Numbers 4 Devotional
by Pastor Lawrence Bowlin
Just as the fighting men of Israel were all counted, so too the Lord counts the number of Levites able to assist the priests in their labor for the Lord. We are first introduced to the three sons of Levi in Exodus 6:16 with Gershon being the oldest, Merari the youngest and Kohath the middle son. But you’ll notice the order in which the sons are listed in this passage is different, with Kohath being mentioned first, which is very unexpected given the fact that he receives the most honorable Levitical service carrying the most holy things of the Lord. This is just one more instance of the Lord’s sovereign will countermanding the expectations of men.
In the arrangement of the camp, the priests of Aaron were positioned on the east side of the tabernacle standing between it and the tribe of Judah; they were in the most privileged position. After the priests came the Kohathites who camped on the south side, then the Gershonites who camped on the west side and, lastly, the Merarites who camped on the north side.
When moving camp, the priests oversaw every aspect of taking down and erecting the tabernacle. Before any of the Levites could carry any component, article, or furniture from God’s tent, the priests had to cover the holy things of God. As expected, the Ark of the Covenant was the first to be covered, and Aaron was charged with taking down the curtain between the holy place and the most holy place first in order to cover it. This curtain was made of three sacred colors: blue, scarlet and purple. Afterwards, the ark was to be covered also with goat skin for protection and then covered a third time with a blue cloth covering. The Table of Showbread was the second to be moved and it was covered with just two of the sacred colors, blue and scarlet, before being covered with goat skin. Then the lampstand and the golden altar of incense were covered with just one sacred color, blue, and finally the bronze altar located outside in the courtyard was covered with purple cloth, which was the least sacred color.
After the priests had covered all the furniture and their respective articles, only then could the Kohathites enter into the tabernacle and carry out the holy objects. And Moses makes it very clear that these privileged Levites were not to touch or even to look upon the holy objects upon pain of death. Because the Kohathites had the most dangerous job as Levites they were given the most explicit directions on how to carry out their duties. After the Kohathites removed all the holy objects, the Gershonites then were to carry away all the tent coverings, hangings and screens along with their cords. Finally, the Merarites were to carry away the remaining components: the frames, bars, pillars, and bases along with their accessories.
Unlike the fighting men of Israel who were counted from the age of twenty and up, only the Levites between the ages of thirty and fifty were allowed to serve in this capacity moving the tabernacle of God. The upper limit was probably based upon strength and agility whereas the lower limit seemed to require a great maturity to take these burdens seriously since it was such a weighty matter. After all, not only are these very detailed instructions given ahead of time, but every step of the move was also overseen by the priests who commanded the Levites when and where to move so that “they might live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things” (Numbers 4:19).
There is always a great tension in the relationship between a holy God and sinful men. Although the tabernacle was designed intentionally to allow the Lord to draw near and to dwell in the midst of his people, if they did not fear his name and take his house seriously there would be devastating consequences anytime an impure hand touched even the purified copy of God’s dwelling place. That should give us an even greater appreciation for what the author of Hebrews says in Hebrews 10:19-22 exhorting us to draw near unto God “since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus…since we have a great priest over the house of God.”
Not only are the Levites no longer required to guard the tabernacle to keep his sinful people out, but everything is left uncovered in God’s house and our great high priest invites us into the most holy place to meet with our Lord directly, of course, only through the blood of Jesus. And what a privilege it is to come directly into the throne room of God with our requests. Why in the world would his people not take advantage of such a privilege every chance they get? The Levites longed just to get a glimpse inside, but we can go farther and further than any human priest ever did. Therefore, let us take advantage of our great privilege and offer our spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.