²⁷ They would spend the night around the house of God, since it was their duty to guard it and to open the gates every morning.

³⁰ And each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing songs of thanks and praise to him. ³¹ They assisted with the burnt offerings that were presented to the Lord on Sabbath days, at new moon celebrations, and at all the appointed festivals. The required number of Levites served in the Lord’s presence at all times, following all the procedures they had been given.

³² And so, under the supervision of the priests, the Levites watched over the Tabernacle and the Temple^[a] and faithfully carried out their duties of service at the house of the Lord.

⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.

¹⁰ “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings.

Samuel Speaks for the Lord

¹⁵ Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle^[a] as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord had said to him.