Sons of Korah
Introduction: There are eleven Psalms that identify the sons of Korah in the heading. The history about Korah provides an interesting aspect to the fact that his descendants had a key role in temple worship beginning during the reign of King David. There is variety in the content of those Psalms and they may have been written and/or performed by the sons of Korah.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the King James 21st Century Version.
A — An Everlasting Priesthood Throughout Their Generations
Numbers 3 “6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. 9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. 10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office; and the stranger who cometh nigh shall be put to death.”
Comments: Among the descendants of Levi and then of Kohath, only those descendants of Amram exclusively through the line of Aaron had been chosen for the priesthood. All of the Levites were to have a role in leading worship for the nation. Though Moses was the prophet of the LORD who led Israel out of Egypt, his descendants were only identified to be among the Levites with no special service given to them because of their father.
B — The Beginning of Korah’s Rebellion
Numbers 16 “3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? 9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD? 10 And He hath brought thee near to Him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee. And seek ye the priesthood also?”
Comments: While Israel was in the wilderness the LORD had directed Moses to establish Aaron and his sons to be priests for worship. Korah, a grandson of Kohath, and two men who were descendants of Reuben, decided to challenge the leadership of Moses claiming he had no special position before God. Moses was apparently very disturbed by this event as he fell upon his face. He addressed Korah as a Levite and told him he should not consider it to be a “small thing” that God had separated him to do the service of the tabernacle. The desire to place himself into the priesthood was going past boundaries set by the LORD, not by Moses.
C — Moses Appealed to the LORD for Grace in Judgment
Numbers 16 “21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with all the congregation?”
Comments: Korah and 250 men appeared at the tabernacle as Moses had instructed. When the glory of the LORD appeared at the tabernacle before all the congregation, Moses and Aaron both fell upon their face and asked that not all be destroyed for the sins of certain ones. This was not the first time in Numbers when Moses had appealed to the LORD for mercy when members of the congregation had blatantly sinned in their dissatisfaction with Moses or the LORD.
D — The LORD Brought Judgment by a Method Not Possible for Man
Numbers 16 “29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited according to the visitation of all men, then the LORD hath not sent me. 30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth and swallow them up with all that appertain unto them, and they go down alive into the pit, then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground cleaved asunder that was under them.”
Comments: Moses had confidence to follow the directions given by the LORD as he warned all Israel around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram to move away. Moses made it clear that the thing that would happen next could only be performed by the LORD — it would demonstrate that Moses had not made plans of his own, but had been sent by the LORD. This judgment came upon those who had provoked the LORD because Korah had wanted his own desire to be in the priesthood, not just a supporting role as a Levite.
E — A Memorial to Verify the Exclusive Aaronic Priesthood
Numbers 16 “38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them into broad plates for a covering of the altar; for they offered them before the LORD. Therefore they are hallowed, and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel. 40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, who is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD.”
Comments: The men who had been so bold as to carry censers only assigned for priests to use were all killed by a fire from the LORD. The LORD gave instructions through Moses and the censers were then gathered by Eleazar, the son of Aaron, who formed the metal into broad plates as a covering for the altar. This was to be a memorial to the children of Israel of this event, making it clear that only descendants of Aaron could offer incense before the LORD.
F — The Miracle of the LORD Was So Soon Ignored
Numbers 16 “41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. 49 Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides those who died in the matter of Korah.”
Comments: This may seem amazing to think that the very next day an angry crowd would form to accuse Moses of killing some of the children of Israel. But again on this day Moses saw that the judgment of the LORD was beginning to unfold, and he directed Aaron to an act that was accepted by the LORD to stop the reign of death, but only after thousands had died. This pattern of disbelief in the LORD and the refusal to accept Moses as the chosen leader would finally result in an entire generation dying in the wilderness.
G — Sons of Korah Sang for the LORD During the Reign of King David
Psalm 84 “10 For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee!”
Comments: After several centuries of disorganization for Israel during the period of the Judges, there was finally a fully united Israel under King David. David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and he was instrumental in assigning those who would lead worship before the LORD. This began service by the sons of Korah that carried into the reign of King Solomon. Though a Holy God brought judgment many times to the children of Israel, he also demonstrated his great mercy for those who would call upon his name — and certainly the sons of Korah were among those, as they did not follow the way of their rebellious ancestor.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, as I study the various Psalms of the sons of Korah help me to remember that your mercy had such beautiful results many generations later in the descendants of a man who so blatantly provoked you among the children of Israel in the wilderness. As I read and reflect on the content of the Psalms of the sons of Korah may I understand how I also should willingly accept your purpose for my life as a member of your coming kingdom. Keep me from any jealousy of the gifts and the authority you give to others in the body of Christ. I have been redeemed from the bondage of my own sin by your mercy and grace just as though I had come out of Egypt with the children of Israel. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being my faithful high priest who has offered the atoning sacrifice for my sin to grant me the gift of eternal life. Hallelujah and amen!
Published 21 July 2014