David Bahn – Reflections

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 1 Chronicles 25-27, Psalm 126.

1 Chronicles 25:1, 7-8

David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was… ⁷ The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288. ⁸ And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.

Years ago I read Romans 16 as the New Testament Reading in a Sunday service at the church where I was then serving. I wanted to highlight how important people are to the mission of God. One member challenged me afterward: “Why in the world did you read all those names?!?” I tried to explain, but he clearly did not share my enthusiasm for long lists of names.

But here we are in 1 Chronicles reading bunches and bunches of names. Name after name, with their brothers – “12 in all,” repeated time after time. As I read, I thought the list would finally end after twelve groups of twelve. If you’ve read today’s readings, you know it does not. The Chronicler goes on to list twenty-four groups of twelve.

Last Sunday – Mother’s Day – there was a printout at St. John listing those who donated flowers to decorate the chancel. Name after name. Row after row. Column after column. I scanned the list not to see who had donated and who had not, but to look for our names. When I saw our names and my mother’s name, I kept scanning, happy to find Diane’s mother listed there as well.

We think little of lists of names unless we hope to find our own.

But the purpose of these names in 1 Chronicles is to show how many people were needed to support the worship life of God’s people.

We once counted how many people were actively involved in making Sunday morning happen at St. John. At that time it was more than 100. Sunday school teachers, worship welcome team members, altar guild, choir, praise team, AV team, ushers, elders, security team, hospitality volunteers (read donut servers!), prayer team, pastors, musicians – the list went on and on, and I hope I haven’t left anyone out.

The mission of God – beginning with the gathering of God’s people for worship – is not a solo act. Jesus sent out his disciples two-by-two. Barnabas and Saul took others with them on their missionary journeys. Paul describes the church as the Body of Christ, with each member doing its part. And in Romans 16 he greets 26 individuals by name, along with several unnamed groups of believers.

God does not hang speakers from the clouds to announce the Good News of Jesus. He does not rely even on the most remarkable technology to carry out his work. He works through people – you and me, and all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Christ delights to carry out his work through his people together, each member serving in his or her place. And the shared life of Christ’s kingdom – worshiping, serving, and living together – is too precious to neglect.

Behind every congregation, every act of worship, and every ministry of the Gospel are countless names of people known and treasured by God.