Scripture: So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood. And with you bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. They shall keep guard over you and over the whole tent, but shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar lest they, and you, die.
Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I have given you charge of the contributions made to me, all the consecrated things of the people of Israel. I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual due.
“To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting, so that the people of Israel do not come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin and die.
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Moreover, you shall speak and say to the Levites, ‘When you take from the people of Israel the tithe that I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe…And you may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting. And you shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have contributed the best of it. But you shall not profane the holy things of the people of Israel, lest you die.'”
Numbers 18:1-3, 8, 21-22, 25-26, 31-32 ESV
[Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping yesterday’s Daily Focus, to put an exclamation mark on who is God’s chosen priest to represent the nation before him and to put an end to the grumbling against Moses and Aaron, Yahweh instructs Moses to command each chief of the eleven tribes, plus Aaron (representing the Levites), to shape a staff and bring it to him. Each clan leader is to write their name on their staff and submit it to Moses, who will place them before the “testimony” (the ark of the Covenant) in the tent of meeting. There, the Lord will cause the staff of the one he chooses to sprout. The next day, Moses gathers the twelve staffs and presents them to the people, and they witness that Aaron’s alone has not only sprouted but blossomed and produced ripe almonds. Lastly, Yahweh commands Moses to return Aaron’s staff before the testimony as a warning sign for any rebels and a reminder that those who continue to grumble against the Lord will die. So Moses faithfully follows instructions.
Today’s text includes a selection of verses from chapter 18 that highlight the duties and provisions of the priests and Levites, much of which Moses earlier chronicles in Leviticus 6-7. Their “perpetual due” is as follows:
- Portions of most holy sacrifices (vv.9-10)
- Dedicated portions of sacred gifts (v.11)
- Firstfruit offerings (vv.12-13)
- All irrevocably devoted things (v.14)
- Meat of firstborn animal offerings (vv.15-18)
- Portions from holy offerings (v.19)
- A tithe of the tithes (vv.25-30)
The Levites and their families may enjoy their share of these food offerings as a reward for giving their best service to support the sacred worship in the tent of meeting, but they must not profane these holy portions of people lest they die.
Takeaway: While Yahweh addressed most of the content of this chapter earlier at Mount Sinai, due to the two rebellions, first by the people and then by the Levites, a review of the protocol for sacred worship seems appropriate for forgetful Israel. That said, a tithe of the tithes is a new provision that assures blessings flow from the people to the Levites to the priests. The Levites are privileged to serve Yahweh by assisting the priests. To lose sight of this high calling and act selfishly or nonchalantly would constitute a violation of the Third of the Ten Commandments (blasphemy) and warrant the death sentence. One way to ensure they do not lose sight of their high calling is to tithe the tithe they receive from the people. This practice will remind them that they are the conduits of the Lord’s blessing, for their reward is a gift, not their right.
Our takeaway? Whether the elderly woman who gave from her poverty (Luke 21:1-4) or wealthy Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), regardless of the extent of our possessions, when we give back to the Lord our tithes, he will multiply them to grow his kingdom and glorify his name. This principle also applies to church and parachurch organizations, for they are the Levites of our modern era.
Our part? Whether we earn or inherit our money and possessions, we must not lose sight of the fact that they come from the Lord and that tithing (giving back to him) is a privilege, not a burden. So, as mentioned periodically in these devotions, we give with gratitude (2 Corinthians 9:7-8). Ruth and I give the gross of our earnings (before taxes) under the principle that God calls us to give him our first fruits. Also, we do our homework to ensure those we support are growing the Father and Son’s kingdom and glorifying their names. Lastly, we aim to give beyond our tithes each year to multiply his blessings.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for multiplying our blessings through the gifts of your Son, the Holy Spirit, and the community of believers. And we thank you for providing for our material, relational, and spiritual needs, whether in season of lean or plenty. So, please help us thoughtfully give back to you what is rightfully yours with gratitude that we might do our part in multiplying your blessings. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
Leave a Reply