PRIESTS AND LEVITES

Priests and Levites

“Then the Lord said to Aaron: ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel’ ”
(Num. 18:20, NKJV).

“Simon Says”
Jeffrey T. Adriano, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
Introduction
Num. 9:15−23

The game Simon Says was one of my favorite games when I was a child. Someone is “Simon” while the others must do what “Simon” tells them to do. If Simon says, “Simon says sit,” the players who do not sit are out. However, if Simon says just “Sit,” without first saying “Simon says,” then the players who do sit are out. The person who remains last after a varied series of commands is declared the winner. For the most part, it’s the spirit of the command, not the actions, that matter in this game. The point is the ability to distinguish between valid and invalid commands, rather than physical ability. A recent psychological study found that this game can be a healthy way to help children improve self-control and restrain impulsive behavior.*

Directions from God are not always just for your next big move.

This classic favorite reminds me of the time when the Israelites were in the wilderness, guided by God’s cloud. The cloud gave them shade during the day, and it took the form of a pillar of fire to give them light during the night. And just like a round of “Simon Says” (with God playing “Simon” through the cloud), the Israelites would set camp wherever the cloud settled or follow the cloud whenever it lifted from the tabernacle.

Sometimes, the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people were to break camp and move on. Whether the cloud stayed above the tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp. However, as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and continued traveling (see Numbers 9:23).

The priests and the Levites, together with the rest of the Israelites, traveled, camped, and worshiped as God guided. When people follow God’s guidance, they can be confident that they are where God wants them, whether they’re moving or staying in one place. So instead of praying, “God, what do You want me to do next?” it’s better to ask, “God, what do You want me to do while I’m right here?” Directions from God are not always just for your next big move. He has a purpose in placing you where you are right now. So as you study this week’s lesson from Numbers, be mindful of the needs around you and how you can help to fulfill them.
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*Chicago Tribune, March 25, 2008.



Special People
Jeimpea T. Rodriguez, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
Evidence
1 Pet. 2:9

The Levites were formally consecrated to the priesthood after many Israelites in the wilderness turned to idol worship while Moses was communing with God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 32). The Levites stood firm and did not take part in this idolatry. They even killed 3,000 of those who were running wild, as ordered by Moses (verses 25–29). Consequently, Moses told them:
“ ‘Dedicate yourselves today to the Lord—for every man has been against his son and against his brother—in order that [God] may bestow a blessing upon you today’ ” (verse 29, NASB).

We are to declare His glory

“Levi had three sons—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. From those branches of the family, the Levites were organized into three levels of service:

• The first level was composed of Aaron and his offspring, who were descended from Levi’s son Kohath. They formed the priesthood.
• The second level consisted of the descendants of Kohath, who were not descendants of Aaron. They were in charge of the most sacred parts of the Tabernacle (Num. 3:27–31; 4:4–15; 7:9).
• The third level consisted of all of the descendants of Gershon and Merari, who were given lesser duties (Num. 3:21–26, 33–37).”*

Like the Hebrews of old, God declared through Peter, “You [Christians] are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9, NIV). This verse tells us that we are not to be content or self-righteous about our specialness before God. Instead, we are to declare His glory and share how He brought us out from darkness.

REACT
1. Knowing that God has chosen special people in our day, how do we, as Adventists, share the biblical doctrines that the majority of the Christian world neglects?
2. What are some biblical principles to help us live as God’s “chosen people, a royal priesthood”?
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*Wayne Blank, “Priests and Levites” http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/20020205.htm. Retrieved October 14, 2008.



Distinguished From the Rest
Bongga L. Agno, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
Logos
Numbers 3; 18; 19;
1 Pet. 2:9

One Sabbath, I attended the pastoral ordination of a friend. The speaker stressed that while each child of God is called to His service, He has set apart the pastors in the ministry. His wife, one of my best friends, also was commissioned to that sacred calling, emphasizing the importance of her role as a minister’s wife.

God’s people are sui generis.

Dedicated to a High Calling (Numbers 3)
The Levites were set apart by God for the sacred service in the tabernacle. But why were they chosen for the priesthood? When Moses returned from Mount Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments, he witnessed the encampment worshiping the calf. When Moses asked who was on the Lord’s side, the Levites were the only tribe who rallied behind him and who had not participated in the idolatrous worship (Exod. 32:26). Thus, they won God’s favor that day.
Review Numbers 3. Here we learn that the Hebrew camp was arranged with the tabernacle in the middle with the three families of Levi closest to it. The Gershonites were positioned on the west side behind the tabernacle. They were in charge of the tabernacle’s curtains and hangings. The Kohathites were stationed on the south side of the tabernacle and were responsible for its furnishings. The Merarites were positioned to the north of the sanctuary. They were appointed to take care of the frame of the tabernacle and other equipment.

The tents of Moses, Aaron, and the anointed priests, who were sons of Aaron, camped on the eastern side the tabernacle. They were in overall charge of the sanctuary and cared for the needs of the people. The priesthood was exclusively confined to Aaron and his sons, as specifically instructed by God. The Levites were to take down the sanctuary once the pillar of cloud had lifted above it. Then Israel was to move forward on their journey to the Promised Land. Once the cloud stopped, the Levites were to set up the sanctuary again. In the evening, the cloud looked like fire, giving light to the encampment. It was through Moses that they obeyed these holy orders.

In the aftermath of Korah’s rebellion, God emphasized the distinct roles and functions between the priests and the other Levites. Such clear instructions show us the importance and sacredness of these roles and functions. Likewise, God has given us certain responsibilities for which He holds us accountable. He gives us our work, not because of anything in us, but because of His abounding grace.

Living on God’s Sustenance and Grace (Numbers 18; 19)
God did not give any land to the Levites. Rather, they lived from the offerings given by the children of Israel. “God himself was their share and inheritance. For food, they relied largely on offerings from other tribes. Thus, the physical survival of ‘fulltime ministers’ depended on how faithful the other Israelites are.”1

The tithes of the Israelites were the Levite’s inheritance in return for the services they rendered in the sanctuary. They were to regard those offerings as holy. God also instructed Moses that the Levites must give a tenth of the holy offerings they received.

Actually, God does not need our tithes and offerings. However, we need to recognize that what we have is given to us by God. Giving our tithes and offerings helps us to remember that we are dependent upon Him. When we remember that He provides for us, the giving of our tithes and offerings becomes an act of worship which says that we recognize He is the Owner of everything we have. Returning to God a part of what He has given to us is our way of expressing our gratitude and appreciation to Him for all of His blessings.

Numbers 19 lists the guidelines set by God for a special ritual cleansing of the Israelites. A red heifer without any blemish or defect was to be burned; and its ashes mixed with water were to be used for cleansing. This symbolized purification from sin. It also symbolized the grace of God that cleanses us from sin, and by which we are saved (Eph. 2:8).

The New Priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9)
Today the ceremonial and sacrificial services are no longer necessary. “The ceremonial priesthood of the Levites lost its significance when Christ died on the cross because all the ceremonies pointed ahead to Him. In the New Cove-nant, every believer is, in a sense, a priest of Christ (1 Pet. 2:5, 9).”2

God’s people are sui generis. That is, they are a class of their own or of a peculiar kind. The three angels’ messages are the unique banner that we, as Seventh-day Adventists, are to proclaim to the world in these last days. Just as important as these messages is that our thoughts, words, and actions show that we are indeed God’s children.
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1. The Devotional Study Bible, NIV, 1987, p. 132.
2. Alpha and Omega, vol. 8, p. 352.



Being Right in the
Presence of God
Mylbch T. Rodriguez, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
Testimony
Ps. 34:15

It is a great joy to know that the duty we are performing is sanctioned by God. However, there are many young people today who are not sure if their line of work is God’s will for them. There are many things we can learn from the experience of Levi’s descendants. God gave them their sacred duties because they remained faithful to God while the rest of Israel worshiped the golden calf.

“By this signal honor He manifested His approval
of their fidelity.”

“By divine direction the tribe of Levi was set apart for the service of the sanctuary. In the earliest times every man was the priest of his own household. In the days of Abraham the priesthood was regarded as the birthright of the eldest son. Now, instead of the first-born of all Israel, the Lord accepted the tribe of Levi for the work of the sanctuary. By this signal honor He manifested His approval of their fidelity, both in adhering to His service and in executing His judgments when Israel apostatized in the worship of the golden calf. The priesthood, however, was restricted to the family of Aaron. Aaron and his sons alone were permitted to minister before the Lord; the rest of the tribe were entrusted with the charge of the tabernacle and its furniture, and they were to attend upon the priests in their ministration, but they were not to sacrifice, to burn incense, or to see the holy things till they were covered.

“In accordance with their office, a special dress was appointed for the priests. ‘Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty.’

. . . The priests were not to enter the sanctuary with shoes upon their feet. Particles of dust cleaving to them would desecrate the holy place. . . . Thus was constantly taught the lesson that all defilement must be put away from those who would approach into the presence of God.”*

REACT
1. Search your heart to answer whether or not you are true to God or are worshiping the things of this world.
2. If you, like the families of Aaron, remain true to God and cease to worship the things of the world, what can you be sure of in terms of your calling?
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*Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 350.



Being a Cheerful Giver
Irene F. Fornoles, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
How-to
Mark 12:41−44;
Luke 12:42−48; 16:10, 11

God appointed the priests and Levites to distinct roles and responsibilities regarding the administration of the sanctuary. He desired the children of Israel to support these sanctuary workers with portions of their sacrifices. However, even the Levites were to a give a tithe from what they received.

Honesty is . . . an attitude that embraces the whole life.

God is so good to us. He always blesses each of us according to our needs. Hence, we must be faithful in serving Him and in giving back what He owns. How can we do this? How can we be a cheerful giver?

Be honest. Honesty is not just a series of good deeds, but an attitude that embraces the whole life. The Bible says that whosoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones (Luke 16:10, 11). By giving our tithes faithfully, we are being honest with God.

Be faithful. Read Luke 12:42–48. These verses teach us that to whom much is given, much will be demanded, and to whom much is entrusted, much more will be asked. At any early age, many of us learned from our parents that we are to care for our things, that if we did not take care of our toys, no one would trust us to handle someone else’s toys. Jesus’ teaching goes one step further—as His servants, faithfulness in handling His property qualifies us to handle our own.
Be a giver, and do not expect anything in return. As Christians, we should practice this selfless attitude just as the widow did in Mark 12:41–44. She gave all that she had despite her lowly status in life, yet she did not expect anything in return. When we give to the Lord, it must be our desire to do so, not just because other people have told us to do it or because giving is expected of us.

Be cheerful. Jesus is a cheerful giver. His immense love leads us to give cheerfully. He has given us time and talent to proclaim His message. He even sacrificed Himself to save us.

How about you? Have you been a faithful steward? Are you using your abilities to hasten the coming of Jesus? Is your tithe up-to-date? Today is the right time to be a cheerful giver and to thank Jesus for letting us, the managers of His vast wealth, share His blessings with others.



Faithfully Obeying God’s Commands
Mary Ann R. Reyes, Tipo, Hermosa, Bataan, Philippines
Opinion
Numbers 8; 9; 18; Mal. 3:8

In Numbers 9, God told Moses that the children of Israel were to celebrate the Passover, give sacrifices, organize the camp, and move from one place to another until they reached the Promised Land. God gave Aaron a delineated role between the priests and Levites. Aaron and his descendants were ordained to serve as priests. The rest of the Levites were given the responsibility to assist Aaron and his sons while they ministered before the tent of the meeting.
They were to perform all the work in the sanctuary.

The Lord said to Aaron that the priests and Levites would be cared for through the offerings the children of Israel made to the sanctuary. The priests and Levites were to pay tithe on the offerings they received (Num. 18:25).

We must keep on going on.

We are to obey God, not because we want something in return, but because we love Him and want to serve Him. A tenth of our wages plus offerings belong to Him and must be faithfully returned to Him. In giving, we should not expect something in return. He will provide for us. He will never leave us wanting. All we need is to trust Him. One way to understand God’s will for us is to endure suffering and sacrifice. We must keep on going on and trusting God because of His astounding and wondrous promise to us.

The Bible admonishes us to be obedient to God—a good servant and a follower of the Lord. We must learn to be responsible, disciplined, and patient in every task He gives us. We need to put God in the center of our lives, hold on to our faith, and trust in Him. There is no need to worry, because He is a great provider to all of us!

REACT
1. What is the biggest sacrifice you have had to make in your life?
2. Are you willing to give more than 10 percent of the fruit of your labor for God’s ministry?



Set Apart
Cheryl Des Jarlais, Ronan, Montana, U.S.A.
Exploration
Num. 18:20
CONCLUDE

When the rest of Israel turned their backs on God in idolatry, the Levites chose to stay faithful. Because of this loyalty, God set them apart to serve Him as caretakers of His tabernacle. The Levites attended to God’s holy things. They moved the tabernacle and performed other duties related to the temple services, while Aaron’s descendants served as priests. Today, God has made us all priests in His holy service. We, too, have a work to do for the body of Christ.

CONSIDER
Writing a dedication service for a baby who is brought to the Lord. Imagine
• yourself as this child being set apart for service, like Samuel was when he was brought to the temple. Studying a church manual about the duties of a deacon or deaconess.
• When it is time for your church to nominate people for these offices, volunteer your name, and ask a deacon or deaconess to mentor you in your new responsibilities.
•Examining your church for areas in which you might serve with your talents, such as creating a children’s bulletin, decorating a bathroom, building furniture for a classroom, or doing a survey for the church board on a needed topic.
•Painting a mural in one of the children’s Sabbath School classrooms. Get permission from the church board and confer with the various teachers for ideas they may have about a scene they’d like you to paint.
•Offering to have special music for a Sabbath School or church service. Don’t forget the children’s divisions. Think about composing a song and designing props that would appeal to the age group you will be serving.
•Scouting out church families with special needs and organizing ways of • helping the church assist these families.
•Offering an intercessory prayer for someone on your prayer list every day • this week.

CONNECT
Patriarchs and Prophets, chapters 30, 31.
Leslie Hardinge, With Jesus in His Sanctuary, part V; Carroll Shewmake,
When We Pray for Others, chapters 4, 8.

http://cqbiblestudy.org/site/1/lessons/2009-4/English/STUDENT/CQ-09-Q4-08.pdf