God Notices the Non-Stars for His Service - 1 Chronicles 25-29

 1 Chronicles 26:14 (ESV)

The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah. They cast lots also for his son Zechariah, a shrewd counselor, and his lot came out for the north.

The above passage is found in a long list of names of those King David put in place to serve in the Tabernacle and the future Temple that David’s son, Solomon, would be building.   This commentary statement about a guy named Zechariah is hidden in the midst of this long list.   I have read through the Bible every year for years.  At 68 I am just now noticing what was written about this Zechariah.  This is NOT the Zechariah who was the prophet and wrote the book.  This was just “a” Zechariah.    He was a descendent of the Korahites, who were part of Aaron’s tribe, the tribe of Levi.  There are two things here that might inspire us in our walk with God:

1.  God gives gifts to all His people.   Zechariah is said to be a “shrewd counselor.”  The word “counselor” is used two other times in this section (27:32, 33).   Vine says this about this word:

(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) ya‘as (יָעַץ, 3289), “to advise, counsel, consult.” Used throughout the history of the Hebrew language, this verb occurs in the Hebrew Old Testament approximately 80 times. Ya‘as is found first in Exod. 18:19, where Jethro says to his son-in-law Moses: “I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee.” The word is found only one other time in the Hexateuch, and that is in Num. 24:14: “I will advise you” (NASB, RSV, “I will let you know”; JB, “let me warn you”; NEB, “I will warn you”).

While ya‘as most often describes the “giving of good advice,” the opposite is sometimes true. A tragic example was the case of King Ahaziah of Judah, whose mother “was his counselor to do wickedly” (2 Chron. 22:3). The idea of “decision” is expressed in Isa. 23:9: “The Lord of hosts hath purposed it” (RSV, NEB, NASB, “planned it”; JB, “decision”).

God provided Zechariah this ability and brings it to us via the Word.  We can rejoice that God gives gifts to mankind.  

2. God commends and promotes the gifts He gives us.  As the long list in this section goes on and on, God stopped the composer of Chronicles to add this commentary.   It is not just that Zechariah as a “shrewd counselor,” it is that God let us know that by commending him to us.   We are not to seek self-promotion.   It is God who commends and promotes.   

God has many “stars” in His Kingdom.   We know the names of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.     But, it is refreshing that God also equips many who are His, but not necessarily the stars.    Paul said the same thing about someone on his team that God commended in the New Testament church age:’

Ephesians 6:21 (ESV)

Final Greetings

So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.

We may not be a King David or Solomon, but we can strive, by God’s gifting us, a Zechariah and/or Tychicus.