Thursday Night Bible Study

Numbers 3-Numbers 4 (Click scripture reference for audio access)

"...Consecration..."  •  3.15.12  •  Thursday Night Bible Study, Calvary Christian Fellowship

Intro.

- In the first two chapters of the book of Numbers, Moses has delivered to us God's call for the people of Israel to prepare for war. They would be God's army in dispossessing the Canaanites.

- They were to be organized by tribe around the tabernacle, three tribes to a side, but God's presence in the center of the dwelling and in the center of their moving.

- We've seen preparation, organization and tonight, we'll see consecration! God's people are to be warriors and worshippers! If they are to be unique before the Lord, they will be both!

- Tonight, I suggest that we will see some very practical insights that speak to the importance of our place in the worship community that we serve.

Text

• Numbers 3:1-4 : "Now these are the records of Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests.  Nadab and Abihu had died before the Lord when they offered profane fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father." : We call the priesthood, the Levitical Priesthood and they were, but the High Priests were to come from Aaron's line. Therefore, we also refer to is as the Aaronic Priesthood.

- God annointed this family. The word "annointed" refers to having a hand spread over them. God's hand had spread over them, providentally choosing and empowering them for service.

- He annointed them and He consecrated them, separating them to Himself.

- What a great prayer to utter: Lord, anoint me for service and set me apart for your purposes! You and I want to be found doing that which He has anointed and consecrated us for!

- Notice however that His annointing and His consecrating does not insulate a person from discipline. Their calling required their responsibility.

- Amazing privilege is not given with impunity. The promoted can easily the demoted one.

- Nadab and Abihu brought strange fire to offer to the Lord, a narrative contained in Leviticus 10:1-7. In the chronology of this time, that was only several weeks ago.

- When we studied that passage some time ago, we noted that they brought fire from another source, rather than from the Altar. Drinking might have been involved, as well as ill timing, etc.

- Their death necessitated Eleazar and Ithamar's quick promotion, being priests who would serve in the daily ministrations of the tabernacle, Aaron serving as the High Priest.

- It's no doubt that Eleazar and Ithamar ministered with a greater degree of care because of the severity of the Lord toward their older brothers.

- It reminds you and I that we are replaceable and that our actions matter to the God that we represent. Pray for His anointing and His consecration and then pray for His purity!

• Numbers 3:5-10 : "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. And they shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do the work of the tabernacle. Also they shall attend to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of the tabernacle. And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are given entirely to him from among the children of Israel. So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their priesthood; but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.'" : Levi had been the only tribe excluded from serving in war. Their concern was not war, but worship!

- The people are set apart either for war or for worship. These are two parts of our lives as well! In the world, we battle spiritually against the forces of wickedness.

- In the house of God, we bring Him worship, seeking to please Him with our gifts of love.

- The entire tribe of Levi was to stand before Aaron and be ready to serve him. They were to be at his disposal, ready to be put to work, looking to assist him in the daily duties of ministry.

- These men would attend to Aaron's needs. What did Aaron need? As the High Priest, Aaron had certain duties that kept him within the tabernacle.

- There may have been a tremendous amount of gopher work available, from cleansing items to removing waste from the tabernacle. It seems that much of what they did was practical.

- The Levites were also to attend to the needs of the whole congregation. When they came to sacrifice, the would inspect the animals and assist them in bringing the animals.

- Every piece of furniture needed to be cleansed and kept in working order. This would be a full time service for them and them alone, much of which is described here and in chapter 4.

- Anyone outside of the tribe of Levi attempting to put their hands to that which was set apart for Levi's tribe would be put to death!

- God's heart here is to call and appoint certain men for service. Some have not been called to vocational ministry and it would be death to them if they attempted this.

- In the Exodus, certain men who were gifted in areas, were called to certain activities. You must find where God is calling you personally and not try to do what God assigns to another!

- Principally, you and I affirm His calling and seek to minister as His priests, both to the needs of the leaders as well as the needs of the people of God. We are looking to serve everyone!

• Numbers 3:11-13 : "Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine, because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.'" : God decreed that everything in Israel that was born first was to belong to Him.

- Everything that was born first was sacrificed to God of the animals. God is not calling for human sacrifice, but He is calling for the Levites to stand as a substitute, a living sacrifice!

- They would belong to the Lord as tribe, completely set apart, sanctified for His purposes. That was their reasonable worship and it is ours as well.

- Do you belong to the Lord? Have you surrendered your all to Him? He expects no less!

•  Numbers 3:14-16 : "Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying: 'Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; you shall number every male from a month old and above.' So Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded." : Because they are not being numbered for war, the Levites would be numbered from infancy and above. Moses numbered them as he was commanded.

•  Numbers 3:17-20  :  "These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers’ houses."  :  These are the priests and their families, the major distinctions following Levi's sons.

•  Numbers 3:21-26  :  "From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites; these were the families of the Gershonites. Those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above—of those who were numbered there were seven thousand five hundred. The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward. And the leader of the father’s house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael. The duties of the children of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting included the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting, the screen for the door of the court, the hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords, according to all the work relating to them."  : In each of these sections, a group will be mentioned, along with their number, their designated area and their duties.

- Verses 21-26 detail the Gershonites, who numbered 7500 men. They were to dwell on the western side of the tabernacle. They were to take care of the coverings or linens and skins.

- They carried and cared for the tent coverings the screen doors and the hangings from the court. If there were repairs to be made to these implements, the Gershonites would handle it.

- Numbers 4:22-28 restates this information as to how the Gershonites would serve and adds a few details. 4:23 tells us that they had to be over 30 or "even 50" to serve.

- Additionally, 4:26 informs us that all that was made for these things were in their care. They were commissioned by Aaron, but were under the supervisory authority of Ithamar. (4:28)

- Back in chapter 3, verses 27-31 detali the work of the Kohathites, who numbered 8,600 and were assigned the south side of the tabernacle.

- They cared of the furniture of the tabernacle, like the ark and the altar. Numbers 4:1-20 is instrumental in understanding their role more fully.

- In 4:3, we find the same age range for the Kohathites of 30 to 50. The Kohathites were to carry the "most holy things," but there was some preparation that would go to into that.

- Numbers 4:4-6 describes the covering that the High Priests were to put over the Ark of the Testimony with badger skins to waterproof it and a blue cloth to show it's majesty.

- Numbers 4:7-14 detail the coverings that were to be provided for the rest of the implements by the High Priests. They were to insert poles for transport as well.

•  Numbers 4:15 : "And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. 'These are the things in the tabernacle of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry." : The Kohathites were called to carry these implements, but they could not look upon them or even touch them!

•  Numbers 4:16-20  :  "The appointed duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the daily grain offering, the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.' Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 'Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;  but do this in regard to them, that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint each of them to his service and his task. But they shall not go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, lest they die.'" : There was some serious job security issues here, but Moses and Aaron were to stand and do a job that helped the Levites do their job.

- They served their brothers and did what was necessary to make sure that they were safeguarded from the wrath of God.

•  Numbers 3:32 :  "And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, with oversight of those who kept charge of the sanctuary." : God ordered that among all of these Levites, Aaron's son Eleazar was to have oversight over all of the tabernacle. He inspected the pieces and made sure that things ran smoothly.

- Verses 33-37 detali the Merarites, who number 6,200 men, who were to make their dwelling on the north side, and they were to be in charge of the structural parts of the tabernacle.

- Looking over to chapter 4:29-33, we note their ages are the same and that Ithamar is to oversee their activities, verse 32 noting that each man individually was given items to carry.

- They were to carry the little stuff, sockets, bars, pegs and cords. These were small, but valuable as many were covered in gold and all were useful in setting something up in place.

- As we close this section, notice a few points. God dispensed responsibility to the Levites. This was His prerogative. He is the one we look to for this responsibiity. We need to look to Him!

- Each tribe was given enough to do, but not so much that they were overwhelmed. God wants us to enjoy whatever part He has given us. What we can joyfully do is what we should look to do!

- God employs each of them and each of us in that same way. He is calling you to assume responsibilities as well. Ours is not to judge whether or not those responsibilities are worthy.

- They are worthy because they come from God and because they are vital to what He wants  to do! Each tribe needed the other tribe's work in order to worship!

- Never believe that your gift is too small, your job in the body of Christ, too insignificant. What you carry and care for is significant to God!

• Numbers 3:38,39 : "Moreover those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons, keeping charge of the sanctuary, to meet the needs of the children of Israel; but the outsider who came near was to be put to death. All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, by their families, all the males from a month old and above, were twenty-two thousand."  :  Moses and Aaron's family were to occupy, literally, to guard the east side of the sanctuary, which was where the entrance to the tabernacle was.

- Moses and Aaron had the duty of guarding the tabernacle from the people that would come and attempt to go where only the Levites could go.

- They were to protect the people from themselves and also make themselves available to serve the needs of the people.

- Moses and Aaron were not there to be seen or to have a show made of them. They were servants, seeking to meet needs. That's a good word for us today: How can we meet other's needs?

- That was Moses and Aaron's call, the question that they would have to answer daily.

- Moses and Aaron's family, a group numbering 22,00 would answer that call.

•  Numbers 3:40-43  :  "Then the Lord said to Moses: 'Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and above, and take the number of their names. And you shall take the Levites for Me—I am the Lord—instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.' So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel, as the Lord commanded him. And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names from a month old and above, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.'"  :  The firstborn of all of Israel was consecrated to the Lord.

- God took the Levites as His people instead of or as a substitute for the firstborn.

- These came to be 22,273 men. This was the Lord prerogative.

•  Numbers 3:44-51 : "Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the Lord. And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites, you shall take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs. And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons.' So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites.  From the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. And Moses gave their redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses." : These Levites came to the Lord with the redemption money of the tabernacle. Numbers 4:34-49 gives us some of the specifics.

- 4:34-37 give us the number of the Kohathites, being 2,750. 38-41 detail the number of the Gershonites, which numbered 2,630. Verses 42-45 give us Merari's numbers which were 3,200.

- The total number of the Levites available for service is given to us in verse 48 and numbered 8,580 men ready for service to the Lord.

- These men that would serve would be delivered by the Lord and redeemed! That is exactly what we are: We have been delivered and we have been redeemed by the Lamb of God!

- Silver was not our purchase price. It was His very blood that bought us! How much more should we serve our Lord and Savior.

Conclusion

- As we conclude this night, I pray that you see yourself as one of His priests. Dedicated to Him, ready to serve one another, embracing God's call on your life. This is our best worship to God!