SCRIPTURE: Numbers 8
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
In the old covenant, God used limited symbols to represent universal truths. The land of Israel represents the whole earth. The temple building represent all people. The nation of Israel represents all the nations of the world. The repeated sacrifices represent the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. The designated priests and levites represent the universal priesthood of all believers. In Jesus, the symbolic claims of God are universalized.
The priests and levites symbolize all new testament Jesus followers, set apart for the Lord, for the work of the Lord, dedicated wholly to God. They are set apart by baptismal cleansing, by the laying on of hands, by their assigned kingdom tasks. The work is plentiful, what is needed is the workers. God provides the levites for the old testament work of tending the old testament Tent/Temple; Jesus provides disciples for the new testament work of tending the new testament temple, i.e. the church.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ [Matthew 9:36-38] God had compassion on Israel, and provided them with leaders and workers; Jesus has compassion on the crowds, and raises up leaders and workers (apostles and disciples).
You and I, we are those workers. We are set aside by baptism for the special task of spreading the message and love of God through Jesus. We are commissioned by the laying on of hands, sanctified (set aside, ordained) for the harvest work. Like the priests and levites, we have different tasks in this kingdom work. But we all are working to gather and build God’s growing family. We gather people like living stones [1Peter2:5] to build a spiritual house, a spiritual priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices and service to the Lord. Representing Jesus is not an option in our following Jesus, it is the essence of following Jesus. It is our assignment. The question is not ‘am I representing Jesus’ – I am! – the question is ‘how am I representing Jesus’?
PRAYER:
Lord, I am Your ambassador, Your representative, called and equipped for this serious task. Teach me how to represent You well, wherever I am!
The lamps are to give light. There are seven of them because it is the number of completion. These lamps are to give light to the area infront of the lampstands. They are to light up the whole room. The light of the whole world is Jesus. In His light we have light and we must shine for Him. Lightshine.
The Levites were a special people set apart to wholly serve Him in His presence. But through the blood of Christ and His great commission I have been set apart to serve Him wherever I am planted. As His discipline I must shine for Him. Bloom where I am planted. I need to have His light shine through me. Lightshine. Therefore I must dwell in His presence always so that I have the oil to keep my lamp/light burning each day for Him in all I do and say.
Give me oil in my lamp
Keep me burning
Give me oil in my lamp I pray,
Give me oil in my lamp.
Keep me burning, burning, burning
Keep me burning till the break of the day
Sing Hosanna, sing Hosanna,
Sing Hosanna to the King of Kings,
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna,
Sing Hosanna to the King.
…..Give me love in my heart, keep me serving
…..Give me faith in my heart, keep me trusting