Daily Devotional for Thursday, February 15

The Officials

“And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s,” 1 Chronicles 27:31.

My high school French teacher had an impressive knowledge bank. Not only was he familiar with the subjects he taught, but he also had a remarkable ability to recall information. We could name any state in the United States, and he could tell us the names of their government leaders, including their representatives in Congress. What was even more impressive was that the day after a national election, he could name all of the newly elected state and federal officials. It was an amazing talent, especially since he did not have the luxury of the Internet.

First Chronicles 27 lists many of the leaders in David’s kingdom. Some are familiar names who were tasked with sizeable responsibilities. For instance, Joab was recognized as the general of the king’s army (1 Chronicles 27:34). Many names are not familiar to me and may not be familiar to you. I will probably never remember that Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels (verse 30). In the event you are ever playing a trivia game that asks, “Who was responsible for the olive and sycamore trees in David’s kingdom,” I will go ahead and give you the answer now. It was Baal-hanan the Gederite (verse 28). My point is this: you may not remember who was over the vineyards (Shimei the Ramathite, verse 27), or who oversaw the tilling of the fields (Ezri the son of Chelub, verse 26), but the important thing to remember is that each of these individuals had a significant role in David’s kingdom work.

God desired for history to remember these people, so they are recorded in His Word. You and I will never be immortalized in the Scriptures, and my French teacher will never be able to recite all of our names, but that does not mean our roles in God’s work are unimportant.

JUST A THOUGHT
Whatever God has called you to do is vital to the Lord’s Kingdom work.

Chris Floyd