Numbers 18:1 – 32

Outline Background/Review: God’s Solution: Main Points: Application:

Background Review: The Rebellions Chapter 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Quail Miriam & Aaron Spies Kadesh Barnea Man w/ Sticks On Sabbath Korah’s Rebellion Over 35 Years Moses Hits The Rock The Spies & people (14:36-45). The Levites: (16:8 - 11, 31 – 32). The Administrators: (16:35). The people: (16:41, 49).

Background Review: The Rebellions Rebelling against the LORD’s discipline (17:5, 10): Blaming the leaders (17:5): Fearing God in the improper way (17:12 – 13): “Satan labors to represent God by halves, only as a consuming fire, as clothed with justice and vengeance. Oh no! It is true he will not suffer his mercy to be abused by contemptuous sinners; he will not clear the guilty, though he waits long on them before he destroys them; but the main of his name is ‘his mercy and goodness’” Puritan Thomas Manton.

Outline Background/Review: God’s Solution: Main Points: Application:

God’s Solution Rebelling against the LORD’s discipline (17:5, 10): Blaming the leaders (17:5): Fearing God in the improper way (17:12 – 13)): Trusting in the Priesthood (16:48 – 50; 17:8; 18:1 – 32): Providing further instruction (18:1 - 32):

The Legitimate Priesthood Protection & Blessing! Chosen by God: Worthy of support: Careful & reverent with holy things!:

4 9 10 12 8 3 1 3 1 7 4 2 6 5 v 11 2 2 1

4 9 10 12 8 3 1 3 1 7 4 2 6 5 11 2 2 1

The Levites’ Job Description Numbers 3:7 – 8. “The two main functions of the Levites: to ‘keep guard’ and ‘to do the heavy work’ of dismantling, transporting and erecting the Tabernacle. They only had to do this heavy work whenever the camp was on the move. But they had to permanently on guard, ready to kill any unauthorized person approaching the Tent of Meeting, it furniture or the altar” Gordon J. Wenham, Numbers, 70.

Job Qualification “Moreover, the Levites had proved themselves to be the most suitable of all the tribes for his post, through their firm and faithful defense of the honor of the LORD at the worship o the golden calf (Exodus 32:26). It is in this spirit, which distinguished the tribe of Levi, that we may undoubtedly discover the reason why they were chosen by God for the service of the sanctuary, and not in the fact that Moses and Aaron belonged to the tribe, and desired to form a hierarchical caste of the members of their own tribe, such as was to be found among other nations” Keil & Delitzsch, 662.

History of Religious Offices 3 Classes of Religious offices: - Priests & Levites. - Prophets: - Wise men. Jeremiah 18:18: “Then they said, ‘Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the sage, nor the divine word to the prophet! Come on and let us strike at him with our tongue, and let us give no heed to any of his words.’”

Simeon & Levi in Israel

History of Religious Offices Priests (1 Chronicles 2:1 - 19): - In the Temple. - In the Levitical cities: “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah” Luke 1:5. Levites (1 Chronicles 9:33 – 4; 26:1 – 32): - Temple servants. - Treasurers. - Collectors of tithes. - Torah instructors. - Singers!

Outline Background/Review: God’s Solution: Main Points: Application:

The Priesthood: A Picture of Christ! Continues forever: “The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently” Hebrews 7:23-24. In the true Holy of Holies: “Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man” Hebrews 8:1-2. Without an earthly portion: “Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel” Numbers 18:20.

The Levites: A Picture of believers! Without an earthly portion: “For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, ‘They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel’ ” Numbers 18:24. A redeemed group: “For every firstborn among the sons of Israel is Mine, among the men and among the animals; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for Myself. But I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel.” Numbers 8:17-18. Worthy of their wages: “For the laborer is worthy of his wages” Luke 10:7.

The Sacrifice: A Picture of Christ’s Work! A thing most holy!: “As the most holy gifts you shall eat it; every male shall eat it. It shall be holy to you” Numbers 18:10. A thing that you can sin against: “But you shall not profane the sacred gifts of the sons of Israel, or you will die.” Numbers 18:32. Holy to the LORD first: “Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, “Now behold, I Myself have given you charge of My offerings, even all the holy gifts of the son of Israel” Numbers 18:8. The difference between the holy & the profane: “The Lord then spoke to Aaron, saying, ‘Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you . . . so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean,

Outline Background/Review: God’s Solution: Main Points: Application:

The Law: Still Scripture Rejoices the heart: The The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul, The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” Psalm 19:7. Is holy, righteous and good: “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” Romans 7;12. Disciplines one’s life: “In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow” Acts 18:18. Is part of Scripture: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16.

Soli Deo Gloria!!!