Lord, in addition to other prescribed times. Should we behave any differently? Shouldn’t we be praising and thanking God morning and night? Do we praise Him in all things and for all things?

1Thes 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Eph 5:19-20
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So even when we don’t feel like praising and thanking Him, even when we don’t like our circumstances, even when the world seems to be against us, even when we are suffering and experiencing trying times, even then….we should pray and praise! Chances are…when we do that; things won’t seem so gloomy anymore!