KEEP THE CHARGE. Numbers18 Priests served as intermediaries between God and man. Without an advocate, people would face death due to their sins and be forever separated from God. The priest's responsibility was significant because if they failed to perform their duties correctly, the entire community would suffer. The needs of the priests were met as long as the people remained faithful in fulfilling their obligations. This would have provided a strong motivation for the priests to take their responsibilities seriously.
There was no doubt in the minds of the children of Israel by now about who God's chosen high priest was. Recognizing Aaron as the one chosen to serve as their representative to God, and God's representative to them, was clear. No further interference in his work would be tolerated. Under his authority, the high priest's family was responsible for overseeing the Tabernacle, the priest's duties, and the holy items set apart for God. Priests in Israel were responsible for the order of the offerings and how they were presented. It wasn't up to their discretion to decide how things should be offered to God. They had to ensure everything was done according to God’s instructions.
Some offerings were for sin, and only male priests could share the trespass offerings. Other offerings, such as the heave (raised) and wave offerings, were given as gifts of appreciation and could be shared by the entire priestly family, including daughters. When each person fulfilled their God-given role as intended by the Lord, the entire nation of Israel was protected from judgment. Chapter 18 of Numbers provides the most comprehensive statement of the work of the Israelite priests and Levites.
Our Great High Priest is seated in heaven and has secured eternal redemption for us. He has appointed Spirit-filled believers to carry out God's work in an orderly manner. When something is offered to God, it is the leaders' responsibility to ensure that what is offered and how it is given are based on biblical principles. No matter how valuable something may seem to people, if it doesn't have the approval of the High Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ, it is worthless. Too much of what is done in Christendom aims to make what is supposed to be for God "seeker friendly" and to make those who come to "worship" feel "comfortable" as they are.
By nature, we cannot approach a holy God carelessly or on our own terms. Our sins separate us from God. No human and divine relationship is possible when sin divides us. Israel needed the priests, and the Levites assisted them in their duties. The Levites were not rejected, but because they shared the same tribe as Aaron and Moses, they were not allowed to take over the designated priesthood.
The roles of God's people vary, even though every believer is a priest. The priesthood of all believers is a biblical truth, even though it is not always practiced publicly in many places. Not everyone performs the same tasks now, nor did they in the camp of Israel. We do not need human titles to identify the work of those who lead God's people today. The qualifications and responsibilities in the scriptures are clearly outlined for our learning and understanding.
Those who served the Lord in the Tabernacle were set apart to act as representatives of those in a relationship with God. Their work symbolized the holiness and purity of divine things as they related to the lives of God's people on earth. We are also responsible to Christ in everything we do. Our Great High Priest makes all our efforts acceptable to a Righteous and Just God. None of us should be "freelancers" doing our work for God on our own and in a way that suits us. Instead, we are to work in fellowship with other "believer-priests," ensuring our roles align with and support what others do.
When the people of God work together under the authority of the Lord, even though each person's work is different, it can be done in harmonious fellowship. The priesthood of all believers involves both work and worship. As workers, God equips each member to accomplish what He intends. As worshipers, the Holy Spirit of God guides everyone so that priestly worship includes all the different aspects of divine things. Praise to God and good works to men are both priestly services.
The sin and trespass offerings were made when guilt needed to be confronted. The priest overseeing those offerings took certain parts of the sacrifice for himself. In doing so, the priest identified with the guilty person. There are times in the lives of God's people when a sinner must be addressed. The instruction to those handling such situations is, "You who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Identifying with our brothers who have fallen in some way is crucial for seeing such a one restored. During these times, we must remember that we are priests before God. Our Great High Priest has secured eternal redemption for us, and His work mediates our case before the holiness of God's throne. We play our part as the Scriptures teach, and the outcome depends on the Mediator.
This chapter reviews the benefits and duties of the priests and Levites. They served as mediators for the nation, so certain parts of the sacrifices brought by the people belonged to them. This was one way they were supported by those they interceded for. Levites had no inheritance among Israel. They camped around the Tabernacle to guard God's holy objects. The Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites stood on three sides of the Tabernacle, with the priests and Moses on the east side, in front of the beautiful east gate. The Levites' task was to protect the Tabernacle and serve God, with everything they needed for an inheritance.
They were to live by faith. Their support for their living came from a tithe paid by the other tribes of Israel. A tenth of what each family earned from their business, of whatever kind it was, belonged to God and was given as a tithe. The Levites themselves also gave a tenth of what they received. That was given to the priests to be used in the service of God. Levites were not farmers or enterprising businessmen, but their income from their service to God was considered the same as income from any other of God's people. In fact, they had been given the best, and now they were to give the best of the best.
Because God is merciful, He provided a legitimate priesthood for the people. Through this means of grace, the people could have hope for deliverance from the consequences of their sins. Judgment must occur when a person sins for justice to be upheld. There were several different binding covenants in Israel, including the salt covenant because of its value as a commodity. The shoe covenant was a very personal agreement between two individuals. The firstborn of clean animals belonged to God for a sacrifice, and unclean animals had to be redeemed by paying a price.
Refusing to give our best to the Lord is like robbing God. Our donations, whether they come from our earnings through work or business, along with our thanksgiving offerings, should be given joyfully. It is a great privilege to share with others what God has provided. The results of such "hilarious giving" bring glory to God as an act of worship and blessing to those the Lord has chosen to serve Him.
We do not look to the world for support, nor should we imitate the world's ways to seek help for the Lord's work. Instead, we should consider it a privilege to "keep the charge" given to us by God, and through that, His work and service will be sustained. Acting in faith regarding financial matters brings blessings to people and is an act of worship when given to God. When we faithfully oversee the things the Lord has entrusted to us, He will provide from His abundant storehouses so we will lack nothing He intends for us.
Holy things are not trivial to God, nor should they ever be seen as insignificant by us. Let those in the priesthood of all believers be careful when they offer their best to God – lest they come and die spiritually from separation from God. Those who serve the Lord wholeheartedly are truly grateful, and when they approach God with their hands full, God accepts what comes from full hearts when they give their best to Him.
When apart from the entire congregation, God Himself selects those who will serve Him in special ways; it is His choice. The Holy Spirit raises up and gifts those He knows within that priestly nation to lead God’s people by guiding and instructing them in spiritual matters. They also share with the world God’s full salvation, which is found in Christ alone. These individuals are gifts given to the body and are to serve God and His people in the most sacred things. Every person in the spiritual priesthood must consistently offer sacrifices that God accepts. The truth must be upheld absolutely, and the leader or priest must maintain the truths and practices that God has clearly revealed to us.
From God to the priest, He imparts the essential doctrines that He intends to be carried out for Him when we gather. What we bring and give, we pass on to our Great High Priest, who presents them to our Father in heaven. From the same spiritual things we as priests give, we must live. That is God’s way of supporting His work and His workers.
Levites were a gift to the priests. Their role was to carry and lift the tabernacle and its parts when God led the Israelites to move forward. Today, we each have a share in God’s work when we give Him our worship, service, resources, and bear one another’s burdens. Every one of God’s people cares deeply for others, just as the Father cares for us. We are called to serve the Lord we love, so we should dedicate ourselves and all we have to Him. Our calling becomes clear when our actions toward the Lord demonstrate that we are truly priests.
The fact remains that we do not belong to ourselves. What we are and have, we owe to Him alone. It is His by right, for He atoned for our sins and suffered in our place to bring us to God. As a kingdom of priests, we can offer to God everything He gives us from His Word, including what He provides materially, even ourselves, which is “our reasonable service.” When we speak to our Gracious Father about our precious Lord and Savior, we give Him our very best. When we pray or sing a spiritual hymn from our grateful hearts, we serve our Lord as priests.