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This verse is taken from:
Numbers 18. 20-24
“search the scriptures” John 5:39
The instructions contained in this chapter follow the sad incident of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and the dramatic intervention of God as recorded in chapters 16 and 17. The impression this left with the people is seen in their word to Moses that ‘Whosoever cometh … near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die’, 17. 13. In light of these fears, in chapter 18 the Lord reaffirms that this privilege and service had been given to the priests and Levites, vv. 1-2, to them alone, vv. 4, 7, 22, and any attempt to interfere with their office would be visited with judgement, vv. 3, 5, 32.
The Levites had been divinely set apart from the tribes of Israel to be ‘for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle’, v. 6, and to be joined to Aaron the High Priest, v. 2. Their ministry embraced a wide variety of duties. It was given to them to minister to Aaron, v. 2, to work under his supervision, v. 3, and to keep the charge of the tabernacle, v. 4. They were to appreciate the special privilege of the ministry given to them, v. 22, and their accountability for any failure, v. 23. Additional to those charges each of the three families of the tribe of Levi had specific responsibilities when the tabernacle was dismantled and carried through the wilderness; see chapters 3 and 4. Needless to say these are instructive details. Every believer today has been set apart to do a work for the Lord, to be joined to, and to work under the supervision of Jesus the Son of God, our Great High Priest, and to keep the charge relative to the ministry of the divine sanctuary. This is service that demands devotion to God, submission to Christ and faithfulness to His word.
Like the priests, v. 20, the Levites were to have no inheritance in the land, vv. 21 and 23, but were to find their resources in the provision of the Lord. For their sustenance God gave to them the tithe of the children of Israel, and introduced an important principle regarding the maintenance of the Lord’s servants, developed later in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 13-14.
The command of God should still strike a cord in our heart: ‘do the service’, looking to God to meet our needs.
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