Daily Thought

Members of the tribe of Levi were given specific and unique responsibilities relating to the things of God. Their distinctive position grew from their faithfulness to the Lord at the time of apostasy, when the people made and worshipped a golden calf, Exod. 32. 25-29. The general responsibility of the Levites during the wilderness journey was the taking down of the tabernacle, its transportation and its erection, Num. 1. 51. They were the guardians of the things of God.

The passage before us relates to the time when the wilderness journey had been completed and the ark had been brought to a place of rest in Jerusalem. The work of transporting the tabernacle was no longer required, so the duties of the Levites needed to be revised. There is much for us to learn from this.

Whilst circumstances might change, God never changes. His holy character and power are constant and unassailable and will not and cannot adjust to the conventional thinking of any generation. It was the same Holy One who dwelt between the cherubim when the ark was in the wilderness that dwelt be tween the cherubim when the ark was in Jerusalem. We will be encouraged in our service only if we grasp the truth that the One who has proved faithful in the past will remain unchanged in present changed and changing situations.

It was the Lord God (through His servant David, 1 Chr. 23. 25) who indicated the need for change; it was not the idea of the Levites. Change was not introduced to enhance the standing of the Levites in any way; indeed, their role was more subservient as a result of the change. It was only the direction of their service changed; its character was not altered, nor was its importance in God’s eyes diminished in any way.

The level of commitment required was increased; David told the Levites that they would ‘dwell in Jerusalem for ever’, v. 26. The service required now was a constant service of prayer and praise necessitating that they should ‘stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even’, v. 30.