In making Solomon king David again delineates the sons of Levi for their work according to their fathers.

David deputed almost 2/3rds of the Levites to oversee the work of the building the new temple
(1Chron 23:4).  This was going to be the very best building David could produce.  It's interesting to note that the catalogue of Solomon's workers on the temple project includes 3,500 overseers (2Chron 2:1-2).  I wonder what happened to his father's 24,000 Levites? Or, are we to understand that the 24,000 were to serve as priests in the new temple?

V.3 In preparation for the new (forthcoming) temple, David re-organized the duties of the Levites.  He also required them to become involved at an earlier age. 

Hitherto, Levites started their probationary service at 25 years of age (Num 8:24-26) and their full service at 30 years of age (Num 4:2,3,22,23,29,30). 

David now required that their probationary service began at 20 years of age (vs.24,27).  Perhaps he thought this was warranted given the greater and more varied tasks of temple service.

23:1  In telling us that when david was old he made Solomon king we, and doubtless David, realised that Solomon was not going to be Messiah – the son promised in 1Chron 17:11  who was to be made king ‘when thy days be expired’

23:27 Whilst we read here that these are the ‘last words of David’ we see another occasion – 2Sam 23:1 – when we are shown the last words of David and then Psa 72:20 we see ‘the prayers of David are ended’. Each of these three events mark different ends. The record in 1 Chronicles speaks of David’s last instructions relating to temple worship. 2Sam 23 records David’s last words about his expectations and Messiah whilst Psalm 72 marks the end of David’s prayers about Messiah.

23:1 So from chapter 16 we have covered almost 33 years. The point I wish to make is that we are not told a lot about the years when David was king in Jerusalem.

V.1 David made Solomon king while he was still alive.  The promised son, whose kingdom would last forever, could not, therefore, have been Solomon (1Chron 17:11,12).  The promised son was Jesus (Isa 9:7; Luke 1:32).

V.10 This is not the same Shimei who cursed David and was subsequently killed (2Sam 16:5-7; 1Kin 2:36; 41-46).

Vs.24-27 Much of the labor concerning the tabernacle had ceased since the ark had come to rest in Jerusalem.  Therefore, David could relax some of the age restrictions that were in place. 

Moses had deemed that the Levites who did tabernacle work had to start at the age of 30 (Num 4:3). But, now David numbered the Levites from 20 years old and up.  Furthermore, there was a reassignment of duties.

33:31 A comment upon the elders who came 8:1 20:1 to enquire of Ezekiel.
This area of Ezekiel provides the basis for the parable of the man who built his house on sand and the man who built his house on rock

V.1 etc. The exhortation for us to be watchmen, to warn others of the coming calamity, is clear.  Just as Noah tirelessly preached for 120 years until the flood, so must we. The earth was cleansed of wickedness at that time, and so it shall be again (Luke 17:26). 

But, the job of the watchman also applies within the ecclesia.  We have a responsibility to look out for our brethren.  If we see misconduct or false teaching, we must address the problem (Heb 3:12,13). 

V.18  warns us that accumulated righteousness means nothing if we should turn to iniquity.  Let us make sure that we continue moving forward in Christ. 

33:24  In appealing to Abraham being only one person when the land was promised to him and comparing that with the fact that Israel were now ‘many’ it seems that the people are appealing, on the basis of numbers rather than behaviour, that the very fact that there are many of them they should be allowed to remain in the land promised to Abraham.

V.11 Yahweh takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.  He also expects His people to have the same attitude (Prov 24:17,18).  Yahweh would rather the wicked repent of their evil ways and be saved (1Tim 2:4).

33:22 So Ezekiel’s speech is restored. He has been dumb from the time he began his prophecy until now, only speaking when God moved him.

33:14 In telling the people ‘thou shalt surely die’ the prophet is quoting God’s punishment upon Adam and Eve – Gen 2:17

33:11 Israel might have thought that God did take pleasure in their death, after all He was punishing them with death. However they needed to remember that He would rather that they repented of their sins and lived – Eze 18:32

V.21 This incident occurred 18 months after the fall of Jerusalem (See Jer 39:2). It fulfilled the prophecy of Eze 24:26.

Vs.24-26 Israel was claiming the promises to Abraham as its own without exhibiting the faith of Abraham.  The claim of Israel was negated by its behaviour.

Similarly, we have no claim to Christ’s reward if we do not keep His commandments (Matt 7:22,23; John 15:14).

Vs.30-32 Let us not only hear the word but implement it also (James 1:22-25).

From v12 to 19 we have a discourse on salvation by works. Notice the specific wording of v13:

(if he) trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered

This is a very serious point for all those who have been trying to serve God for some time. All our "good work" can be taken away with one sin. So we can see that trusting in righteousness is extremely pointless. James picks this up when he says "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all". Can you imagine building a twelve storey house of cards, and just as you place the last one, you knock it with your elbow and the whole thing falls down?

But for us the simple truth is that "the righteous shall live by his faith" (Hab 2:4) and if we can be content with that, we're on the right track (Gal 3:9).

33:2 Ezekiel has pronounced judgements against many nations around the land of Israel. Those in captivity may well have listened and rejoiced at Ezekiel’s words of judgement against those nations. Though doubtless now their rejoicing would turn to consternation as the prophet now reproved them.

5:19 The list 'Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual songs' is also found in Colossians 3:16. We may conclude that the singing in the first century could be broken down into these three elements. 'Psalms' is easy to understand – the Old Testament has 150 Psalms. The other two are more difficult to explain as these are the only two places where these three types of singing occur.

6:21-22 In sending Tychicus to see them, Paul was concerned that they would learn of his state. As he had founded the ecclesia at Ephesus and was now unable to visit them he was concerned to maintain their concern for him. It was to be through their concern for him that their fellowship with him might be developed.
We must continue relationships with our brethren and sisters wherever they are. A phone call or a letter is better than no communication at all. If we can visit all the better.

5:22 and 5:25 must be understood as being closely related. The wife cannot submit herself as 'unto the Lord' unless the husband behaves as 'the Lord' Likewise the wife should be willing to, as she is to Christ' be submissive even though at times - like our life in Christ - the human desire is otherwise. If one side of the relationship is not willing to comply with the divine model the relationship will not work.

6:2-3 That the loving of parents is a command 'with promise' is most interesting. The promise was 'that thy days might be prolonged … in the land' (Deuteronomy 5:16) Our future inheritance is contingent upon a willingness to live the principles of God's character in our lives now.

ch. 5 - Notice the recurring 'walk' (:1, :8, 15) that we saw in 3:1

6:18-19 Whilst Paul is concerned that the believer prays for himself as part of his armour he is also concerned that the believer prays for him also that the work may be furthered. Do we ever think that our prayers for others are part of our own armour

Submission, Love, and Mutual Sanity in Relationships

Eph 5:22,25,28 - wives and husbands. Eph 6:1-4 - children and parents.

Immoral Behavior

Eph 5:3-5 - the importance of moral purity.

5:26 We understand that washing is the way that one becomes clean. But notice it is the word that cleanses. Rather like David’s realisation Psa 119:9

6:10 ‘Be strong in the lord’ is the antidote to thinking that we can, by our own will power, overcome sin.

5:2 Sweet smelling savour or an oder of a sweet smell. Our Heavenly Father is well pleased with an offering on the ground of its sweetness. The ointment compounded of spices, poured upon Aaron's head answers to the graces by which he was enabled to offer himself for a sweet smelling savor. Another type was the sweet savor which God smelled in Noah's sacrifice (Gen 8:21). Paul wrote we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ (2Cor 2:17). Again, as what Christ is, believers are also (1John 4:17).

6:7 Doing things as if unto God is the ideal that we should aspire to. Jesus taught the same thing – Matt 25:40.

6:11   The description of the warrior fighting against Adam provides the analogy for Peter – 1Pet 4:1– where he says ‘arm yourselves …’

5:26 Paul uses a beautiful expression to speak of the way in which our minds are cleansed – it is a process ‘washing’. We are not scrubbed or cleansed in some quick way, It is a process which requires regular activity. And so we read Scripture daily.

5:5 Notice that Paul equates covetousness with idolatry (See Col 3:5).

5:9 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22,23) (ESV).

5:14 This is not a direct quote from any passage, but is most likely to be a paraphrase of Isa 60:1,2.

5:16 Are we making the best use of these evil times to serve the Lord?

5:20 We can never be too grateful to Yahweh for what we have, and what we will have, by His grace.

6:1,2 Children should obey and honor their parents as a law of Christ (Col 3:20). However, they will only know to do this if they have been taught.

6:4 The teaching of children to obey and honor their parents is the responsibility of the parents (Prov 22:6).

6:5-7 That means bosses; public servants; civic authorities; or anyone with a ruling capacity in this world.

6:9 Bosses who are followers of Jesus must remember their boss, Jesus, and act like Him.

6:16 Jesus is the door whereby the faithful can be secured and receive salvation (John 10:1,2,7,9). The word door in Greek is thura. The shield (of faith) in Greek is thureos which means door shaped. The link between Jesus, as the door, and the shield of faith becomes clear.

6:6-8 Notice the repeated emphasis that it is the ‘heart’ which determines the quality of the work of the servant and that he is Christ’s servant and so, ultimately, the Lord not the servant’s master – will provide the reward. In reality the master did not reward his servants, the servant was but a chattel. But in Christ our Master goes far beyond the responsibilities of a master to a servant

BENEFITS OF THANKFULNESS

"But among you there must not be ... obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." (Eph 5:3-4) "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to the Father for everything in the name of Jesus Christ." (v.19-20)

Apart from the fact we are told to, there are some very good reasons to be thankful.

1. Thankfulness encourages us to count our blessings. When we count our blessings and see how many things there are thankful for in our lives, we will be more positive people.
2. Having counted our blessings, our love for those who brought us the blessings will grow. Our love for God and love for the people around us will become deeper.
3. With a positive, thankful attitude we will become an inspiration to the people around us, encouraging them to keep going and maybe even see them turn to God.
4. Focussing on the things we are thankful for can keep us from sin. When our minds and our mouths are occupied in counting blessings and giving thanks, we have little time left to think of saying things that would cause us or others to sin.
5. Being thankful is pleasing to God