提要
我們讀了很多利未支派樂師運作的細節。大衛對音樂的興趣，使他相當注重音樂崇拜的重要性。但比這更要緊的，這是上帝所命定的。他們的安排，來自先知拿單和迦得（參代下29：25）傳下的神聖命令。當禮儀在殿中進行時，歌者和樂師負有重要責任。他們製造一股敬畏的氣氛，並誘導敬拜者思想主的事情。樂師們向著上主演奏樂器時，目的是為了感謝、讚美，及「說預言」(25：1、3)。詩篇裡有許多這類詩歌的抒情歌詞。其美妙的旋律令人舒爽，歌詞中的信息也能進入人靈魂的深處，正如今天詩篇給人的益處一樣。上帝經常用音樂對人的內心說話。
每位樂師長代表三個利未宗族，他們的名字是革順宗的亞薩，哥轄宗的希幔，和米拉利宗的耶杜順（代上6：33∼47）。他們是最有藝能的樂師和教師，但他們仍歸大衛管轄(25：6)。不僅因為大衛是君王，而且也因為他是樂師的領袖和多數詩歌（詩篇）的編撰者，並且他們所用的樂器，也是他發明的。四千利未人被派為樂師，有技藝的人只剩兩百八十八人了。前者是老師，可是學生也有同等的地位在殿中讚美上帝(25：8)。向上帝表達敬拜的權利是不能被剝奪的。畏畏縮縮的學生，和老師的讚美，上帝一樣的接受。
三位樂師長中的一位，名叫希幔，大蒙賜福，有十四個兒子，三個女兒，上帝藉此增強他的影響力（字面說「吹角頌讚」，25：5）。希幔也教他女兒音樂，因為婦女在音樂敬拜上帝的事上也有份（參詩68：25）。注意，希幔之子的名字，希伯來文意義是十分有趣的。這古老的希伯來文名字，往往具有重大意義，並表達了一些信息。由第六個兒子的名字哈拿尼雅開始，一直到第十四個孩子，其意義分別是：噢，主啊，請恩待我！／請恩待我／您是我的上帝／我尊崇您（我高舉您）／在我沮喪時請幫助我／請賜給我／我已宣告／至高者／視界（看見）。事實上希幔被稱作「看的人」，意即一個看見異象，並且從上帝那裡接受啟示的先知(25：5)。他可能受上帝啟示寫下音樂，同時也寫下很多美好詩篇。 大衛把所有的樂師分為二十四區來運作，他們服事的次序是抽籤決定的，正如同那些在上帝居所服事的利未人一樣(24：7、19)。看守大門的人分群，是另外一類運作。他們也抽籤，一方面為了決定服事的期段，一方面也決定他們的位置。每一扇上帝居所的門都有人看守，使得聖殿不被毀損。殿中的珍寶，也由值得信賴的利未人看守，其中有一位是摩西的後人（26：24─25）。這寶庫是殿中的貯藏室，藏有奉獻給上主的所有珍品，例如在戰場上得來的戰利品之類（26：27）。
最後，我們讀到利未支派的官員和法官，負責治理含括約但河東西兩岸的全以色列（26：30，32）。這些官員可能曾當過收集什一奉獻和上主居所貢品之主管；而法官則依據摩西的律法來治理。摩西本人曾首先命令，凡教導律法的，也必須是照此規定公正治理的人（申17：9；33：10；代下19：8、11）。在以色列的神權政治（由上帝治理）下，可以說，教會和國家是分不開的；所以，凡參與王的事務者，也必參與宗教事務（26：30，32）。理想的社會，必須依上帝的律法治理，並有順服這律法的子民在其中居住。由於人類不完全，因此只有當基督治理全地，如同治理天堂時，方能出現完美的社會。
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Overview
We read in great detail the organization of the Levitical musicians. David's interest in music accounts for the importance he put upon it in the worship of the Lord. But, more than that, it was ordained by God. Their arrangement came by divine commands through the prophets Nathan and Gad (cf. 2 Chronicles 29:25). The singers and musicians played an important role during the ritual ceremonies in the Temple. They created an atmosphere of reverence and geared the worshippers' thoughts to the things of the Lord. It is interesting to note that the word "prophesy" is used of the chief musicians when they played their instruments unto the Lord for the purpose of giving Him thanks and praise (25:1, 3). The book of Psalms provides us with the lyrics to many of these songs. Their beautiful music must have been soothing, and the message of the songs would have reached into the hearts and souls of the people, just as the message of Psalms still does today. The Lord often speaks to people's hearts through music.
Each of the three Levitical clans were represented by chief musicians: Asaph of Gershon, Heman of Kohath, and Jeduthun of Merari (6:33-47). They were the most skillful musicians and music teachers, yet they were still under David's authority (25:6). This was not only because David was the king, but because he was also a master musician and the composer of most of the songs (the psalms) they performed, as well as the inventor of many of their musical instruments. From the 4000 Levites designated to be musicians, there were only 288 considered skillful. These were the teachers; yet the students had an equal part in praising God at the Temple (25:8). No one should be excluded from the privilege of expressing his worship to the Lord. The faltering students' praise was just as acceptable to God as the masters'.
One of the three chief musicians, Heman, was greatly blessed with fourteen sons and three daughters whom God gave him to increase his power and influence (literally rendered as "exalt his horn", 25:5). Heman also taught music to his daughters, for women were also involved musically in worship to God (cf. Psalm 68:25). It is interesting to note the Hebrew meanings of the last nine names of Heman's sons (25:4). The meanings of ancient Hebrew names were often significant and expressed a message. Heman may have purposely chosen these names for his sons to express his prayer to God. Beginning with the sixth name, Hananiah, the meanings are: Be gracious to me, O Lord/be gracious to me/You are my God/I magnify you (I lift you up)/help me in my distress/please give to me/I have proclaimed/ highest/visions. Indeed, Heman is called a "seer", meaning a prophet who sees visions and receives revelations from God (25:5). Possibly, he was inspired by God to write music and may well have written some of the psalms.
David organized all the musicians into twenty-four divisions, and their order of service was decided upon by casting lots, as it was done for the Levites who served at the House of God (24:7, 19). The group of gatekeepers was yet another organization. They also cast lots, not for their period of service but their placement of service. Every gate surrounding the Lord's House was guarded so that the holy premises would not be defiled. The Temple treasuries were also guarded by trustworthy Levites; among them were the sons of Moses (26:24-25). The treasuries were the storage rooms in the Temple that held all the things that had been dedicated to the Lord, such as valuables taken as spoil in battle (26:27).
Finally, we read of the organization of Levitical officials and judges that ministered throughout Israel, both west and east of the Jordan (26:30,32). The officials may have been in charge of gathering the tithes and offerings for the House of the Lord, and the judges made rulings according to the laws of Moses. Moses himself had first ordered that those who taught the Law should also be the ones to administer justice according to it (Deuteronomy 17:9; 33:10; 2 Chronicles 19:8, 11). Under Israel's theocracy (the rule of God), there was no separation of church and state, so to speak; therefore, the matters that pertained to the king also pertained to God (26:30, 32). The ideal society is one ruled by the laws of God and inhabited by those who obey them. Because of human imperfection, however, this perfect society will only be realized when Christ rules fully on earth as He does in Heaven.
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