Reassurance

O. T. #338  "Reassurance"
August 7, 2014
Numbers 18
...it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
Numbers 18:19

LET IT GLOW

Who doesn't need reassurance? There are times that I need reassurance that I am doing God's will, serving Him in the right place and right way. Especially when hard times come, people complain, and turn away, I need it. I wonder if the Levites needed it, too.

Oh my, we had such a terrifying sight of the rebellion of Korah and the other two who were swallowed up by the earth, and then those 250 following Levites who were destroyed by the dreadful flames of fire. One would think the rebellion had ended in Israel, but they blamed Moses for those deaths happened again. That time, their murmuring resulted in 17,700 of the Israelites complainers died by a plague. You will recall that Aaron made atonement for the people, standing in the gap between the living and the dead. The plague stopped. The rebellion was against the authority of Moses and Aaron and ultimately God's authority. God settled it when He caused Aaron's rod to bud, blossom, and produce almonds.

Thus ends the account of one of the most infamous troublemakers in biblical history. The author Jude would later refer to this tragic event. (Falwell)

Then the Lord spoke directly to Aaron, the high priest. Only here and Leviticus 10:8 is it mentioned that God did this. Maybe the Levites needed reassurance after the rebellion and death of some of their fellow Levite family that they were serving God in the ways that pleased Him.

According to The MacArthur Bible Commentary, the Levites were told:

• Aaron and his sons were responsible for any offense against the holiness of the tabernacle or violations of the rules of priesthood. (verse 1)
• Even though the priesthood demanded much, the priests were to view it as a gift from the Lord. (verse 7)
• In return for their service to the Lord, the priests were to receive a portion of the offerings which the people presented in worship. (verses 8-20)
• Priests could keep all the parts of the sacrifices not consumed on the altar by fire.
• The offerings of firstfruits and everything devoted to the Lord were theirs as well.
• The Levites received the tithes from the people. This was their source of income and compensation for their tabernacle service. (verse 21-24)
• The Levites were required to present a tithe (a tenth) of what they received to the Lord. (verse 25-32)

The priests were still serving God in the tabernacle. Do we continue to faithfully serve God?

LET IT GROW

In verse 19, we read of the salt covenant. It is one of three methods of covenants found in the Old Testament that could be ratified. The first mentioned was the blood covenant (Gen. 15:17) and the shoe covenant (Ruth 4:7-9). As salt is incorruptible and everlasting, salt purifies and preserves, so was this covenant made with God.

Of all the gifts of God to the Levites (the services, responsibilities, tithes, and sacrifices of the tabernacle), this was the grandest of all: He gave Himself!  (Falwell)

God was the Levites' inheritance. What an inheritance! What a privilege to be chosen and used by God to carry out His commands. And to be used to provide the cleansing of the people of their sins through the sacrifices they killed and presented to God. The tribe of Levite was blessed.
Jesus is our New Testament blood covenant.

Do we pray for our family to be obedient to God's call and their blessings?

LET IT GO

Serve God in ways that I know please Him.

Keep on keepin' on, staying faithful to the Faithful One.

Get my reassurance from God.