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Lessons From the History of the Levites

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 3, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 36.

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Lessons From the History of the Levites

By David Ostlund

DAVID OSTLUND
“But who may abide the day of his coming? . . . And he shall purify the sons of Levi.” Mal. 3:2, 3.
In the history of Israel we find a special record of the tribe of Levi, and of this it is written, as of the Old Testament writings as a whole, that “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4.
When God called his people out of Egypt, we learn that he looked on his people as a son. This we read in Ex. 4:22, 23, where the Lord says to Moses: “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my first-born: and I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.” We all know that the Lord slew all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb born out.
The Lord instituted a holy custom among the Israelites, in order to remind them that the whole people was, or, rather, ought to be, to him the “first-born son.” “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast: it is mine.” Ex. 13:1, 2. As this was done in every family in Israel, it should remind them all of the great privileges that were given them as God’s chosen people, and of the most holy responsibility that they had to meet.
In Ex. 19:4-6 the Lord speaks of his care for the “first-born son,” and of the work he had appointed for him: “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagle’s wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed,and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.”
Israel as a whole did not meet these conditions. When Moses went away up on the mountain, in order to fully establish this covenant for the people with God by receiving the holy commandments, they turned away from the Lord, and had the golden calf made; so that Moses found them dancing around that calf, and worshiping it as their god, when he returned from the mount.
In his great distress he broke the two tables asunder. The covenant itself was also broken by this gross idolatry.
Had all the tribes gone astray into this great falling away? Was there not one who still recognized the Lord’s call, who would be his on the conditions before mentioned?—Yes. We read: “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” Ex. 32:26.
This response of the sons of Levi meant much for them. In Num. 3:41 the Lord says to Moses: “And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the Lord) instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel.” See also verse 45. Not only were the Levites taken instead of all the firstlings, or instead of all the people; but they had conferred upon them the work of the priesthood, which at Sinai was designed for all the people, if they had remained true and loyal to the Lord. In Deut. 10:8 we read: “At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name unto this day.”
One item more: When the land of Canaan was divided among eleven of the tribes of Israel, the sons of Levi, on account of their faithfulness to the Lord, received no inheritance in the land. “Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him.” Deut. 10:9. Blessed was Levi! high was his calling! great was his inheritance!
“These things . . . are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” The people who are going to stand in the great day of the Lord will be true Levites. Mal. 3:2, 3. In our day there is a great falling away from the covenant. The commandments of the Lord are trodden under foot. Holy Writ has long ago foretold this state of things. Matt. 24:12; 2 Tim. 3:1-5. Men, who clothe themselves with the name of the Master, are dancing around the golden calf as actually as did the Israelites in the days of Moses. As the Lord then, by Moses, called on those that were the Lord’s, so he is calling now on every sincere man and woman to come out and take a stand for him and for his truth. The message is still more solemn now than it was in the antitype: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” The falling away from the true God is just as actual now as then. Therefore the message is: “Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:6.
God had some part of his holy work to give to every one of the sons of Levi. So to-day he has a special work for all who respond to his call. He says to them all: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9.
Levi received no earthly inheritance. So in our time God is calling us to loosen ourselves from the possessions of earthly things, that he himself may be our inheritance. Shall we respond to his call? Shall we do the holy work that he has for us? Shall we be true Levites? “Who may abide the day of his coming?” “He shall purify the sons of Levi.” Are we to be numbered among them?
Reykjavik, Iceland.