SET THE LEVITES APART

Numbers 8:1-26 / Keywords 8:18-19

18 And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel. 19 Of all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the Tent of Meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary."

 

1. God gave a specific instruction about the seven lamps on the lampstand. The lampstand by itself could not give light but set the lamps on it to give light. God’s people and the church can offer a stand for Jesus’ light to be seen.

 

2. God set the Levites apart from among the Israelites and purified them for the worship and service in the tabernacle. They were to shave all their body, wash their clothes, and make a sacrifice for God. All the Israelites laid hands on the Levites as the token of identifying themselves with the Levites. The Levites represented the firstborn males of Israel before God. During the Exodus, God had saved the firstborn of Israel from death by the blood of the Passover lamb. Later, God took the Levites in place of all the firstborn in Israel and set them apart to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of all the Israelites. Their time of active service was to begin at the age of thirty and last until fifty. In Christ, we are set apart for special services to God. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s special possession to declare the praises of God (1Pe 2:9). God called us to the ministry of New Testament Levites to be living sacrifices and to do good works for others.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for calling us as Levites in our times. Help us to do your work by sharing the gospel and praying for the world.

One Word We are God’s special possession