Progressive Worship

“These were the sons of Levi by their fathers’ houses, the heads of fathers’ houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord. ²⁵ For David said, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. ²⁶ And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.'” 1 Chronicles 23:24-26 (ESV)

The Levites experienced a transition in their role before the Lord. They were assigned to carry the tabernacle which was a tent of mobility that allowed Israel to worship God as God led them through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Under King David’s reign, the transition took place as God raised up Solomon to build the temple in Jerusalem. God had given rest to His people and chose to dwell in Jerusalem. The Levites embraced their new assignment of doing the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

Worship of the Lord God transitioned from the tabernacle in the wilderness to the temple in Jerusalem. God was preparing the way for Christ to become the sacrificial lamb for our sin. When a person becomes a child of God by placing their faith in Jesus alone for salvation, that person’s body becomes the habitation of the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV). In Christ, you become the walking tabernacle of God’s presence. You now have direct access to God’s presence. You don’t have to go into a tabernacle or a temple to encounter God’s presence.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 145:  1 Chronicles 23-25)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell