SHARE Magazine July 2016 | Page 27

In Genesis 29:34 we learn that the Priests are of the tribe of Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah; (All their sons are the 12 tribes of Israel). The name Levi means attached or joined together and we see the significance of this in scripture by the important role the Priests had within the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle without the Priesthood is meaningless. They were joined together from the beginning in God’s Divine Order, a ‘Pattern from Heaven’. They usually started work at 20 years of age and retired at 50. Most of the work was really manual, dirty work (heavy lifting of sheep and bulls) keeping the Tabernacle exactly how God wanted it. In Genesis 49:7 you will see that Jacob cursed his son Levi, He said, they would be scattered in Israel; there was just no future for them, they were under a curse and the reason for that curse is in Genesis chapter 34. Levi’s sister Dinah had been raped by Hamor the Hivite’s son Shechem, so Levi with his brother Simeon decided to take the law into their own hands by killing many of the Hivites. Consequently, Jacob banished his sons, Levi and Simeon and his curse on them took effect. Repentance Later on, we encounter the tribe of Levi in Exodus 32:26-29 This chapter tells the story of Israel’s disobedience: idolatry and unbelief, whilst Moses was communing with God on Mount Sinai. In verse 7 of this chapter the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down for your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, are corrupt’. On descending from the mountain Moses asked the Israelites, WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE?’ The only tribe mentioned that stood alongside Moses were the Levites declaring their allegiance to God. Obedience. The next command from Moses must have been the most difficult of his leadership he gave the order to slay the rest of their brethren who would not come over to the Lord’s side, and Levi did. Holiness In verse 29, “By your obedience to God’s command today you have consecrated yourselves today as Priests to the Lord that the Lord may RESTORE and bestow His blessing upon you this day.” (Amplified version) The Levites were now free from the curse of their father. Here we see that God restores the blessings which were lost by their forefathers. What a wonderful picture of God’s plan of Salvation. It is by the evidence of repentance, obedience and holiness that we are recognisable as Priests unto our God. This is written for our instruction and it becomes clear that these acts lead to “Training in Righteousness.” Jesus our High Priest At the beginning, we saw in Revelation that we are to be Priests unto our God. How can we get that from God’s word into our hearts? “I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron (high priest) and to his sons from among Israel to perform the services of the sons of Israel at the tent of meeting.” Numbers 8:19 The Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes and Aaron presented them as a wave offering, meaning a sweet smelling perfume to God. Aaron also made atonement for them to cleanse them. In John 17:6 Our high Priest, Jesus is speaking, “I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world.” God has called us out of the world and given us to Jesus in the same way He called the Levites out of Israel and gave them to Aaron to serve him. The Levites purified themselves by repenting and obeying the Lord which in turn leads to holiness then Aaron presented them to God as a wave offering and also made atonement for them. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life,” John 3:16 God saw we were corrupt and sent His Son Jesus who made an everlasting atonement for us on the cross to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We have to repent of our sin and disobedience. Read and obey the Word of God and this will lead us into righteousness. Once we were under a curse, because of sin, like Levi from his father BUT now because we have chosen to be on the Lord’s side there are heavenly mansions being prepared for us according to Jesus’ promise in John 14. We who follow Jesus Christ are His Priests here and now. We have been given to Him because He bought us with His own blood. “You are not your own you were bought with a price therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor 6:20 Just like at the foot of Mount Sinai when the Levites went over on the Lord’s side so too we can go to the foot of the cross with the same attitude saying; “we are on the Lord’s side” and partake in the inheritance that God has prepared for us. We are called to be priests because we STAND WITH OUR GOD, ministering unto Him and offering all kinds of prayers and supplications. Praying and worshipping God has always been priority in ministry. It started that way and it will end that way in Glory forever worshiping the Lamb. A true worshiper knows how to keep his temple he is a temple keeper. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit? 1 Cor 6:19 We worship out of love for our Saviour. Let us keep our temples undefiled so we can worship in Spirit and in Truth. p By Barbara Payne intercessor, worship leader, retired minister and Divorce Care counsellor July - September 2016 SHARE|MAGAZINE | 27