Numbers 8 ORDER IN SPIRITUAL SERVICE Those who had brought their gifts from each of the twelve tribes may have understood the significance of what they did as far as man is concerned. But before spiritual service before the Lord could commence for the Levites who would serve God at the Tabernacle, the lights on the lampstand had to be lit in the Holy Place by Aaron the priest. All of those individual lamps were made from one solid piece of gold, and they had to give light in a special way so light would show on the table of showbread (testimony) and the golden altar (worship). Before the consecration of the Levites could tale place, the light had to be shining and everything arranged as God intended, so the Levites who would come to serve there would know how things were to be done. They would not be able to change things to suit themselves.
Any service for God we are called to do for Him must be done according to the light we have in the Word of God. The lampstand is a type of Christ and His light is shed abroad through His people. We do not have the right to do God's work in a way that suits us personally. The light He gives governs the service we do. It affects our testimony (the table) and our worship (the golden altar). The true worth of what we are and what we do is seen in the light of the sanctuary of God's holiness.
The order in the spiritual service to which the Levites were to be consecrated that day was: first, there was the symbolic purifying water sprinkled on them as a testimony to the fact they were separated unto the service of the Lord. Then they shaved themselves all over testifying that they were cut off from their past habits and past life-style. From then on everything they did was to represent their Lord and what was important to Him. Their clothes had to be washed and they had to be clean before they were consecrated to God's service. Unlike the priests who had new clothes, the Levites retained their personal clothes and personal identity, and were used in that capacity.
Our service for God doesn't call for us to change our personality or natural abilities and talents, but we are to use them now for higher service. All that we are and have belongs to the Lord so He can use us in a way that fulfills His purposes. In order for there to be value to a work we are involved in, we must be clean ourselves in life and spirit, and then do that to which we are called in the light of Christ. The Levites camped around the Tabernacle to keep away those who would come in an improper way to meet with God. If one tried to enter into the courtyard or Tabernacle without entering by the door, a plague would fall on God's people. We do have to exercise care and vigilance over the things of God, because "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." It is the responsibility of those who are about God's work to give proper direction to those who have a sincere desire to come God, and also to warn those who want things their own way, of the consequences of such action.
The offerings, both the burnt offering and sin offering, were made on behalf of the Levites, after which the Levites were brought out to stand in front of the Tabernacle and all the congregation of Israel. All of the tribes would come and identify themselves with the Levites who were taking the place of their firstborn in the service of God. Probably there was a representative of each tribe who would lay his hand on the Levites. That shaved tribe of men in clean clothes were set apart by God and the tribes to serve God on behalf of the whole congregation. It is a very important work to fulfill when we are called to represent and serve men before God. The outward form of cleanliness and the shaved body of separation should show the inward heart and mind of the true servant. What I do in God's name should be service for Him from my heart. The eating of the portion of the wave-offering typified the Levites were like the wave-offering in their participation with God in His divine purposes. The purification and the act of dedication led to a lifetime of consecration by the Levites.
Between the gifts the leaders of the tribes gave and the consecrated service of the Levites, was the lighting of the lampstand. What we give and how we serve in our service has to be done in the light of Christ. He comes between what we give and what we do. He is the One who makes labor and gifts acceptable to God. That keeps us from being careless about God's things. The Levites were "wholly give" to God. They were doubly given. That means they were God's because they were children of Israel, and now they were God's in sanctified service. They were consecrated to Him. All other interests were subservient to that fact. It is an important consideration on our part that not only are we saved by God's grace, but we are saved to serve.
This should be the highest consideration when we make decisions. The choice may not seem important at the moment, but the effects are eternal.
When a Levite male reached age twenty-five, he began what appears to be an apprenticeship. For five years he would learn how to do everything that pertained to the Tabernacle and the service of the Tabernacle so there would be no mistakes when he assumed responsibility at age thirty. He would learn how to make incense properly, how to check animals over for perfection, how to raise and lower the Tabernacle properly and how to fulfill his duties without there being any time gaps or mistakes. Some of the articles to be carried or duties to carry out would need to be done by a man who is in the strength of his life. For twenty years he "bore the yoke." If one was sharing a load with others and dropped his corner of the load because of weakness, it would affect all of the others and perhaps bring defilement on those things that were holy. Some things are best to be done when we are young.
But when a Levite reached age fifty and retired from burden bearing, he was not finished his work. His work was changed to suit his age. He was given lighter duties to perform in the Tabernacle. Everything about spiritual service needs to be orderly whether it is open and obvious to the public, or inside and hidden from the eyes and scrutiny of men. By the time a man is fifty years of age he should not have to be trying to impress people with the amount of effort he puts into the things of God. Older men are in a position to give advice and counsel based on experience. There is a charge to fulfill, a work to do in the years of our strength, and there is a charge to fulfill in our older years. The vows of God are on us.
Numbers 8:19a. “And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel:”
A GIFT. The firstborn was for God, whether man or beast. Sanctified, set apart for holy things. It started in Egypt – God took them to Himself. The firstborn needed a substitute God accepted – or else It would die – except when God looked on the blood. The Substitute was given because it belonged to God.
But a change had come by God’s own plan; When it came to the firstborn – He would substitute a man. Not now from each tribe would the firstborn serve, But from the whole of the nation one tribe God would choose. And Levi’s tribe was taken from among all of the nation, To be God’s gift to the whole congregation.
Not just one, but all were called to be separate. The whole tribe was chosen to be God’s servants. This was not humiliation, but the highest possible honor. They where chosen to serve the congregation for ever. The rest of the nation was free to do their own thing, The Levities were for God, substituted for them.
For twenty-five years, the men were called upon to bear; The furniture of the tabernacle, until their fiftieth year. They bare the burden of holy things, God wanted strong men. They would not drop or be careless in the work they were given. At twenty-five they had grown wiser and had physical strength. By fifty the work had physically taxed them at length.
These people did not stop working for God at that time. Their duties were different, and they could counsel the men. Those that came after would profit from their experience. Those that went before, would learn again the difference Of serving with the body or serving with the mind. Each of us must serve, but service is not all one kind.
I’ll never see twenty-five or even fifty again; But though I’m older now there’s a work I’ve been given. To the people of God and of the next generation, I am responsible to pass on the things that have shapened My life and my work so that others can see, How they can serve God and true servants will be.
“O God of all grace: I am humbled here in Your presence this morning by the fact that You have allowed me to continue in service for the people of God and Your kingdom, these many years. I have been an unprofitable servant and yet here I am again, preaching the Gospel with a young man who is very able in the things of God. That he is one who was saved in meetings we had in the past is a great joy. To see him serving You so capably is delightful to me. I don’t know if I have anything more to give him, but if so, make it clear to me and acceptable to him. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”