Having dealt with issues of worship David now turns to matters of daily organisation in selecting these Levites.

V.12 Being a porter (gatekeeper, doorkeeper) does not seem like a glamorous job compared with other temple functions.  And yet it was an important function in which the Levites, who became porters, felt privileged.  As the psalmist declares, this is a function to be preferred to all that the world has to offer (Psa 84:10).

V.28 It is interesting that although Saul was rejected and deposed as king, the things he dedicated to Yahweh were accepted. 

26:28  We tend to think of David being the one who prepared material for the temple. However the mention of ‘Saul’ here dedicating things for the temple indicates that the matter of the temple was being discussed and planned for even when Saul was king – after the destruction of Shiloh.

Vs.17,18 The function of the Levites, acting as porters, was to guard the entrances to the temple area.  They ensured admittance only to eligible Jews and kept the orderly conduct of worshippers.  Notice that more guards were placed on the east side than at other gates.  The entrance to the temple itself faced east, which is significant. 

The temple is the place where Yahweh meets His people.  Jesus is that temple (John 2:18-21).  The sun rises in the east and gives light and life to the earth.  Jesus is the sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2).  His presence will be displayed as light that spreads from east to west when He returns to the earth ( Matt 24:27). 

26:8 Obed Edom had been involve din the dealings with the ark when David brought the ark to Zion 33 years before David’s death so it seem likely that by the time Solomon was on the throne that Obed Edom himself was either very old or dead. However his sons are allowed the honour of continuing to be involved in temple worship.

26:27 1Chron 18 and 2Sam 8 in particular list the spoils and summaries the battles from which these spoils were derived.

Vs.8,15 It appears that this is the same Obed-Edom who housed the ark on its journey to Jerusalem (2Sam 6:10).

V.2 The enmity that Esau had against his brother Jacob over losing his birthright was perpetuated by his descendents, the Edomites, against Israel (Gen 27:41). Seir, which is synonymous with Edom, means hairy (Gen 36:8).  This is a characteristic of Esau (Gen 27:11). Ezekiel's prophesy against Edom fulfilled the longstanding hatred that Yahweh had for Edom's contempt of Israel (Rom 9:13).

Idumea was the western part of Edom. The Herods were of Idumean ancestry. It is not surprising then that the hatred of the Jews continued in the first century. Herod the Great had no compunction in slaying Israelite children in his attempt to murder Jesus (Matt 2:13-16).

Herod Antipas, who succeeded Herod the Great as governor of Galilee, was not held in high esteem by the Lord Jesus (Luke 13:32). It was this Herod who beheaded John the Baptist (Matt 14:6-10); and it was the same Herod in front of whom Jesus appeared at trial (Luke 23:7-12).

35:12 - The phrase "against the mountains of Israel" is interesting since, in that form, is only found in one other place; that being Ezekiel 38:8. This only appears like such in the AV but the lesson is clear. Edom is representative of Gentile powers(or flesh) that has throughout the course of history been antagonistic towards God's people. SInce they have been "against" Israel, it is "on" or "against" these mountains of Israel in which this power is ultimately destroyed. Amos 9:11,12(cp. Acts 15:15 for the Gentile conection); Joel 3:1,11; Zech 14:2,17

Edom is to be brought down by God.  Because the descendants of Esau had rejoiced at Israel’s downfall, so Edom is to be laid low. In the end they will know that God is the Lord.

35:5  So we see that God’s judgments are not arbitrary. He responds to nations on the basis of the way that they treat Israel. This is exactly what He said to Abraham - Gen 12:3

Vs.5,10 Edom is to be punished because they helped the Babylonians in killing the Jews in 586 BC.  In the process, they made a land grab of Judean territory.

35:14 The time when the whole earth rejoices has to be when Christ in back in the earth. So at that time we must see a devastation of Edom – that is the area where Edom has historically lived.

We saw, in Ezekiel Ch. 34, the promise of a true shepherd who would care for His sheep.  That shepherd, of course, is Jesus.  He will return to earth to save His people Israel from abuse (Eze 34:23,24). 

The land of Israel and surrounding territory will have been overrun by Russia and its allies (Eze 38:8).  Jesus and His saints will destroy the invaders (Eze 39:4).  On His way to liberate Jerusalem and the rest of Israel, Jesus and His band will pass through Edom, destroying the enemy in their path (Isa 63:1).

As Esau opposed Jacob (Israel), Esau's progeny (Edom) opposed the nation of Israel.  Edom, therefore, is used as a synonym for the nations that oppose Yahweh and His people.  And so, the prophecy against Edom in Ezekiel Ch. 35 has reference to the latter-day invaders of Israel.  It will be in Edom that the invading enemy of Israel will first be encountered and destroyed (vs.6-8).

35:6‘sith’ is not a word in regular use in the English language. The Hebrew word <0518> is elsewhere translated

Gen 4:7       if

Gen 38:9     when

Lev 22:6      unless

Num 14:30   shall not

V.5 Edom helped Nebuchadnezzar in the invasion of Judah and Jerusalem (Psa 137:7; Eze 25:12).

V.10 Edom thought that it could possess the vacated Israel and Judah (Psa 83:4,12; Eze 36:5; Obad 1:13).

Seir was given to Esau by God. The Bible says so several times (E.g. Josh 24:4). In fact, God Himself had brought Esau into this land just as He had done with the Israelites, driving out the original inhabitants and fighting on Esau's behalf: "He destroyed the Horites from before them" (Deut 2:12, 21-22). Israel were strictly warned by God against making war with their brother: "do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep" (Deut 2:5). So Esau (Edom) should have been content with the land God had given them, but instead were jealous of their brother's land (Psa 83:12).

This nation of Israel's brothers (Esau/Edom/Mt Seir), along with their other brothers, descendants of Lot (Ammon and Moab) all came against Israel to battle at the time of king Jehoshaphat (2Chron 20:1). Jehoshaphat calls to mind God's promises to these people, how He had brought them into their lands, and not allowed Israel to fight against any of them (2Chron 20:5-12) "here they are rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit". God now had to choose between these men of promise: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob vs Esau and Lot. If these nations had never forced God to make that choice, He could have continued to bless them all. But now faced with a choice, God had to choose Jacob who had been given the eternal promises, and allowed the others to destroy themselves (2Chron 20:22-24).

So this, along with the more recent history mentioned in the other comments, is the context of Eze 35, and why v10 and v11 speak of envy and jealousy. Could jealousy be behind some of the troubles in the Middle East today? 

35:15 We learn a lot about attitude here. Edom brought destruction on herself because of her rejoicing against Judah. We must never rejoice over the misfortunes of others – sadly such behaviour is a feature of human nature.

3:9 The contrast between Paul's own righteousness and that which is through the faith in Christ is the difference between self confidence and recognising one's own need.
At one time we were 'without Christ' Ephesians 2:12 but now we are 'justified' Romans 3:28 reckoning that God and not ourselves are just Romans 3:4.
We must recognise that we are saved, not buy our own righteousness, but by the righteousness of God.

4:10-14 In 'communicating' with Paul, even though his needs were already met, the brethren and sisters in Philippi were showing their willingness to identify with him. In like manner we can identify with our brethren and sisters. The communication may be phone call, a card, a letter or a visit. It does not have to be material goods.

3:21 The law could not change the 'vile bodies' all the law of Moses could do was show that the body was vile. The sacrifice of Jesus, by contrast, could purge the conscience. Hebrews 9:24

4:8 This verse is very useful to reflect on when trying to decide how to behave in any situation. Simply as 'does this activity or thought fulfil the criteria laid out in this verse.

ch 3 - And now 'finally' (3:1) he speaks of 'minding 'the same thing' (3:16) and an exhortation to avoid minding 'earthly things' (3:19)

ch 4 - And so when two sisters are mentioned by name (4:2) whilst there would be embarrassment there could be no dissent about what had to be done. The ecclesia would have assented to each of the points Paul made as the letter was read out.

3:17 In encouraging them to be 'followers together ...' Paul is reinforcing the theme of unity which he is addressing in the letter to the Philippians.

4:11 Paul's happiness in whatever state he found himself is the characteristic that we should develop. If we can develop this mind we will not strive for status or possessions in this life.

4:9 Paul again sets himself forward as an example of the virtues listed in v.8 He was not boasting for they knew his ways; they had learned, received, heard, and seen them in his life. The power of his example lay in his careful conformity with the life of his Lord. 

3:19,20 The first century ecclesia consisted of those who were destined for the kingdom and those who were not.  Some were concerned with materialism and the present world while others were forward-looking, seeing themselves as citizens of the kingdom. 

The same choice exists for us today.  Is our focus on the present or on the future?  Where we focus determines where we will end up (Matt 6:21).  

3:10 When Paul says that we should ’know’ Jesus he is not speaking about knowing about Jesus. Rather he is making the point that we should have a relationship with Jesus that can only come from learning about Jesus by getting to know how he thought.

4:8 This is the second time Paul has said ‘finally’, the first being in Phil 3:1. The first time he is making his final expositional point whilst here he is giving them a final exhortation about how they should think and behave.

3:20 True followers of Christ have a citizenship in heaven.  That means that their eternal lives are reserved in heaven.  Immortality for them will be realized on earth when Jesus comes back. That is the reason they eagerly await His return.

4:3 All baptized believers of the true Gospel have their names written in the book of life.  Whether they stay there depends on the believers' remaining faithful or not.

THE KEY TO SUCCESS (4:8)

Here is the key to success and the key to failure: We become what we think about!

A TRUISM (4:11)

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything

CLEAR YOUR MIND OF CAN'T (4:13)

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me"

4:2 And so the ‘symptom is addressed – and this only occupies a couple of verses in the whole letter. We can learn a lot about the way in which Paul dealt with the problem. A lesson in diplomacy.

3:21     The resurrection will bring about the change of our body if we change our mind now. The resurrection is to eternal life is for those who have already changed their way of thinking. Paul has already spoken of this – Phil 2:5-8

4:6  In these troubled times, it is important to maintain faith.  If we truly trust in Yahweh, then we should not worry if things surrounding us fall apart.  Continually communicate with Yahweh and hold to a good relationship (Prov 3:5,6).

3:9In speaking of not having his own righteousness Paul is contrasting with his words in Rom 10:13 where he has already said that the Jews tr usted in their own righteousness.

3:2 Dogs were unclean animals under the Law. The term was used for the Gentiles by the Jews, because they were unclean (uncircumcised) according to the Law.  Paul uses the derogatory term here to denote those who would bring impurity into the ecclesia of Christ, be it false doctrine or bad behaviour.

3:11 Paul, like many others, will be resurrected from death to face judgment.  What Paul really means when he says: the resurrection from the dead (ESV) is the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7).

Phil 3:17 See 1Cor 11:1. Paul encourages true believers to mark others who walk correctly in Christ.  It is important to be able to discern those who are walking correctly and those who are not.  Both classes might claim to be Christ’s but there is a difference (Consider the parable of the wheat and tares Matt 13:24-30).

4:13 This is a helpful verse upon which to reflect.  Remember, we always have divine help when we wish to accomplish something that brings glory to Yahweh (1Cor 3:7).

3:10 In associating ‘the power of his resurrection’ with ‘being made conformable unto his death’ we are reminded that the blessings of our position in Christ brings with is responsibilities – and again Paul is reminding his hearers what he said before . Here he is quoting Rom 6:5

FOLLOW THE WAY OF LOVE

Wouldn't it be good if we could all have the attitude of Paul toward our brothers and sisters. Part of the reason Paul wrote to the Philippians was because there were factions and divisions going on between them. As he wrote, he addressed them all in one letter. He loved them all whether they had this opinion or that opinion, whether they belonged to this group or the other. As he wrote to them he described his love for them, saying, "Therefore my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown..." (Phil 4:1) The believers at Philippi were not just aquaintences to Paul, they werte like family, people he loved deeply.

A little later Paul said, "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (v.9) Paul's love for his fellow believers is something that both the Philippians could see and we can see. If we have seen it in Paul, then we should put it into practice.

Becoming a follower of Christ is not just part of being a club. It is a way of life, a way of love. So let us develop the same attitude as Paul had toward his brothers and sisters in Christ, that they may be those whom we love and long for, our joy and crown.