1 Chronicles 9:15
Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;
Sermons
Genealogy of the Returned ExilesF. Whitfield 1 Chronicles 9:1-44
Aspects of Christian WorkW. Clarkson 1 Chronicles 9:14-34
GenealogiesJ.R. Thomson 1 Chronicles 1-9














In the service of the sanctuary there were many offices to be filled, various duties to be discharged. These will bring to our remembrance three aspects of our Christian service.

I. THAT LOWLY LABOUR IN THE SERVICE OF THE SAVIOUR IS HONOURABLE WORK. The work of the Nethinims (ver. 2) was not to be despised; they did work which was comparatively menial, but it was work that needed to be done for God, and was accepted by him. Of the Levites, some "had the charge of the ministering vessels" (ver. 28); others of "the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices" (vers. 29, 30); one of them was placed "over the things that were made in the pans" (ver. 31). These offices were humble enough, but they were not counted dishonourable by those who rendered them, and they were esteemed worthy of record in the sacred chronicle. In the cause of Christ and of man there are many duties that are demanded of us, which, to the eye of impiety, may seem servile and mean. If, however, we are looking at things with the eye of faith and filial love, they will not wear this aspect. Loyalty counts nothing too mean to be rendered to its sovereign; love nothing too trivial to be offered to its friend. Our loyalty to the heavenly King, our love to our Divine Friend, should make us not only willing but eager to take any part and do any work in his sacred service.

II. THAT A POST OF TRUST IS ONE OF SPECIAL HONOUR. It is very noticeable that so much is said about the porters that kept the gates: "the work of the service" is markedly referred to as "keeping the gates of the tabernacle;" these "over the host of the Lord," were "keepers of the entry" (ver. 19; see vers. 21-24). We read also that "four chief porters... were over the chambers and treasuries" (ver. 26). Special provision was made for their entertainment (ver. 27). These actions were simple, mechanical - it might be thought lowly, if not menial. But they were places of trust. It was important that none should be admitted to the holy places but those who had the right of entrance. These men had the purity of the sacred courts at their command; they were trusted to see that these were not profaned by unhallowed feet. When we are trusted by our fellows or by our Master to do anything, whether it be in itself serious or slight, we should feel that we are being honoured, and we should put forth all our vigilance, strength, vigour, to prove ourselves worthy of the confidence placed in us. Nothing should make so strong an appeal to our undivided energies as being trusted to see that something is done well in the service of our Saviour.

III. THAT CONSTANCY IS A VERY VALUABLE VIRTUE IN CHRISTIAN SERVICE. The singers "were employed in that work day and night" (ver. 33). It was pleasing to the ear of Jehovah to hear ceaseless strains of holy song in the house of the Lord. It is pleasing to the heart of the ascended Saviour to witness spiritual constancy in those that bear his name and profess to be his disciples. He has ordained us that "our fruit should remain (John 15:16). He wishes that we should continue in his love" (John 15:9). We are to continue in the doctrine of Christ (Acts 14:22; 1 Timothy 4:16; Colossians 1:23), and in brotherly love (Hebrews 13:1). The secret of constancy in the various graces of Christian character is abiding in Christ himself (John 15:1-7). Abiding in him - our spirit trusting, resting, rejoicing, hoping in him - our life will not flicker or expire; it will shine, like the lamp in the holy place, like the song in the sanctuary, day and night," steadily, serenely, abidingly, in the presence of God. - C.

Very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
We are not called to ecclesiastical statesmanship in this verse; we are called to the kind of work we can do best. There are very able doorkeepers, as well as very able preachers; there are very able administrators, as well as very able expositors: the one cannot do without the other. What we want in the house of God is ability — that is to say, faculty that can utilise all other men, penetrate into the meaning of all passing events, and tell exactly when work is to be done and when it is not to he attempted. Many are willing who are not able; many are able in nine particulars but fail in the tenth. Sometimes a whole number of talents is thrust away, because one talent — the talent of using the others — is wanting.

(J. Parker, D. D.)

The era to which the statements of the text belong was, like every other era of the militant people of God, one that required men of ability — and it had them. In close connection with these statements, we read of them that they were "men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do"; that they "could order the battle array"; that they were mighty men of valour, "whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the toes upon the mountains"; and their deeds of personal prowess are stated in detail, showing that they were men of heroic blood and daring and achievement. Brawn and brain and blood stood in good stead in those ages of war and conquest, when the cleavage of swords and the thrust of spears and the might of muscle determined victory. Yet more than even this, does the Cause, in our day, call for. It calls, with profound beseeching, for the faith and the devotion of the majority, nay, of the whole body, of all who love it and love its Lord. After the battle of Solferino, one of the world's decisive conflicts, when the line of battle extended for fifteen miles, Victor Emanuel concluded his "order of the day" in these words: "Soldiers! in former battles I have often had occasion to mention the names of many among you in the order of the day; this time I put the whole army on the order of the day!" The personal daring and deeds of every man made that battle the most memorable in modern warfare. When our Victor Emanuel can put the whole army in the order of the day the staid and suffering kingdom will come to victory. In our day there are patent obstructive forces to this end.

I. In the first place, we may notice that there is much UNCONSECRATED ABILITY which is due to Christ, but which is withheld from Him. His cause, as we have said, is committed to human instrumentality. He retains His own Divine efficiency in it, but He permits men to advance or to hinder it. Ordinarily, the power of the Church, in a given community, is in the ratio of the human influence and character which are allied to it. If the popular sentiment is decidedly in its favour, if the men and women who are able, intellectually, socially, pecuniarily, are unequivocally and spiritually Christian, the Church is easily progressive and controlling. But if the social leaders are divided in sentiment, and if the two parties are about equal in standing, in intelligence, in business and professional ability and in property, the kingdom is loaded with a serious disadvantage. Men form their opinions under the lead of other men. Social influence is powerful. The young look up to their seniors, to those who have had experience in affairs. The multitude are not independent thinkers and actors. And so, in this state of things, religion contends with odds against it. But human nature is not, of itself, in favour of religion. Human nature is not only unsanctified, but it is depraved. Men run downward naturally. So long as a moiety of those who have influence in the community are arrayed against personal religion, are even not practically and personally in its favour, the drift will be largely away from it. Religion needs the combined influence and example of all worthy people. Those who decline such support oppose an obstructive force to the progress and sway of the kingdom.

II. Not only have we a great amount of this concentrated ability, but that ABILITY which is nominally consecrated to Christ is to a large extent INEFFICIENT. If the Church, such as it is in numbers, in ability, in social standing, were a compact, disciplined, working, spiritual force; if they were individually and collectively, able men for the service of the house of God, there would be the certainty of victory. But plainly it is not so. The nominal body of Christ, taken as a whole, cannot be relied on. The battle array shows a long, thin line, and therefore a weak one. We may take any department of our Christian work, and the report will be the same from each and all. Even public worship has scant attendance. If we should take our measure by the systematic endeavour of the Church to evangelise the parish, the showing, in the aggregate, would be no better. Now this inefficiency of great Churches, strong in numbers and character and resources, is an obstructive force to the progress end acceptance of real religion: it has a depressing influence on the Christian body and a repulsive effect on the world. We can readily see how different the popular impression would be were the whole Church engaged, with interest, with devotion, with the fervour of a passion, in its Christian enterprises. We are well aware that there are able and consecrated men and women who are faithful. The hope of the kingdom is in them: but the burdens of the kingdom are well-nigh insupportable by them. They need support; they need to-day the efficient aid of all those who are nominally consecrated to Christ. There is still another obstructive force.

III. We have to contend with MISDIRECTED ABILITY. It may be consecrated and efficient, but it is unwisely used. It is of the guerilla order: "Self-constituted, or constituted by the call of a single individual; not according to the general law. It consists in its disconnection with the army; it is irregular as to permanence." The semi-secular cause which they have espoused is made supreme. For that public worship is abandoned. The holy sacraments are supplanted by it. The devotional services of the Church are obliged to give way before gatherings for it. Devotion to Christ ranks lower than devotion to the cause. Now, what the Church needs for its efficiency, and what the world needs for its salvation, is the right use of all the misdirected ability of the workers. They should be called in from their petty guerilla undertakings to co-operation with the combined and disciplined army. No obstructive force should hinder the great work or postpone its final triumph. The effort that is now wasted is enough to give success to the one cause. The zeal spent in predatory excursions would insure victory to the Lord's host.

IV. Further, in obstructive force is the INFLUENCE OF INCONSISTENCY. The Christian profession is of a strict order. Christian character is definitely marked. Disciples of Christ are separate from sinners. They belong to another kingdom. They should stand in their right and righteousness. They should command the respect and confidence of all other men. They should surround Christ as nobles surround their king.

(B. Hart.)

People
Abdon, Abinadab, Adaiah, Adiel, Ahaz, Ahiman, Ahio, Ahitub, Akkub, Alemeth, Ammihud, Asa, Asaiah, Asaph, Azariah, Azel, Azmaveth, Azrikam, Bakbakkar, Bani, Benjamin, Benjaminites, Berechiah, Binea, Bocheru, David, Ebiasaph, Elah, Eleasah, Eleazar, Elkanah, Eshbaal, Galal, Gedor, Gibeon, Hanan, Hasenuah, Hashabiah, Hasshub, Heresh, Hilkiah, Hodaviah, Ibneiah, Ibnijah, Immer, Imri, Ishmael, Israelites, Jachin, Jahzerah, Jarah, Jedaiah, Jeduthun, Jehiel, Jehoiarib, Jeiel, Jeroham, Jeuel, Jonathan, Kish, Kohathites, Korah, Korahites, Kore, Levi, Levites, Maacah, Maachah, Maasiai, Malchijah, Malchishua, Manasseh, Mattaniah, Mattithiah, Melech, Meraioth, Merari, Meribbaal, Meshelemiah, Meshillemith, Meshullam, Micah, Michri, Mikloth, Moza, Nadab, Ner, Netophathites, Obadiah, Omri, Pashur, Perez, Pharez, Phinehas, Pithon, Rephaiah, Reuel, Sallu, Samuel, Saul, Shallum, Sheariah, Shemaiah, Shemariah, Shephathiah, Shephatiah, Shilonites, Tahrea, Talmon, Uthai, Uzzi, Zadok, Zechariah, Zerah, Zichri, Zimri, Zur
Places
Babylon, Gibeon, Jerusalem
Topics
Asaph, Bakbakkar, Bakbak'kar, Galal, Heresh, Mattaniah, Mattani'ah, Mica, Micah, Zichri, Zicri
Outline
1. The original of Israel and Judah's genealogies
2. The Israelites
10. The priests
14. and the Levites, with Nethinims, who dwelt in Jerusalem
27. The charge of certain Levites
35. The stock of Saul and Jonathan

Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Chronicles 9:3-22

     7230   genealogies

Library
The King.
We have now to turn and see the sudden change of fortune which lifted the exile to a throne. The heavy cloud which had brooded so long over the doomed king broke in lightning crash on the disastrous field of Gilboa. Where is there a sadder and more solemn story of the fate of a soul which makes shipwreck "of faith and of a good conscience," than that awful page which tells how, godless, wretched, mad with despair and measureless pride, he flung himself on his bloody sword, and died a suicide's death,
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
1 Chronicles 9:15 NIV
1 Chronicles 9:15 NLT
1 Chronicles 9:15 ESV
1 Chronicles 9:15 NASB
1 Chronicles 9:15 KJV

1 Chronicles 9:15 Bible Apps
1 Chronicles 9:15 Parallel
1 Chronicles 9:15 Biblia Paralela
1 Chronicles 9:15 Chinese Bible
1 Chronicles 9:15 French Bible
1 Chronicles 9:15 German Bible

1 Chronicles 9:15 Commentaries

Bible Hub
1 Chronicles 9:14
Top of Page
Top of Page