Excerpted with permission from A Psalm for Unseen Servants by Hance Dilbeck. Copyright 2025, B&H Publishing.

In the Old Testament, we find the Levites serving unseen. The Levites were the lowest of the three orders in Israel’s priesthood. Notice: They were not unimportant, unvalued, or unappreciated. They just were not front and center. They didn’t stand in the spotlight. The Levites assisted the priests. They worked behind the scenes preparing offerings, purifying instruments for use in the Temple worship, and maintaining the temple. These servants were craftsmen, musicians, treasurers, and gatekeepers. Worship in the Temple was functionally impossible without the Levites’ work. Consider this text as a description of the Levitical service.

"Their relatives came from their settlements at fixed times to be with them seven days, but the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of God’s temple. They spent the night in the vicinity of God’s temple, because they had guard duty and were in charge of opening it every morning."

1 Chronicles 9:25-27 CSB

The Levites were not standing on a platform and pronouncing the benediction. They were not taking the lead role in offering sacrifices. They were behind-the-scenes servants who kept the temple worship going.

The unseen servants aren’t just an Old Testament phenomenon. They are an essential part of both Jesus’ and Paul’s ministries. In the New Testament, we find repeated references to a group of women who supported Jesus. Some of them are named, but others are not. These women are not recognized like the twelve apostles, but clearly their ministries were essential.

"Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her); Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions."

Luke 8:1-3 CSB

Isn’t that phrase striking: “and many others who were supporting.” Unseen servants are almost always also unnamed. The Gospels teach us that from the beginning, from the early days of Jesus’s ministry, this group of women supported the advance of the Gospel. This is still true today.

In every ministry, there are people in lead roles, like the Twelve. We know their names; they are upfront and visible. Their work, too, is vital. They are often recognized for their talent, their faithfulness, and their sacrifices. In every church and ministry, there are also “many others who are contributing.” These women were among the first unseen servants of Christian ministry.

At the close of Paul’s letter to Rome, we find a list of people. Paul knew them by name, but very few know them today. These are not well known, nor famous. These early Christian servants are seldom celebrated, but Paul understood the Kingdom value of quiet behind-the-scenes service. He names 28 people!

Phoebe. Prisca. Aquila. Epaenetus. Mary. Andronicus. Junia. Ampliatus Urbanus. Stachys. Apelles. The household of Aristobulus. Herodion. The household of Narcissus. Tryphaena. Tryphosa. Persis. Rufus. Asyncritus. Phlegon. Hermes. Patrobas. Hermas. Philologus. Julia. Nereus and his sister. Olympas. Timothy. Lucius. Jason. Sosipater. Tertius. Gaius. Erastus. Quartus.

The Church depends on people like those named here. Servants, helpers, hosts, and workers. These roles are not glamorous, but they are essential.

Here is the Bible's Truth: There is a special glory to unseen service.

Unseen servants are important. It can be frustrating to serve when no one notices you — unless something goes wrong! It can be easy to become bitter when your contributions are not celebrated. But take heart! I have good news for you: your Father, “who sees in secret” is taking note; He is aware, and He is honored by your faithful, fervent service to Him.

Thank God for unseen servants who serve well!