In the new heavens and new earth there will be no need for door locks, security cameras, alarm systems, or police officers. But in this fallen world, we recognize the importance of such measures, and may even put them to use in our churches. We can bemoan the fact that times have changed, but when we read 1 Chronicles 26 we realize: perhaps times haven’t changed after all. As David organized the kingdom of Israel, the security detail was his next vital concern. The primary duty of the Levitical gatekeepers was to safeguard the sanctuary from trespass by unauthorized persons and from defilement by idolatrous practices. Yet the entire temple complex and its ongoing activity needed to be guarded from harm. Many valuable items were stored in this facility. The priests and other Levites needed to be able to carry out their work without distractions. People who wanted to worship at the temple, including Gentiles, were entitled to feel protected and safe as they came. So David appointed a number of Levites to serve as security guards (v 1-19). Just as it was important to select skilled and trained worship leaders (25:7), it’s also carefully noted that David wisely selected gatekeepers who were capable men, “able” to do the job and “qualified for the service” (26:7-8). Among them we find the ever-present, multi-talented Obed-edom (v 4-8). This is probably the same guy who had previously been a caretaker of the ark (13:14) and then appointed as a singer for its transport to Jerusalem (15:18-25). Though he was a Philistine by birth, the inclusion of Obed-edom within this company suggests he had become a kind of “honorary” Levite, blessed by God with special favor to continue his nearness to the sacred ark. We see another sign of God’s grace in the significant number of these guards who came from the branch of Levites known as “Korahites” (v 1). Korah was the infamous leader of that unsuccessful rebellion against Moses and Aaron, which resulted in death for him and his followers (Num 16-17). But the sons of Korah stepped back from the revolt and did not fall under God’s judgment (Num 26:10-11). Among their descendants, some served as temple security; others were musicians and songwriters (see titles of Psalm 42 and 84). Once the temple was built, it would become the repository for a great amount of wealth. Treasurers were needed to log in contributions or spoils of war, keeping track of every item and monitoring expenses for maintenance and upkeep (v 20-28), while officers and judges served outside Jerusalem (v 29-32). For further meditation: