The Servants

The Levites and their Work
The Levites are typical of believers as “the servants of Jesus Christ.” Their work was to bear the Tabernacle and the holy vessels through the desert, to set it up according to the Divine pattern in the divinely ordered place, and to take it down when the cloud arose for the journeying of the camp. Their call, their qualification for service, and the various spheres to which Jehovah appointed them, are all subjects of interest, upon which we may meditate with profit to our souls.
The natural character―as we may call it―of Levi is well described in the words of his father, Jacob, as recorded in Genesis 49:5-75Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 7Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. (Genesis 49:5‑7). Cruel, self-willed and fierce, cursed and scattered, yet by God’s grace picked out to become the chosen servant of the house of God―according to nature, unfit for the presence of God or the fellowship of His people. “O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united,” yet by grace the union with Simeon is dissolved, and Levi is “joined” to God’s high priest (Num. 18:2-42And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. 3And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die. 4And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you. (Numbers 18:2‑4)), to minister unto him and “to do the service of the tabernacle.” Their standing according to nature is set aside: they are called according to grace to fill the place of Israel’s firstborn (Num. 3:12, 1312And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord. (Numbers 3:12‑13)), a typically dead and risen people, alive unto God, in new circumstances, with new surroundings. Thus it is that the call of God and the grace of God hath come to us sinners of the Gentiles who were “afar off,” having no hope “and without God in the world,” quickening us together with Christ that we might be joined to the Lord and become one spirit with Him. Able, like one of old to say― “By the grace of God, I am what I am”― “Whose I. am, and whom I serve” (1 Cor. 15:1010But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10); Acts 27:2323For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, (Acts 27:23)).
Next to their call, comes their preparation for service. Being brought nigh unto God, they must be in a condition suited to that new position, and, having received a ministry in the Lord, they must be qualified and furnished so that they may fulfill it. As we meditate on what the Levites required to fit them for their ministry, we shall learn what is still required of those who would acceptably serve the Lord in His Gospel and His House.
They were to be “cleansed” and “separated” in presence of the whole assembly. This was the first step. Not “education” and “ordination,” but “cleansing” and “separation.” This accords with that “washing of regeneration” and conversion to God, so frequently enjoined upon all who would serve the Lord Christ. Apart from these, no sinner ever can become a servant of God. Men who have never been born again may be voted into places of ecclesiastical power by the fellows, or appointed to them by their patrons; they may preach and teach and “administer the sacraments,” but without God’s call and His qualifications for service, they are the servants of Satan. Nor is conversion the only qualification that God requires. The Levites, having been cleansed by another, were afterward to shave their flesh and wash their clothes and so “make themselves clean.” This accords with the words written to those who had already been separated from the unequal yokes and fellowships of darkness (see 2 Cor. 6:14-1714Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Corinthians 6:14‑17)), being received of God for His service here. “Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1,1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1) R.V.). There is much to “lay aside” (1 Peter 2:11Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, (1 Peter 2:1)) and to “put off” (Col. 3:8, 98But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (Colossians 3:8‑9)) after being converted, and thus the believing one is “proved” and “blameless” before he publicly serves (1 Tim. 3:1010And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. (1 Timothy 3:10)). They were given then to Aaron as a gift (Num. 8:19,19And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary. (Numbers 8:19) with John 17:66I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. (John 17:6)), and by him back to Jehovah as an offering (Num. 8:21,21And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the Lord; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. (Numbers 8:21) with John 17:10, 1110And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (John 17:10‑11)). Then, they were allowed to enter upon the service of the Tabernacle for a brief period of five-and-twenty years (Num. 8:2424This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: (Numbers 8:24)).
They had no earthly inheritance given them as their brethren of the tribes of Israel. Jehovah Himself was their inheritance, and of His offerings they were allowed to partake (Deut. 18:1, 21The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and his inheritance. 2Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the Lord is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them. (Deuteronomy 18:1‑2)). Their wants were bountifully supplied by their God through their brethren, and they lacked no good thing (Num. 35:4-84And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about. 5And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities. 6And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. 7So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. 8And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth. (Numbers 35:4‑8)). It was thus with the servants of Christ in early days. An Apostle then was not ashamed to confess, “Silver and gold have I none” (Acts 3:66Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. (Acts 3:6)), while another tells of the “loss of all things” for Christ’s honored name, and produces as the credentials of his Apostleship the hunger, the thirst, the nakedness, and the stripes that he endured in his path of service for God’s Gospel and His truth. Men of those days served not for worldly advantage of “filthy lucre.” “The ministry” was no fashionable trade in which the praise of men with worldly titles and emoluments were secured. “Bonds and afflictions” (Acts 20:2323Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. (Acts 20:23)) were God’s servants’ portion and prospects: a “dying daily” (1 Cor. 15:3131I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (1 Corinthians 15:31)) the only” living. “It remained for a day of apostasy from the truth for professed “ministers of God” to wander forth, to and fro, seeking a “place,” like that Levite of Bethlehem-Judah who came to Micah’s house and bargained with him to become his priest, for which he received a yearly salary, a suit of apparel, and his victuals. For this remuneration he was “content” to stay and officiate as the family priest, until the larger sphere of becoming priest to a tribe presented itself. The modern custom answering to this ancient story is too well-known to require to be pointed out. The only wonder is, that true saints of God should be found perpetuating and supporting such a God-dishonoring system, at which skeptics point with contempt and scorn, in evidence of the sham of modern Christianity. But the pattern and example of true ministry abides in the written Word, and by these we are called upon to test who ever assumes the prerogative of being “a minister of Jesus Christ” among His people.
Division of Labor
The tribe of Levi was divided into three families: Kohath, Gershon and Merari. To each of these a part of God’s Tabernacle was entrusted. There was diversity and division of labor, combined with unity of purpose and action. Every man had his place given him by Jehovah. He knew it, and kept it. Every man had his own peculiar work for which he was fitted, and all went on under the supervision of God’s high priest (Num. 4:27-3327At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens. 28This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 29As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; 30From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. 31And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof, 32And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. 33This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. (Numbers 4:27‑33)) without a jar or murmur. The family of Merari had the boards, the bars, the pillars and the sockets, as their burden. When the cloud rested for the encampment of the tribes, they were the first workmen on the spot where Jehovah’s dwelling-place was to be reared. Their first work would be to lay down the heavy silver sockets on the bare sand of the desert. These formed the foundation of God’s house. The shittim boards were next raised and fitted into the sockets, each in its appointed place, and finally the bars that framed the several boards together were passed through the golden rings. When the work of the family of Merari was ended, their brethren of the family of Gershon began their work. To them was committed the curtains, the coverings, the hangings, and the cords-that which beautified and sheltered the work of the sons of Merari. The service of these two families was very closely related: they were true “yoke-fellows” and “laborers together of God” (1 Cor. 3:9,9For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:9) R.V.).
All this has its significance to us of later times, and we may meditate upon it with profit and blessing. May the Lord enable us to do so in His fear. Here we have God’s principles of ministry in connection with the building of His ancient house, and these principles are not departed from but rather accentuated and emphasized in New Testament Scriptures, and in the present work of the Lord, in the building of His dwelling-place of present time, even that house which is “the church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:1515But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)) and “habitation of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 1:22,22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:22) R.V.).
Ministry: Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers
The appointments of God regarding ministry are here seen in type in the services of the three families of the sons of Levi.
The Merarites, with their foundations and framework, represent the evangelist and his work; the Gershonites, with their curtains, coverings and cords, strengthening, shielding and beautifying, the pastor and his work; the Kohathites, bearing with steady step the various vessels of the sanctuary, and placing them in due order, the teacher and his ministry.
The sphere of the evangelist is the wide world: sinners wherever he can find them are his congregation: the Gospel of the grace of God is his message. Like the Merarite of old, he bears the silver sockets of redemption, as the only foundation for the sinner. He goes forth guided by the Spirit of God into the world and speaks of Christ crucified. This is his theme, He lays the sockets on the desert sands. World-reformation is not his mission; precedent and “stepping-stone” to the Gospel of God he knows nothing of. He preaches Christ: Christ as the Saviour, Christ as the Lord, Christ as the foundation of salvation for the sinner (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)), Christ as the foundation of the Church (Matt. 16:1818And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)) and of the fellowship of the saints (1 Cor. 3:1111For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)). Then, having presented Christ, he seeks to bring sinners to Him, that they may accept Him as Saviour and own Him as Lord. His aim is to “make disciples” (Matt. 28:19,19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19) R.V.). And, having by the power of the Gospel, accomplished this, he next gathers the saved ones together as the Lord has commanded (Matt. 18:1919Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:19)), and builds them according to the Divine pattern, given in the Book. It was thus that “the churches” of early times were formed. There was the preaching of “Christ Crucified” (1 Cor. 2:22For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2)), the laying of the foundation of the assembly (1 Cor. 3:1010According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (1 Corinthians 3:10)), and the “preaching of the Word” (Acts 18:1010For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. (Acts 18:10)) to those whom God had saved and gathered together. All this was embraced in the “work of an evangelist” in days of old. In modern evangelism he is said to “preach the Gospel only,” whatever this may mean. If God gives blessing in the conversion of sinners, he is not expected to have anything further to say to them, certainly not to gather or build them together as God had appointed, but rather to move on, as the ostrich who leaveth her eggs in the sand, where the foot of man may crush them (Job 39:14, 1514Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, 15And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. (Job 39:14‑15)).
The Merarites’ work was immediately followed by that of their fellow-laborers the Gershonites, who with the cords strengthened, with the coverings sheltered, and with the curtains beautified what their brethren had builded. This is the work of the pastor. He co-operates with and follows up the evangelist. His work is to care for and shepherd the flock. To seek out the young, heal the broken and feed the standing still (Zech. 11:1616For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. (Zechariah 11:16)). It was thus that Barnabas, “the Son of consolation”―a true Gershonite― followed up the “men of Cyrene” in their work at Antioch, exhorting the converts to “cleave” to the Lord (Acts 11:2323Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. (Acts 11:23)). It was when this most blessed work had been neglected that the Lord lamented― “My tabernacle is spoiled, and all My cords are broken My children are gone forth from Me and they are not: there is none to stretch forth My tent any more, and to set up My curtains for THE PASTORS are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord” (Jer. 10:20, 2120My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains. 21For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. (Jeremiah 10:20‑21)). Words too sadly true, of our own time.
The Tabernacle being now set up and beautified, it remained for the sons of Kohath to carry in the holy vessels and put them in their ordered places in the house and courts of Jehovah. This is the work of the teacher. He brings in with wise and steady step, in their due order, and as the saints are able to hear, the truths of which these holy vessels are the types. The Brazen Altar telling of the Perfect Sacrifice and the believer’s acceptance in Christ; the Laver telling of his daily cleansing, and on to the antitypes of the Altar, the Table and the Candlestick―the standing of the saints as risen with Christ, worshipping at the Altar, feeding at the Table, communing at the Mercy-Seat. And thus by steady, continuous “toil in the Lord” does the “work of the Lord” go on from day to day and from age to age, in spite of man’s opposition and Satan’s hindrance. And thus it will continue until the time of wilderness warfare and service shall have run its course. Then as of old, when in the days of Solomon’s glory the Levites exchanged the burdens of the Tabernacle and its vessels for rest and praise (see 1 Chron. 23:25-3025For David said, The Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: 26And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. 27For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above: 28Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; 29Both for the showbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size; 30And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even; (1 Chronicles 23:25‑30)) amid the glories of the Kingdom, so shall those who have served the Lord Jesus in His Gospel, His Church, and His Truth, receive in the millennial and eternal Kingdom and glory of their Lord, the reward of their labors and tears of the wilderness days. And there, amid the unsullied glory of the eternal rest, where no tear of sorrow shall ever drop, or groan of pain be heard, where God is all in all, and the Lamb is all the glory-there “His servants shall serve Him, and they shall see His Face” (Rev. 22:3, 43And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (Revelation 22:3‑4)). Praise ye the Lord.
Amen and Amen