AM Bible Study Group; April 28, 2010
Numbers 8:1-26
Theme: This passage describes some of the events, relative to the Levites and their ministry, that preceded the march of the people of Israel into the promised land..
This chapter follows immediately after 7:89—where we’re told of how Moses entered the tabernacle after it was set up to speak directly with God before the ark of the Testimony. A description of some of the elements within the Tabernacle would then be natural. What’s more, because the previous chapter described the offering of the people of Israel for the work of the Levites, it’s natural that we then find a description of their dedication to that work in this chapter.
The key note of this chapter is ‘service’; and it has much to teach us about the believer’s call to service through Jesus Christ.
I. THE PREPARATION OF THE LAMPSTAND (vv. 1-4).
A. The Lord spoke instructions to Moses that were to then be given to Aaron concerning the lampstand. The lampstand is a crucial part of the Tabernacle. It was located in the Holy Place, before the veil that separated the Holy of Holies (see Exodus 25:31-40; 27:20-21; 30:7-8; 37:17-24; and 40:24-25).
B. The Lord commanded that it be kept burning constantly, and positioned in such a way as to give its light in front of the lampstand. This would mean that the lamp would continually give light within the Holy Place. But more than that, it would also shine its light continually on the table of showbread that sat opposite in the Holy Place. What a picture this gives! The light of the Holy Spirit continually shines on Him who is the Bread of Life—Jesus (see John 6:48; 15:14). What an invitation this would be from God to step into the light, and enter into full fellowship with Him through His Son!
II. THE DEDICATION OF THE LEVITES (vv. 5-26)
What follows after the instruction regarding the lampstand, then, is God’s specific instructions with respect to the consecration of the Levites to their service. The ministry of the Levites is described in greater detail in chapters 3-4; but what is in view here is their consecration to that service.
A. The Lord’s instructions for the dedication of the Levites (vv. 5-19).
1. The cleansing of their persons (vv. 5-7). The first thing that was to occur for them is that they were to be completely cleaned. They were first sprinkled, then completely shaved. This was a picture of a complete separation from the old life. Then they were to wash their clothes. It wasn’t that they now had to wear different clothing—as was true of the priests (see Exodus 39). The Levites were not priests. Rather, their old clothing was kept—but before entering into service, their clothing was first cleaned. Afterwards, they were considered completely cleaned. This is a picture of our Lord’s ministry of cleansing for His disciples (John 13:1-10). We can have no part in Him if we do not allow Him to clean us; and the work that we do in His service—even if it were the carrying of pegs and boards—is do be done in holiness.
2. The offerings prepared for their dedication (v. 8). The offerings that were prepared were two in nature—one was the bull for the burnt offering, with its grain offering; and the other was the bull for the sin offering. We’re told about this offering being made later, after the Levites were offered by the people. But here, we’re told that the Levites came with these offerings prepared. All things concerning the Levites and their ministry was to be done in an orderly fashion—and this is even true of their consecration.
3. The people’s offering of the Levites (vv. 9-11). The people of Israel were first called upon to offer the Levites to the Lord. They laid their hands on them—either symbolically, or actually laying hands on the leaders of the Levite families. This laying on of hands was a symbolic gesture that identified the people with the Levites. Then, the Levites were offered to the Lord on the people’s behalf by Aaron as a “wave” offering. Thus, the whole congregation of the people of Israel symbolically offered them in an acceptable way to the Lord.
4. The Levite’s offering of themselves to the priests (vv. 12-15). After this, the Levites were to make the offerings for themselves. They—or, again most likely, the heads of the families—laid hands on the heads of the sin offering and the burnt offering as an atonement for themselves; and then the Levites were again offered as a wave offering for the priests. Thus, they were “separated” for the Lord, “consecrated” unto the priests, and were then permitted to begin their specific services to the work under the direction of the priests for the service of the Tabernacle.
5. The significance of the gift of the Levites to the priests in place of the firstborn of Israel (vv. 16-19). They were taken from the people, as Numbers 3:40-51 explains, as substitutes for the firstborn of Israel. But they were also then given to the priests for the work of the tabernacle. Note, in verse 19, that they are thus “to make atonement for the children of Israel” by their service to the priests.
B. The fulfillment of the Lord’s instructions for the Levites (vv. 20-22). Once their dedication had been faithfully completed, they were then permitted to begin their service. But note that service to the Lord didn’t begin without atonement from sin, cleansing from the defilements of the past life, and commission from the Lord. This is to be true, not only of them, but also of us (1 Timothy 1:12-13).
C. The limitations of the service of the Levites (vv. 23-26). Note that the Levites were to serve from ages 25-50 (with 25-30 being, apparently, a time of apprenticeship). After age fifty, they may “keep the charge” with the rest of the Levites; but they were not to do the strenuous work. Only those within the allowed age were to do this.
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Two features of this chapter stand out—the lampstand which gives light, and the Levites who are cleansed for services. This reminds us of 1 John 1:7—”But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”