1 Chronicles 9-12: Gatekeeper of the Temple of God

Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the tent of meeting. The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods. But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning. - 1 Chron 9:22-27 NIV

The following chapters list David's mighty fighting men, and while they were important, they were no more important than the 212 gatekeepers, the ones in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord.  Where would David have been, where would the nation of Israel have been without those guarding the house of God.  The gatekeepers, the guardians of the temple of God, had a tremendous responsibility.

Likewise, we are now the gatekeepers of the temple of God, our bodies, our hearts.  David's son, Solomon realized that true success depended on guarding the heart.  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. - Prov. 4:23 NIV

Fighting with all the strength and might we can muster will do no good if we are not faithful gatekeepers of our hearts.

2010 Post - 1 Chronicles 9-11:  David's Mighty Men