Leviticus 27:1-71And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the Lord by thy estimation. 3And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 4And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels. 5And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 6And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver. 7And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. (Leviticus 27:1‑7)
“WHEN A MAN shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation.” Devotedness to the Lord and His estimate of our service seem to be the theme of this chapter.
We notice in the account of the “singular vow” that estimation is made according to age. In the case of a child being devoted to the Lord, from one month old to five years of age, the value was set at five shekels of silver for a male.
From five to twenty years the value was twenty shekels.
From twenty to sixty years the value was fifty shekels.
From sixty years upward the value was fifteen shekels.
The highest estimation is placed on that period of life — twenty to sixty years — when our faculties and energies are at their best. But it is striking that a higher value is placed on the years between five and twenty than on those between sixty and upwards. A man who bins to devote himself to the Lord at sixty years is only worth fifteen shekels, while a young person under twenty is reckoned at five shekels more. It is not that one at sixty years may not yet be much used of the Lord, for many have been. Some in their later years have labored abundantly and their service much blessed of Him. Nevertheless, it is also true that at sixty years our natural strength is beginning to wane, our memories begin to slip — our faculties are not what they once were. The earlier in life we set our hearts to serve the Lord the better.
How many of those whom the Lord has deigned to use in blessing to His saints and to others in the gospel were led to surrender themselves to the Lord when young. Grace may reach out and save a soul at any time in life, and then surrender to the claims of Christ will follow; but as a rule those who have served the Lord most have been converted in their early years, were early led to yield their hearts and lives to Him.
Samuel and David were both young when called of the Lord. Saul of Tarsus was a “young man” when converted, and Timothy “a youth.” But it is more than mere youth that is needed. This chapter speaks of devotedness. This is what we all need. But a young heart devoted to Christ, and seeking to continue in that devotedness, is a heart that is used of Him.
May our dear young readers be encouraged by this. Sin is a dread master. The Lord Jesus is worthy of our all. He died for us; He seeks our trust, our confidence, our love. He says, “Who will go for us?” (Isa. 6:88Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isaiah 6:8)). He could send an angel, but He would rather have you.
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