Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Who Handles His Dishes


After naming a tribe for service,
the Lord went on to call out families in it by name for specific duties.
He said where He wanted each one to camp in relation to the tabernacle.
God concerns Himself with even our temporary dwelling places.

"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 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."
This family's entire ministry
was related to maintaining and transporting
the large leather and fabric pieces
that the tabernacle was constructed of.
Brushing off dust,
and washing, and folding,
and oiling the leather to keep it pliable,
and storing them carefully when they moved.
"This is the service of the families of the Gershonites,
in serving and carrying." 

The Kohathites "duty included the ark, 
the table, the lampstand, the altars, 
the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, 
the screen, and all the work relating to them."
An interesting detail related to the Kohathites' duties
explains how the sons of Aaron are to cover
and prepare every item they are responsible for handling
and the Kohathites "are not to go in and watch 
while the holy things are being covered, lest they die."
They were expected to bear holy things
with a reverence that did not touch them,
and did not get to see them.

"The appointed duty of the children of Merari 
included the boards of the tabernacle, 
its bars, its pillars, its sockets, its utensils,
all the work relating to them, 
and the pillars of the court all around, 
with their sockets, their pegs, and their cords...
And this is what they must carry 
as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting...
and you shall assign to each man by name the items he must carry.

Each one of these duties are particular to the family and to the individual,
but in concluding each catalog of tasks, it repeats, 
"And their duties shall be under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest."

"According to the commandment of the Lord 
they were numbered by the hand of Moses, 
each according to his service and according to his task; 
thus were they numbered by him, as the Lord commanded Moses."

The Lord called out a specific tribe, specific families,
and specific men for particular tasks.
And their duties were holy and appointed only to them.
Every one of them was known by name to the Lord,
and called to a particular care for the Lord's things.
No one else could do their job.

In ministering to the Lord, I may find I am carrying holy things I may not see.
I am doing Him service
even though that service means busying myself
with tables and lamps, bowls and forks.
God cares who handles His dishes.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

That They May Serve Him


I picked up a chronological Bible some time back,
and started using it in the mornings.
I thought it would be a valuable way to go through the Word,
better setting history in its context for me.
And then I came to Numbers --
probably the book of the Bible with the driest reputation.
I set it down for awhile and went about my devotions in other ways.
But yesterday I started back in again.
I read chapters 3-5.
And I underlined things to ponder.

These chapters are full of direct quotes from God.
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...
Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites 
from among the children of Israel... 
Therefore the Levites shall be Mine...
They shall be Mine: I am the Lord."

The Lord counted the Levites as His own,
but they were appointed to serve people.
They were given to Aaron and the congregation for labor.
Not as slaves, but as ministers of the tabernacle.
Their work was the Lord's work.
But it was for the benefit of people the Lord loves.
And their work freed the priests
to serve in the capacity the Lord appointed for them.

Do we realize how valuable our work is to Him?
The Lord was not only concerned with the duties of the priests,
but with the very specific ministry
of the things the priests needed to do their work with.
I have behind-the-scenes work
the Lord has given to me to do
that allows my husband to serve in the capacity the Lord has given him.
And each of us has her own part of the Lord's work to do.
Doing well the task He gives me
is exactly the best way to serve Him here.
Even if it seems set apart from the 'real work'.
If He has called me by name to tend stuff in service to Him,
it pleases Him well if I do that.