Intergenerational Faithfulness (1 Chronicles 24:1–2)

The divisions 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 actually want to read different verses from both of these chapters and tie them together in prayer. So 1 Chronicles 24:1–2 says:

“The divisions 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.”

Now, in this context, we don’t have the whole story as we do in other parts of the Old Testament, where we learn that Nadab and Abihu died before their father because they offered unauthorized, unholy worship before God, and they were struck down.

So it’s a picture of sons who did not have fear of, reverence for, or honor for God in all of his holiness. So that’s 1 Chronicles 24:1–2. But then you get to the next chapter. Let me read 1 Chronicles 25:3:

“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 in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord.”

Isn’t that a beautiful picture of father and sons leading God’s people in worship together? In musical worship specifically? The whole chapter here in 1 Chronicles 25 is David organizing these musicians together for the worship of God. But the picture here in verse 3 is father and sons doing this together. Multiple generations living together, working together, worshiping together to the glory of God.

Doesn’t that just drive us to pray for this reality? This is part of the beauty of being a part of a local church with multiple generations. I think about when I was in college; I’m very, very thankful for the experience I had with campus ministry on campus, at the school where I was, where I was around other college students, we’re growing together in Christ. At the same time, it’s really good to be in community where you’re not just around people your same age, your same life stage, where you’re around people who are older than you, younger than you; you have multiple generations worshiping together and living to build each other up in ways that we need.

So I just want to lead us to pray for this reality in our homes, for those of us who are married or have children, but then in an even greater way in church families that we’re a part of. God, we want to glorify you from every generation. We want to be faithful in the generation we’re in.

We want to follow you and worship you, and we want to be faithful to learn from those who’ve gone before us and faithful to lead those who come after us. So God, we pray for this in our homes. We pray for children, even children who are listening to this right now, that you would help them to fear you, God, to revere you, to honor you, to worship you in all your holiness, and help us to lead them to worship you appropriately.

God, we pray for this in our homes. We pray that fathers and sons and mothers and daughters that together, and grandparents, God, that multiple generations in our homes would live together for your glory. And God, we pray for this in our church families. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be a part of a family that spans generations and nations.

And so we pray that you’d be glorified in the way we, as your church, pass the gospel on to the next generation, learn from previous generations, and co-labor together and worship together as we sing, as we sit under your Word, as we walk with you, as we share the gospel. God, help us to do this, locked arms with each other across generations, among the nations.

A Prayer for the Gaiji People

God, we pray for the Gaiji people of China, oh God, for 40,000 men, women, and children among the Gaiji of China, for grandparents, parents, and children to be reached with the good news of your grace.

We pray that there would no longer be generations among the Gaiji who don’t know the gospel. Please, oh God, may it be so that every generation among the Gaiji now and until you return, Jesus would have a gospel witness and would have men, women, and children worshiping you together.

God, may it be so in our lives, among the generations, in our church families, among multiple generations, and among the nations, in all generations; we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.