Tag: cleanse them

46.h. “Wilderness” – 10.n. “The separation and dedication of the Levites for service”

Num 8:5-7  And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them. Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification upon them, and let them go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves.

Num 8:13-14  And you shall set the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and shall offer them as a wave offering to the LORD.  “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.

Num 8:16-17  For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself. For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself,

Num 8:21-22  And the Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them as a wave offering before the LORD, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. And after that the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and his sons; as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

Consecration of the Levites for their service in the sanctuary. – The choice of the Levites for service in the sanctuary, in the place of the first-born of the people generally, has been already noticed in Numbers 3:5., and the duties binding upon them in Numbers 4:4. But before entering upon their duties they were to be consecrated to the work, and then formally handed over to the priests. (Keil)

Though this seems to design no other but their appointment and separation to their work and service, as ministers to the priests of the Lord; and so as Aaron did not assume the honour of priesthood to himself but was called of God, the Levites did not take the honour of their office to themselves but had it by the appointment and call of God: and cleanse them; with water, by sprinkling the water of purification on them, and by washing their bodies and clothes with water; which outward washing was a sign of moral purity, which was necessary to their employment in the service of the sanctuary; for though there was no particular uncleanness on them, either ceremonial or moral, but what was common to men; yet it was proper, by such outward rites, to put them and others in mind, that they which are employed about holy things should be eminently pure and holy; and as their business was to carry holy things, to bear the sacred vessels of the sanctuary from place to place when needful, they ought of all men to be clean, Isaiah 52:11, and in this they were emblems of the ministers of the word, who ought to be pure, as in heart, so in life and conversation, and be examples of purity to others. (Gill)

Being set apart for service is a calling to every believer. It is in this service to God that our hearts will find satisfaction. It is not as though we pick the service to which we think we are best suited, but rather we are to do that which the Lord has called us to do. We are His creation for His pleasure to use for His plans and purposes.   How should we conduct our lives in light of being set apart for His service?

Lord God, guide me, fill me, lead me, and make Your will, plan, and purposes alive in me so that I might better honor and glorify You.

3.j. ‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’

Ezra 1:1  In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

Jeremiah 29:10   “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.

Jeremiah 33:7-13    I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first.  I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.  And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.  “Thus says the LORD: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again  the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD: “‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD.  “Thus says the LORD of hosts: In this place that is waste, without man or beast, and in all of its cities, there shall again be habitations of shepherds resting their flocks.  In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD.

The prophecy of Jeremiah spoke the word of God and I doubt there were many remaining in Babylon from Jerusalem who remembered or were alive at the time of capture.  Those who did listen and knew the outcome of God’s wrath upon them, and believed what Jeremiah said had to have their heartbroken.  They were able to witness this first hand and more than likely die before seeing the restoration of Jerusalem.  Some of these parents certainly spoke of Jeremiah’s prophecy to their children to give them hope, strength, and courage.  And to those who believed in what God had said, and were alive at the time of this proclamation from Cyrus, this had to be a very glorious blessing to hear and see the hand of God at work.  Can you imagine hearing this and knowing it was foretold to you.  All you had to do was believe it your eyes would be open to seeing God at work.  Obviously, there were those who did not believe and because of this did not see this as God’s doing but rather because of chance and good fortune.

When we read God’s word there are many both blessings and warnings given to us.  Promises of His hand of protection, leading, and peace.  Likewise, there are words of wrath, anger, and judgment.  Just because we might choose to not believe them does not make them less truthful.  How would our lives change if we spent time in His word and believed what we read?  Would our thoughts and actions be different?  Would we see God’s hand at work more clearly?  Would we have a more thankful heart and mind?  Would things in this world have less influence?  Would our eyes remain focused on honoring Him?  Would we consider living in light of Him?  Would we be more grateful?  Would we seek and desire to hear and see Him?

If we spend more time in His word we will certainly be starting at the right place every day.  If we seek to be led by His word we will be starting at the right place every day. It is a personal, intentional, daily choice.  We should not take this commitment lightly or the benefits from it without a grateful and thankful heart.

Oh God, open our eyes to Your word and lead us on paths that glorify and honor You.