274. TEACHERS IN ISRAEL

"The priest's lips should keep knowledge"

Frequently we come upon the phrase "the Priests and Levites". The former were the descendants of Aaron and the latter were the rest of the tribe of Levi from which Aaron came. Aaron and his sons were appointed as High Priest and Priests respec tively. On the death of the High Priest, his eldest son inherited the posi tion. The Levites were appointed to assist the priests. Thus the whole tribe was set apart for the work of Yahweh, but each part had its own order. The aim of this lesson is to show how God taught his people and to show the significance of the sacrifices.

Exodus 40:13-16; Numbers 18

THE WORK OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES.

At the Tabernacle the duties of the Priests were to watch over the fire on the altar of burnt offerings, to attend to the sacrifices offered there, and to keep the charge of the sanctuary. Amongst other things, they of fered for the nation a lamb as a sacrifice each evening and morning. They received and offered the sacrifices brought by the worshippers. They kept the seven-branched lampstand supplied with oil. They changed the shewbread each week, and burnt the incense.

The Levites acted as their assistants. In the service of the Tabernacle the Levites were allowed into the outer court, but they were denied access to the altar, or entrance into the Tabernacle itself (Num. 18:3).

SUPPORT FOR THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES.

The Priests and Levites were given no inheritance in the land (Num. 18:20-23). They were taught thereby to rely entirely upon Yahweh for their living. The people of the land had to sustain them, by giving a tithe (a tenth) of all their increase to the Levites (Num. 18:24), which they did every three years (Deut. 14:28-29). And, in turn, the Levites gave to the Priests a tenth part of the tithes they received from the people (Num. 18:26-28).

This "tithe" was called a "heave offering" (Num. 18:24). The word "heave" means "lifted up" or "raised", i.e. as a gift, offering or obla tion (Ex. 25:2, 3; 30:13, 14; Lev. 7:32; 22:12). The priests were God's representatives doing His work and teaching His Law. Thus in giving the tithe to them, the people were in effect giving it to God (Num. 18:8). When they did not give it (as sometimes happened), it amounted to rob bing Yahweh of what was His due (Mal. 3:9-10), for all that the people received, came from God, and was really His. In addition to the tithes, the Priests were given, as food, certain por tions of some of the sacrifices (Num. 18:9-13).

INSTRUCTORS OF THE PEOPLE.

The Priests and Levites were expected, in turn, to give their lives unto God. They studied and expounded the Law (Lev. 10:11; Deut. 24:8); they acted as judges (Deut. 17:9; 19:17); and when Israel was established in the land, they were given 48 cities that scattered them throughout the whole nation (Num. 35:2-8). Thus they were always on hand to teach and instruct the people (Mal. 2:7). In the times of the kings they were termed "teaching priests" (2 Chron. 17:7-9). In this they were like believers to day among the nations of the earth (1 Pet. 2:9).

SACRIFICES.

A large part of the work of the priests had to do with offering sacrifices. To make a sacrifice to God entails giving something to Him. Only the best is good enough for God (see Mal. 1:7-8).

Israel was commanded to make various sacrifices for different pur poses. Whilst some were compulsory, others were free-will offerings. Animals, birds, flour and oil were offered according to requirements, and almost all had to be perfect and without blemish.

Sacrifices formed a large part of Israel's worship. They were divided into two main categories: €

1. NATIONAL SACRIFICES

These were offered on behalf of the nation as a whole: €

1. Daily sacrifices € morning and evening (Num. 28:1-8).
2. Weekly sacrifices € every Sabbath (vv.9-10).
3. Monthly sacrifices € every new moon (vv. 11 -15).
4. Annual sacrifices € Festivals (Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles), Trumpets or New Year and Day of Atonement (vv. 16-31; 29:1-38).

2. INDIVIDUAL SACRIFICES

These comprised sin and trespass offerings, burnt offerings, peace offer ings, meal and drink offerings.

(i) Sin Offerings € Lev. 4:1-5, 13; 6:24-30.

When a person sinned through ignorance and later became aware of his sin, he was required to make this offering. The animal was slain, and its blood (or most of it) was poured out at the Altar of Burnt Offering. This blood represented "the life of the flesh" (17:11), and when poured out, stood for the surrender of life to the will of God. The sinner placed his hand on the head of the animal (4:4, 24, 29), thus identifying himself with it. He made confession of his sin (5:5), acknowledging the right of God to punish him by death (which was the fate of the animal), but ask ing for mercy and forgiveness. And God was pleased to forgive.

(ii) Trespass Offerings € Lev. 5:14-19; 6:1-7; 7:1-7.

When a person sought forgiveness for a trespass, which amounted to an act of "deceit and violence" in which the rights of another were trespassed (6:4), he was required to make this offering which closely resembled the sin offering (7:7). It has associated with it the ideas of: €

1. restitution € he had to restore in kind to the one he had wronged; and
2. penalty € he also had to add to the thing restored one fifth of its value.

(iii) Burnt Offerings € Lev. 1:7-17; 6:9-13; 7:8.

This offering followed naturally the Sin-offering, and was itself follow ed by the Peace-offering (8:14, 18, 22). Whereas the Sin-offering denoted forgiveness of sin, the Burnt-offering carried the idea of total surrender, and giving of oneself in complete service to God (i.e. dedication). So the animal or bird was carefully prepared, placed in order upon the altar and completely burnt. It was a sacrifice of a fragrant odour to God, as our lives are when spent in His service (1:9, 13, 17; Eph. 5:2).

(iv) Peace Offerings € Lev. 3:1-17; 7:11-21, 28-34.

These stood at the end of the sacrificial code to indicate restoration of fellowship with God that had been broken by sin. They were offerings in which God, His priests and the offerer "ate" food together, a symbol of peace and friendship. The slain animal was divided so that God received the fat (3:11, 16); the priests, the breast and right thigh (7:30-34); and the offerer and his family, the balance of the carcass.

The simple lesson of the Peace Offering is that peace with God can only come after recognition and abandonment of sin, and the necessity of a consecrated life.

(v) Meal and Drink Offerings € Lev. 2; Ex. 30:9; Num. 15:10.

These were of meal mixed with oil and baked without leaven; and wine, respectively. Together they spoke of a desire to make the will of God one's "food and drink," i.e. always to live by the principles of God's Word.

WHAT THE SACRIFICES TAUGHT.

As well as teaching the unchanging moral principles upon which God's servants must base their lives, the sacrifices all pointed forward to Jesus Christ. He was without blemish, being perfect in character (Eph. 5:1-2; Jn. 1:29; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 9:12; 13:12-13). He offered himself willingly and God accepted the sacrifice as a covering or atonement for the sins of those who come unto Him through Christ (Rom. 4:7; Gal. 3:26-29).

When we are baptised into his name, we are baptised into his death (Rom. 6:3). Like the sinner under the Law, we figuratively put our hand on the head of the offering and, confessing our sins, plead forgiveness. We see the death of the Lord as a symbol of what is due to those who break God's law and we ask for mercy. And this is freely given by a lov ing heavenly Father and sins are forgiven.

There is a difference between the animal sacrifices and Christ's offer ing. The former, once killed, remained dead. But Christ rose from the dead and was clothed upon with immortality. He thus became a symbol of hope for us (Rom. 4:25). True Israelites saw in the sacrifices they of fered, a type of the salvation which God would finally reveal in the one He appointed as Saviour of the world (Gen. 22:14).

OUR SACRIFICE.

We must sacrifice our desires, our will, our thoughts, our wishes to what God requires (Rom. 12:1). And all this should be done through the offering (the Lord Jesus) whom He has provided. Only the best is good enough for God, and we should be prepared to give this to Him. The re quirements of the Truth and the ecclesia should be put first, before the other activities of our lives.

When Israel was delivered from Egypt through the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb and went forward to the Promised Land, they passed through the waters of the Red Sea, and in so doing were "baptised unto Moses" (1 Cor. 10:2). In the same way, Christ our Passover, has died that we might be delivered from the sinful world around us, and we too must pass through the waters of baptism (1 Cor. 5:7; Rom. 6:3-4).

This is the first act of obedience, but it must be followed by a life of sacrificial devotion to God € as Israel's sacrifices revealed and taught.

LESSONS FOR US:

• Although we are no longer under the system of tithes, we should remember the principles of rendering to Yahweh that which is His due, "for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof".
• We are constituted priests under the new covenant (1 Pet. 2:9), with the same responsibility to teach and show forth the light of God's truth.
• There are many lessons we can learn from the sacrifices under the Law. God requires of us only the best; we must dedicate ourselves wholly to His ways. Upon this basis we can have fellowship with Him.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"The Law of Moses" (R. Roberts) € Chapters 24-25

"Law and Grace" (W. F. Barling) € Pages 94-121

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1.   How were the priests and Levites supported, materially, under the Law of Moses? What does this teach us?

2. The priests had different duties to the Levites. Explain the dif ferences.
3. What main principles do we learn from the sacrifices under the Law of Moses?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1.   Describe the important functions carried out by the priests in Israel.

2. Review the individual sacrifices under the Law of Moses and outline the lessons they teach us.
3. How*do the sacrifices under the Law of Moses point forward to Christ? Give examples.