The Levites’ Responsibilities

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Levites’ Responsibilities

Date: Jan. 4, 2022

Passage

Numbers 1:47-54 (ESV)

47 But the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe. 48 For the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel. 50 But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and shall camp around the tabernacle. 51 When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. 52 The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard. 53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” 54 Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:52,53

The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard.

At the LORD’s command, the ancestral tribe of the Levites was not counted in the census. They would not serve in the army. The Levites were wholly dedicated to ministry activities related to the tabernacle. Any non-Levite who approached the tabernacle was to be put to death. The Israelites were not to be like worldly, military powers. More important than the size of their army was their commitment and faith in the LORD. Success belonged to God (Ps 33:16-18). Is your commitment and faith in the LORD at the center of all your endeavors?

This section also highlights the place where the Levites camped. The tabernacle was the place where God was present with his people. Inside the tabernacle was God’s covenant law. God and his word were literally the center of camp life. The Levites camped around the tabernacle. As the Levites did everything God commanded, they shielded the people from God’s wrath (52).

The Levites’ ministry looks forward to Jesus. In perfect obedience, Jesus obeyed his Father in every way (Jn 14:31b; Php 2:8). Through his death and resurrection, Jesus shields and saves anyone who believes in him from God’s wrath.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me from the wrath I deserve. Please be the focus of my life. Help me to be faithful to you.

One Word: One Word: Jesus saves; be faithful to him

Complacent or Victorious?

Revelation 3:1-13

Key Verse: 3:5

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Today's Question

How is Christ exalted?

See answer and references