The preparation for service

Numbers 8:5-26

NASA scientists once built a gun specifically to launch dead chickens at maximum velocity at the windshields of airliners, military jets, and the space shuttle, to simulate the frequent incidents of collisions with airborne fowl to test the strength of the windshields.

Eager to test it on the windshields of their new high-speed trains, British engineers fired the gun and were shocked as the chicken hurtled out of the barrel, shattered the shatterproof windshield, blasted through the control console, broke the engineer’s backrest and embedded itself in rear cabin wall.

The horrified engineers sent NASA the disastrous results of the experiment along with the designs of the windshield, and begged the US scientists for help. NASA responded with a one-line memo: “First thaw the chicken.”

Whatever you do, plan well, make the necessary preparations, diligently do your research, carefully follow the maker’s instructions. To do otherwise can lead to an expensive and embarrassing mess, where you’re likely to really ‘fowl’ things up!

CAREFUL PREPARATION

We are especially rewarded for careful planning and preparation for Christian service. Numbers 8 describes the preparatory protocols for the dedication of the Levites to their ministry as assistants to the priests.

The Levites had a clear position description: to guard and haul the tabernacle across the desert. They did this from the time of Moses until the time when King David established a permanent worship centre at Jerusalem.

Both priests and Levites were descended from Levi, one of Jacob’s 12 sons. The priests were one Levitical family, whose father was Aaron. According to Numbers, only priests could offer sacrifices, and only priests could view and touch the ark of the covenant and other sacred tabernacle furniture.

Priests were “made holy”; Levites were “cleansed.” Levites were essentially lay assistants to the priests, and, although their functions changed over the centuries, they are still around in Jesus’ time (cf Lk 10:32; Jn 1:19; Ac 4:36).

But the Levites did more than serve as carriers. From their experiences at Mt Sinai, the people recognised that their God was holy, and the Levites acted as an additional buffer between the holy God and the sinful people, protecting the people from plague by performing functions that would bring ordinary people dangerously close to God’s resting place in the middle of the Israelite camp.

Somewhere we modern people have lost that sense of awe and fear of God’s holiness and majesty. But the New Testament teaches us to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire’ ” (Heb 12:28f, quoting Dt 4:24).

THE ORDINATION SERVICE

Leviticus 8 describes the ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood; Numbers 8 describes the commissioning of the Levites. Both passages refer to similar cleansing rituals and offerings, but here the requirements are less elaborate and omit references to anointing and vestments.

There were three aspects to the commissioning service. First, the Levites prepared their bodies (v 7). They were commanded to wash with special water, shave their whole bodies, and wash their clothes, “and so purify themselves.”

Second, they made spiritual preparations (vv 8-11). They presented at the entrance of the tabernacle with a young bull for a burnt offering, a grain offering, and a second bull for a sin offering – “to make atonement for the Levites” (v 12b). This brought them into positive relationship with God.

One of the greatest barriers to evangelism and church health today is unconverted clergy, and unconverted lay leaders. We can learn an important lesson from Numbers 8: ensure that your church leaders are Christians!

Third, Aaron presented the cleansed and assembled Levites as a wave offering to the Lord (vv 13f, 21), setting them apart from the other Israelites, and dedicating them to the Lord.

Aaron and his sons were consecrated to serve as priests offering blood sacrifices to God on behalf of the people (Exodus 28-29). Levites were appointed as servants of God (Numbers 3-8). The seventy elders were appointed to assist Moses (Numbers 11, 24-25). Joshua was commissioned as Moses’ successor (Numbers 27). Jeremiah was appointed by God as a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). And so on.

In the New Testament we find a similar pattern. Jesus appointed the Twelve to serve in apostolic ministries (Mark 3:14). The Apostles appointed Matthias to replace Judas among the Twelve by casting lots (Acts 1:12-26). God appointed Paul “as a servant and as a witness” (Acts 26:16). Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in the new congregations (Acts 14:23).

In a more general sense, the Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14); and the Great Commission effectively appoints every follower of Christ to specialised Christian ministry (Matthew 28:18-20).

We are all servants of God, all witnesses for Christ, all functioning members of the church of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that we are all priests!

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God . . . You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet 2:5, 9).

In our Baptist churches we do not place pastors or ordained people in a separate class. All of us are priests; all are co-workers. But we do set apart individuals for full-time and specialist ministry, and we do ordain and commission individuals for various kinds of service.

The distinguishing element of the Levites’ commissioning was that the people laid hands on them (vv 10-13). This did not pass on some special authority, but identified the people with the Levites.

After Passover in Egypt, all Israel’s firstborn belonged to God (Ex 13:2). Now the Levites take their place, and the laying on of hands symbolises this substitution (vv 16-18). We do something similar when we ordain and commission people for Christian service.

The Levites were both a gift to God (vv 11, 13; cf 6:20), and a gift from God to the priests (v 19). If you are serving God at Blakehurst Baptist Church, or in any Christian context, you too are both a gift to God and a gift from God. You too are blessing God and others, and serving God and others.

TRUE SERVICE

Be careful how you serve; be careful what attitude and motives you bring to Christian service. Self-righteous service comes through human effort; true service comes from a deep inner relationship with God.

Self-righteous service is impressed with the “big deal”; true service finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large service. Self-righteous service requires external rewards; true service rests contented in hiddenness. Self-righteous service is highly concerned about results; true service is free of the need to calculate results.

Self-righteous service picks and chooses whom to serve; true service is indiscriminate in its ministry. Self-righteous service is affected by moods and whims; true service ministers simply and faithfully because there is a need.

Self-righteous service is temporary; true service is a life-style. Self-righteous service is without sensitivity. It insists on meeting the need even when to do so would be destructive; true service can withhold the service as freely as perform it. Self-righteous service fractures community; true service builds community.

Finally, Numbers 8:23-26 provides a retirement clause for diligent servants of Israel’s God: the ages for commencement and conclusion of public service. Far from being restrictive, this was a gracious practice.

The age limits here differ from those in 4:3, 23, 30 – either reflecting a different regulation, or circumstances, or era. But the principle remains: “Those who honour me I will honour” (1 Sam 2:30b). God had no desire to unnecessarily burden his servants, so he set wise limits for their service.

As God chose the Levites, so he chose you and me. As they served God, so do we. As they were compelled by their emancipation from Egypt and desert deliverances, so we are compelled by the cross and the empty tomb, and by our private deliverances, to put our hand to the plough and commit ourselves to faithful service. And God guides, protects and rewards us in his own way.

How is your physical and moral and intellectual preparation for service? Do you feel confirmed and supported by your community of faith? Are you gaining valuable experience in the church? Are you serving where God wants you to serve?

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Col 3:23).

——————–

E115 Copyright (c) 2003 Rod Benson. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: New International Version (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1980). To talk with Rod about this message, email or write to P.O. Box 1790, MACQUARIE CENTRE 2113 AUSTRALIA. To subscribe, email with “subscribe” in the subject. To unsubscribe, type “unsubscribe” in the subject.