“The division of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests.”
– 1 Chronicles 24:1–2
I want to lead us to pray according to one passage from 1 Chronicles 24:1–2 and one from 1 Chronicles 25. They’re both pretty different. But I just can’t choose between the two. So 1 Chronicles, chapter 24:1
“The division of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests.” That brief description of Nadab and Abihu reminds us of these two sons who died because of their disobedience to God because of their lack of reverence and fear for God.
1 Chronicles 24:1–2 Calls Us to Pray for Our Children
I want to lead us to pray accordingly because while today is one of my sons’ birthdays. As I pray for him and my other children, as we pray for our children, as we pray for the next generation, God, we pray that You would help them to obey and honor You. To fear and revere You.
1 Chronicles 24:1–2 Reminds Us to Pray for Our Children’s Obedience of God
God, we pray that You would help children to obey and honor You, to fear and revere You.
God, we pray that You would help us to pass on to the next generation a fear and reverence for You. An awe of You that leads to obedience to You. God, we pray for this for our sons and daughters. For the next generation in the church. God, help us to pass on fear and reverence and knowledge of You and obedience to You and honor for You. We pray in Jesus name, amen.
Example of Godly Parenthood in the Bible
Then I want to lead us to pray according to 1 Chronicles, chapter 25. Again, it’s very different. But listen to this language. Verse three says, “Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun, Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre and thanksgiving and praise to the Lord.” And then 1 Chronicles 25:7 says the number of them along with their brothers who were trained and singing to the Lord, all who were skillful. It was 288.
Encouragement to Use Talent From God to Praise Him
This picture in 1 Chronicles, 25 describes skill that God grants for people to play instruments and to sing to the Lord. And through their playing instruments and singing to prophesy, to teach the word of God through song. I just think about the people in the church whom God has entrusted with skills, with gifts in instruments and playing instruments. And in the instrument of the voice and singing to Him. God, we pray that You would raise up and bless skilled singers and skilled musicians who teach Your word faithfully through what they sing and the instruments they play.
Reminder to be Centered Around Christ
God, we pray that You would build up Your church through song. That You would use these skilled musicians that You have given in that church that I pastor and churches all across the world to build up Your church in praising You. And to proclaim Your glory among the nations.
That Your word would be central in all of that. We would not sing just our own thoughts and our ideas about You, but that we would sing in response to Your revelation to us. That You would saturate our songs and all the skilled musicians with Your word. That You might be glorified in Your worship as they lead us with the skills You’ve entrusted to them. God, I’m just thinking about specific people that are coming to my mind really throughout the history of my life in the church up to the present day that You have given skill to in this way.
We pray for Your blessings on them. We pray that You would use them to build up your church. That You would use them to proclaim Your word and You would use skilled musicians and singers to declare Your glory among the nations. We pray this according to 1 Chronicles, chapter 25 in Jesus’ name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
