Remember Korah? Not content with serving God, he wanted to become somebody in his own eyes. He grumbled and complained against Moses and Aaron. Worse still, he stood his ground against the warnings of God. And the ground opened, taking him to the depths. He and all that belonged to him was condemned to the judgement of God. This is a truly sobering story, and it warns us about the dangers of jealousy, pride and self-pity in Christian ministry.
But there is a puzzle. When we arrive at the Book of Psalms we discover a number written by none other than the sons of Korah. What’s going on? Didn’t they all get destroyed? Are the sons of Korah a kind of ancient tribute band, like the Beatnix to the Beatles? Why on earth would they even do that? Or is there something we’ve missed?
“The Sons of Korah Did Not Die”
A few chapters after the judgement of God on Korah, we read of a census of the new generation of God’s people.
The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the LORD and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning. But the sons of Korah did not die. (Numbers 26:9–11. My emphasis.)
The sons of Korah somehow remained. The line of Korah continued. How could this be? The only answer is that they heeded God’s warning, given through Moses, when he said,
Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins. (Number 16:26)
The sons of Korah chose not to dwell in the tents of their wicked father. They turned aside from evil and escaped God’s judgement.
The Ministry of Music
The sons of Korah continued their family ministry as doorkeepers at God’s tabernacle and later, under King David, they were also entrusted with the ministry of music. David put them
in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. (1 Chronicles 6:31–32)
The sons of Korah are a testament to the faithful love and mercy of the LORD. The LORD preserved their family and their ministries for generation after generation. Even more wonderfully, God by his Holy Spirit has spoken to us through these sons of Korah. These ancient musicians, inspired by God, continue to instruct God’s people and incline our hearts to worship. They point us to find fulfilment in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
People Content in God Himself
One of the most beloved of their songs is Psalm 84, where we are reminded that
a day in God’s courts
is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness. (Psalm 84:10)
Can you hear these words with a new gravitas? There’s a deep thread weaving back to the days of their ancestor, Korah. His sons would rather continue in humble service to their Redeemer than have anything to do with the pride, envy, or self-pity of their father. They chose and continued to choose a different path to Korah.
Psalm 84 reveals God’s people content in God himself. They come before him in humility, with no sense of entitlement. They know that true blessing is to be found in the presence of God, and that we journey to him in his strength by trusting always and only in him. God alone is our sun and shield. He protects us, guides us, enlightens us, and satisfies us.
Our world with all its attractions ends up nothing more than a graveyard. True life is only to be found in the house of God. And we can only come into his house because God chooses to “look on the face of your anointed” (Ps 84:9) Jesus, our anointed Messiah, is our shield, our protector. It is only as God looks on his incarnate Son our Saviour that we who trust in him can be counted among the righteous.
When we are tempted to discontent and when feelings of personal entitlement raise their ugly heads, let’s turn to Psalm 84. We won’t find blessing by chasing the things of this world. Nor will we find blessing by envying the ministries of others. Satisfaction is found in trusting God and God alone. Father in heaven, satisfy our souls, by reminding us of your truly amazing grace. Fill us with the longing to be with you all our days. Keep us from giving into temptation. Strengthen us to persevere until that day we gather in your house forever more.
