We Need God's Levitical Service to Do our Work-a-day Service
Notes
Transcript
Where did Moses get this, idea that orgnaization, is against the pspriit… but no base of Sinai, instruction from the mountain top - their is an order from God comunictaed to man, not boutique religion, take it or leave individualism - by clan, unity of 12; and more we saw already wilderness a geogrpahic but also spiritual geography, so too the camp - big theological statement of reality - interplay of heaven and earth, common and sacred - organized around the presence of God - today must find the order, for going between these boundaries… Sacred and commn space , church and state .. orders from heaven - need Levi -
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
But all things should be done decently and in order.
Christ seated them in ranks… fighting working units… get through desert, settle promisesed land = go out into creation - but in order for that to have the direction of the kingdom of heaven - a different function of some - at first all first born, gong back to the Passover, consecrated to the LORD, Levi after godlen calf, but now God showing provide way that all the first born bcan be represetned - not substitute, all Israel to be consecrated, but in their work of hard service and dangerous mediatign - lead all of us to be consecrated to God!
heavy serving aad, bodah = dismantling, transporting, erecting the tabernacle (when on move) ; and keep guard = shamar mismeret = continual ministry - judicial execution, like bank roober in shoot, why summary execution, so whole congregation not hurt!
Harmonious Heaven and earth, sacred and common - but mediate represent, substitue, all a little different, in between these spaces … not wrongly bring heaven to earth or earth to heaven… not trangress boundaries, but pass God’s way = their crucial roles in this priestly kingdom. These roles have often been misunderstood and misused in later Jewish and Christian traditions—and as a result often underplayed, critiqued, or ignored. Nonetheless their roles are critical parts of the identity and vocation of Israel.
The main functions of the priestly class of Israel can be grouped under four headings: to serve, to protect boundaries, to mediate across those boundaries, and to represent.
some weird rituals like ordeal trial - find how Christ absorbs uncleanness, sin , … see need priest like him, levite like him … for real not only ritual PURITY
David L. Stubbs, Numbers, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2009), 43.
11-13 all first born, belong to the Lord, = all first-born creatures offered to lord , cattle oxen; firstborn boy - consecrated for work in his sanctuary = 10th plague, Egyptian and cattle die, but Israelites spared, now redemption praice paid - Levitie for each first born - even future servants little boys to old men, those short by 273 numbers, paid for a price of 5 shekels, 5 months pay - going rate o f slave, not die but freed by price -
and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
We become like Christ who is God’s firstborn - gave life to redeem - Redemption and substitution are important biblical concepts. Because Christ has redeemed us through his death, we owe him our service (). The meaning of Christ’s death is clarified by the concept of substitution seen both in the sacrifices (see comments at ; ; ) and, here, in the Levites taking the place of the firstborn. Christ died instead of people (). He took the curse we deserved () and died as a ransom for (or instead of) many (). Thus the substitution of the Levities for the firstborn provides a conceptual framework for understanding how Christ serves as a substitute for us.
Organization - like deacons, elders - Priests - sacrafice able to go into the tent - not presume not just indivduals choice not any which way - Nadab and Abihu - strange fire, but Eliezer and Ithamar - - perfect order and hope still with forshadowing of judgment if not follow …
Joe M. Sprinkle, Leviticus and Numbers, ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, Teach the Text Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2015), 202–203.
Organization - like deacons, elders - Priests - sacrafice able to go into the tent - not presume not just indivduals choice not any which way - Nadab and Abihu - strange fire, but Eliezer and Ithamar - - perfect order and hope still with forshadowing of judgment if not follow …
But who are the Levites proper, not priests, though later in the Temple and in NT associated with priests. But 3 groups, most favoured on the righthand of the tabernalce, God’s presence, the Koathites - the temple furniture - not aloowed to handle or pack them, or unpack,
Like Ramses but see these boats, took spelndor of Emprire, On eking, dies, start building for that one person’s after life - not Jehovah - Presence with the people now - kingdom here =
Araon and priests had to do this, ark covered with veil first, a covering of goat skin, but then blue - cloth - The vessels from hoy place, next with blue and the and outer goatskin, ; then altar for outer court PURPLE - then covered in goat skin…
Curtains too - holy of holies has deep blue curtains - the colour of heavens , and the holy place purpole
Why blue and purple - holiness unto the Lord, but purple ROYALTY - not just religious idea, but like GOd is our PM
- holy - would die ; ark, lampstand, golden incnese altar , carts for tabernalce itself - even smallest Tent pegs, numbers and assignmed responsiblity to each Merarite , each one particular items so never lost…
Gershonites with care of curtains to the West and Merarites - poles and tent pegs to the N, but thy go first in marching erect the tent before the ark arrives… 22,000 (what percentage of 2M)
Roles: i. redeem the firstborn of Israel like Jesus; We cannot understand Jesus unless we understand the concept of substitution
Joe M. Sprinkle, Leviticus and Numbers, ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, Teach the Text Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2015), 203.
2. Prevent others iIsraelites from sininng by warning and barring if necessary, elders, We must guard the sacred in our lives and churches Theological Reference: Some theological terms come into and go out of fashion. One phrase that might not be familiar to many is “fencing the table.” It refers to the call of church leaders, and each individual Christian, to protect the sanctity of the Lord’s Supper. Only someone who has believed the gospel, confessed sin, and seeks to live in obedience can come to the table for Communion. The only way through the “fence” that (metaphorically) guards the table is the gateway of faith in the gospel. Anyone who approaches without this faith stomps on something sacred. That is why the church, through careful teaching and preparation, should “set a fence” around this sacred act.
We must guard the sacred in our lives and churches
Theological Reference: Some theological terms come into and go out of fashion. One phrase that might not be familiar to many is “fencing the table.” It refers to the call of church leaders, and each individual Christian, to protect the sanctity of the Lord’s Supper. Only someone who has believed the gospel, confessed sin, and seeks to live in obedience can come to the table for Communion. The only way through the “fence” that (metaphorically) guards the table is the gateway of faith in the gospel. Anyone who approaches without this faith stomps on something sacred. That is why the church, through careful teaching and preparation, should “set a fence” around this sacred act.
Joe M. Sprinkle, Leviticus and Numbers, ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, Teach the Text Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2015), 203.
-49 thrity to fifty - had clan leaders, elders of the poeple more political common life leading, but now not twenty and up - like fighting men, but 30 why? and only til 50? why?
ONce had a friend police officer even at the end G20 Toronto riots, Ipperwash, but want a 60 year old chasing down or protecting you from bad gusys?
Same principal here - sober - most serious minded, and strang for real phyiscal work - judge fit to march and assemble with tabernacle of Lord,
Principle of Unity requiring full cooperation to survive the deseert and to take the land
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
Heirarchical order - word holy rule - Moses and Aaraon God spoke directly, then the Levites… CHrist in God’s house as Son - apsotles - then prpets, teachers, and elders.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
Apply: Every person in the church has a part to play. Music: The first violin takes the prominent position in the orchestra. It usually plays the more technically challenging melody parts that draw more of the audience’s attention. The second violin plays the less difficult harmony parts. There is an old saying, “It takes more grace than I can tell to play second fiddle well.” The Levites from other families played second fiddle to the Aaronic priests. They did the arduous labor of transporting the tabernacle. The priests had the prominent public role of conducting the worship. But just as an orchestra needs second violins and not just first violins to play its best, so the church needs more than pastors. It needs the less prominent persons to contribute their part to making the church function well.
Illustrating the Text
Every person in the church has a part to play
Music: The first violin takes the prominent position in the orchestra. It usually plays the more technically challenging melody parts that draw more of the audience’s attention. The second violin plays the less difficult harmony parts. There is an old saying, “It takes more grace than I can tell to play second fiddle well.” The Levites from other families played second fiddle to the Aaronic priests. They did the arduous labor of transporting the tabernacle. The priests had the prominent public role of conducting the worship. But just as an orchestra needs second violins and not just first violins to play its best, so the church needs more than pastors. It needs the less prominent persons to contribute their part to making the church function well.
Joe M. Sprinkle, Leviticus and Numbers, ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, Teach the Text Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2015), 203.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
We are urged as Christains:
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Not authroity in personality, but in service - but real spirtual sauthority of the word, with conscience and reason!