RTW 2024

All tasks were assigned to the various groups by means of sacred lots so that no preference would be shown, for there were many qualified officials serving God in the sanctuary from among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. 6Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, acted as secretary and wrote down the names and assignments in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. The descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar took turns casting lots.‍

1 Chronicles 24:5-6

When David was an old man, he appointed his son Solomon to be king over Israel.

1 Chronicles 23:1

• The practice of casting lots is mentioned seventy times in the Old Testament and seven times in the New Testament. 
• Casting lots was a method used by the Jews of the Old Testament and by the Christian disciples prior to Pentecost to determine the will of God.
• Nothing is known about the lots themselves. 
• Lots could be sticks with markings, stones with symbols, etc., which were thrown into a small area, and then the result was interpreted.
• The closest modern practice to casting lots is likely flipping a coin.
• The practice of casting lots occurs most often in connection with the division of the land under Joshua.
  Joshua chapters 14-21
• Casting lots was a procedure that God instructed the Israelites on several times in the book of Numbers.
  Numbers 26:55; 33:54; 34:13; 36:2
• God allowed the Israelites to cast lots in order to determine His will for a given situation.
  Joshua 18:6-10; 1 Chronicles 24:5,31
• Many offices and functions in the temple were also determined by lot,
  1 Chronicles 24:5, 31; 25:8-9; 26:13-14
• Casting lots eventually became a game people played and made wagers on. 
  Matthew 27:35
• The New Testament nowhere instructs Christians to use a method similar to casting lots to help with decision-making. 
• Since the New Testament does not have any instance of Christians casting lots to discern the will of God after Pentecost, we conclude that after the arrival of the Holy Spirit that we do not need to rely on that method but instead must rely on the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the further revelation found in the New Testament.
• We have the completed Word of God, as well as the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us.
• There is no reason to be using games of chance to make decisions. 
• The Word, the Spirit, and prayer are sufficient for discerning God’s will today.

Keep an eye out for descriptive versus prescriptive passages!