9:1 Although not every person in Judah was unfaithful, the entire nation was carried away into captivity. Everyone was affected by the sin of a few. Even if we don’t participate in a certain widespread wrongdoing, we will still be affected by those who do. It is not enough to say, “I didn’t do it.” We must speak out against the sins of our society.
9:1ff Chronologically, this chapter could be placed at the end of 2 Chronicles because it records the names of the exiles who returned from the Babylonian captivity. The writer included it here to show his concern for their need, as a nation, to return to what made them great in the first place—obedience to God.
9:10, 11 When we think of doing God’s work, usually preaching, teaching, singing, and other kinds of up-front leadership come to mind. Azariah, however, was chief officer in charge of the house of God, and he was singled out for special mention. Whatever role you have in church, it is important to God. He appreciates your service and the attitude you have as you do it.
9:17, 18 Porters, or gatekeepers, guarded the four main entrances to the Temple and opened the gates each morning for those who wanted to worship. In addition, they did other day-to-day chores to keep the Temple running smoothly—cleaning, preparing the offerings for sacrifice, and accounting for the gifts designated to the Temple (9:22-32).
Gatekeepers had to be reliable, honest, and trustworthy. The people in our churches who handle the offerings and care for the materials and functions of the building follow in a great tradition, and we should honor them for their reliability and service.
9:22 The porters were chosen on the basis of their genealogies. To be eligible to work in the Temple, a person had to prove he was descended from Abraham (see the note on 1:1ff). If his family was listed in the genealogical records, he was then chosen only if he was reliable and trustworthy. We need to follow the principle of choosing church leaders who are reliable and exhibit a deep faith and commitment to God (see also 2 Timothy 2:2-7).
9:22-32 The priests put a great deal of time and care into worship. Not only did they perform rather complicated tasks (described in Leviticus 1–9); they also took care of many pieces of equipment. Everything relating to worship was carefully prepared and maintained so they and all the people could enter worship with their minds and hearts focused on God.
In our busy world, it is easy to rush into our one-hour-a-week worship services without preparing ourselves for worship beforehand. We reflect and worry about the week’s problems; we pray about whatever comes into our minds; and we do not meditate on the words we are singing. But God wants our worship to be conducted “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Just as we prepare to meet a business associate or invited guests, we should carefully prepare to meet our King in worship.
9:33, 34 Worship was the primary focus of many Israelites, whose vocation centered on the house of the Lord. Worship (appreciating God for his nature and worth) should occupy the core of our lives and not just a few minutes once a week. We, too, can worship at any time if we stay aware of God’s presence and guidance in all situations and if we maintain an attitude of serving him. Build your life around the worship of God rather than making worship just another activity in a busy schedule.