Doorkeeper

I’m sure you’ve heard Psalm 84:10 quoted any number of times: “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” When someone quotes it they generally mean, “I would be very happy to have a lowly place as long as it’s in God’s house, rather than enjoy the (assumed) wealth or power gained by the wicked.”

The thing is, being a doorkeeper in the house of God is NOT a lowly position! It is a position that carries responsibility. In 1 Chronicles 23 through 26 we have the record of David establishing the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for service in the Temple to be built by Solomon. One of the roles to be filled was that of gatekeepers, which I’m pretty sure is the same thing as doorkeepers. In that passage we read, “These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their chief men, had duties, just as their brothers did, ministering in the house of the LORD.” (26:12)

So, not a trivial, servant type role. A responsible role, with specified duties, led by “chief men”. But there is a whole lot more we can dig out. Stay with me while we look at a few passages.

From the title we know Psalm 84 was written by the Sons of Korah. Yes, it’s virtually certain it’s that Korah, one of the leaders of the rebellion against Moses in the wilderness. The incident is recorded in Numbers 16, which begins: “Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. And they rose up before Moses…” (verses 1-2) Some others are mentioned here, but mostly this rebellion is ascribed to Korah, Dathan and Abiram. It would be a really good idea to stop here and read Numbers 16, the whole chapter. I mean it.

Done? Good. So right at the first verse we see that Korah is a Levite, specifically in the line of Kohath the son of Levi. (The three sons of Levi form the top-level division of the Levites.) Crucially important are the decisions made by the families of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. The judgment of God falls on all three of the rebels—an earthquake opens a fissure and all of them fall into it. Before it happens, Moses warns everyone to get away from the tents of the three men. We’re told in verse 27 that the families of Dathan and Abiram stood with them, implying that the family of Korah did not. But we don’t have to rely on implication. Numbers 26:8-11 tells us explicitly that the sons of Korah did not die.

Still with me? We’re not done. Going back to David’s organization of the Levites, in 1 Chronicles 26:1 we find, “As for the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites…” The Korahites are the first division to be listed, and then the list concludes, “These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari.” (verse 19)

So these gatekeepers, these Korahites, these Sons of Korah, are important figures in the running of the Temple services.

What exactly were the “duties” mentioned earlier? I’m glad you asked! A long time later, many Jews were exiled to Babylon, and then their descendants came back. Some of those who returned are listed in 1 Chronicles 9. Sorry for all the names, but take a look at a couple portions of the list:

The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their kinsmen (Shallum was the chief); until then they were in the king's gate on the east side as the gatekeepers of the camps of the Levites. Shallum the son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his kinsmen of his fathers' house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entrance. (verses 17-19)

And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with making the flat cakes. Also some of their kinsmen of the Kohathites had charge of the showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath. (verses 31-32)

The descendants of Korah, unlike some others, had kept track of their genealogies, and the duties that went with them! And those duties were not trivial. Responsible for the showbread, and also “keepers of the thresholds” and “keepers of the entrance”, i.e. doorkeepers.

Whew. I hope you’re still with me. One more point, and then we’ll get to the conclusion. Remember, the desire is to be a doorkeeper rather than living in the tents of wickedness. When you read Numbers 16, did you notice? Moses warned the people, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men.” To the Sons of Korah, “tents of wickedness” wasn’t a generic term. It had a specific and very sobering meaning.

Now, I think, we have available some insight into what the Sons of Korah meant when they penned Psalm 84:10. Being a doorkeeper in the house of God is a high position, it’s an honor to have such responsibility, it’s something for me to aspire to. Dwell in the tents of wickedness? No thank you! I will have nothing to do with wicked rebellion against God’s appointed leader, and the arrangement God has established.

In the titles of eleven psalms, the lyricists identify themselves, not by their own names, but as “Sons of Korah”. Reminding us of the choice made way back then by the one in the tent of wickedness, and the better choice made by his sons.

Love, Paul