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
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