A. In Consecration
God separates those whom He calls to the service He’s called them to. We then submit to that process, and make the sacrifices required to fulfill our holy calling.
1. Separation
• The Levites were to serve in the tabernacle after being ceremonially cleansed, purified from sin, separated, and offered to the Lord.
Num. 8:5-15
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them.” ….
“And after that, the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering.”
I Chron. 15:12
“Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it.”
2. Submission
• Not only were the Levites supposed to consecrate themselves, they did!
Num. 8:21-22
“And the Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes,” …
“And after that the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and his sons…”
• The Levites’ lives were given to discipleship by their fathers, and to serving alongside their fathers and brothers.
1 Chron 25:1-8
• Our sacrifices of praise to the Lord are to be offered as we submit in love to one another and to our leaders. (See Hebrews 13:15-17)
3. Sacrifice
• The Levites’ passion for the honor of the Lord in Exodus 32:26-29, when the Israelites were worshiping the golden calf, a) brought them something, and b) cost them something:
Exodus 32:29
“And Moses said, ‘Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.’”
a. Brought them – the blessing of God’s favor, separation for service.
b. Cost them –
– Immediately – In that they had to go kill their friends and relatives!
– Long term – No inheritance of land among the people of Israel. Num. 18:20
• We make sacrifices to serve at our appointed posts, by the grace God has given us, so others can worship – so they can have Him, and so He can have them. But it’s only our reasonable service of worship – it’s what we were created for!
Romans 12:1-8
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship”
…”Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”
B. With Preparation
1. Spiritual preparation.
Numbers 8:5-15 A consecrated life.
Remember that it’s our life of worship before the Lord that validates our ministry of worship in His House.
2. Practical preparation.
1 Chronicles 15:22, 25:7
“Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, for he understood it.”
“The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288.”
• Our gift may make room for us, but we are most useful when we have taken the time make the most of the tools God has given us to serve with.
– Musical training and instruction.
– Practicing, rehearsing.
– Practical administration, scheduling of life to allow time to serve.
C. By Working
1. Numbers 3:6-8, 25-26, 31, 36
• The Levites worked in the House of God.
• Every practical serving group has work to do – practical, assigned tasks.
Serving and leading involves actual work! More than just my gift, talent, and ability, it’s also my job, duty, responsibility (“responsibility is the right response to ability”).
2. 1 Chron. 16:37
(NKJV) “So he left Asaph and his bothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required.”
(NLT) “…doing whatever needed to be done each day.”
• We should show up with a heart to do whatever work needs to be done.
• This is a great time to remember that we’re doing what we were born to do!
D. As Family
1. The Levites were servant families.
• Numbers 3:14-20
The Levites were a tribe, a family of families, all serving together in the House of God.
Fathers and sons, serving together.
- 1 Chron. 25:1-9
The older, experienced fathers trained the younger, inexperienced sons. All were scheduled together, “the small and great, teacher and pupil alike.”
2. We are servant families.
- Eph. 4:11-16
We are a tribe, a family of families, joined by God to serve together in His House. As we yield ourselves to God, to leaders, and to one another, God is glorified, and the Body of Christ is edified.