24. TEACHERS FOR ISRAEL

"They shall teach Jacob Thy judgments and Israel Thy law"

Aim

To show how the Priests and the Levites taught Israel to live according to the Law of Moses.

The Tabernacle worship and its spiritual lessons were important but there was a great deal more in the Law of Moses. It was most important that everyone, children too, should be taught to know and understand the laws that controlled their everyday lives, including the solemn days God wanted them to observe for special reasons. To carry out this most important task of teaching the people, and to perform the duties of the Tabernacle, God specially selected one tribe.

Exodus 28:1-5; 29:38-46; Numbers 3:6-10

THE LEVITES - GOD'S TEACHERS

Originally there were twelve tribes of Israel, each tribe being descended from one of the twelve sons of Jacob. When Jacob called his sons together to bless them, his son Joseph received the blessing of a double portion. This means that each of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, received a full portion of inheritance in Israel; so from this time on their were thirteen tribes.

In the lesson about the golden calf, we saw that the Levites separated themselves from the wickedness of the people and joined themselves to God Who commanded them to punish those who sinned. The name "Levi" means "joined", and this is what the tribe did by joining themselves unto God. They were men of principle, determined to uphold God's ways and punish all who had sinned against God, even friends or relatives if need by (Deut. 33:8-10).

It is a true principle that God must come first in our lives, even above all other loved ones - as Jesus himself taught (Matt. 10:37). Because of this faithful attitude to their God, God chose the tribe of Levi as His special workers, to do the work of the Tabernacle and to teach Israel His ways. "I have given the Levites", God said, "as a gift to Aaron and his sons, to do the service of the children of Israel" (Num. 8:19). When the Israelites travelled from place to place, it was the duty of the Levites to take down the Tabernacle. The priests carefully covered all the furniture, ready for the Levites to carry it on the journey. Then they set it up again in a place shown to them by God. It was their task also to study the Law, so that they would know it very well and be able to teach it to others.

THE PRIESTS

From among the tribe of Levi, the family of Aaron was chosen to come closer to God. As priests, their work was more important, for only the priests were allowed inside the Tabernacle. So it was their responsibility to make sure that there was always oil in the Lampstand and to change the shewbread each week. Every morning and evening they had to offer the daily burnt offerings. They had to burn incense upon the Altar of Incense in the Holy Place on behalf of all Israel. It was the priests who kept the fire burning on the Altar of Burnt Offering and attended to all the people who came to the Tabernacle to offer sacrifices or offerings to God. The priests also were to teach the ways of God to Israel (Mal. 2:7).

THE HIGH PRIEST

The High Priest, Aaron, was very special, for of all the people, he alone could go into the Most Holy Place and so come closest to God. There could be only one High Priest at a time, and his beautiful clothes were designed by God "for glory and for beauty" (Ex. 28:2). He wore white linen trousers and coat, and over these a blue linen coat and girdle. The blue coat was embroidered around the hem with pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet. Between each pomegranate was to be placed a golden bell. All these beautiful colours were in the three curtains of the Tabernacle, and each colour taught a wonderful lesson. These garments were then covered by a short jacket made of linen, embroidered with the same colours, and it was held on the shoulders with a clasp made of precious stones.

On his chest was a square of linen in which were placed twelve of the most brilliant gems, each one bearing the name of a tribe of Israel. This was called the Breastplate. He wore a head-covering of linen with a plate of pure gold at the front engraved with: "Holiness to Yahweh". What a glowing picture of colour and beauty Aaron looked in these lovely garments.

GOD'S CARE FOR THE LEVITES

When Israel became a settled people in the Promised Land, the Levites, unlike the other twelve tribes, were given no part in the land on which to grow crops and settle to earn a living (Num. 18:20-23). God told them He would care for them and every three years the other tribes had to pay them a tenth of all they earned. In turn, the Levites had to give a tenth of what they received to Aaron and his sons, the priests. "I am thy part and thy inheritance", said God, and the Levites knew that all good things come from God. Although there were thirteen tribes, the tribe of Levi was always set apart and so the land is always spoken of as belonging to the twelve tribes.

LESSON FOR US

Ever since He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God has given people laws - things they must do, and things they must not do. He has also appointed people to help teach those rules. To the people of Israel, He gave the Levites, then the prophets, and lastly He gave His only begotten son Jesus Christ, who was the greatest of all the teachers God provided (Heb. 1:1-2).

What the Lord Jesus Christ taught has been carefully written down in the Bible for us to learn. In His wonderful love and kindness, God has given us parents and teachers to instruct us from His Word. They are our helpers and will show us from the Bible what we should do. Let us therefore listen very carefully to the instruction we receive from them, that God might bless us with eternal life. "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light." (Prov. 6:20-23).

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The High Priest wore a golden plate upon the front of his bonnet which said, "Holiness to Yahweh". This was to teach him and all who saw him that his mind, which was behind the gold plate, should be thinking only of God's holy ways. To do this, he needed to meditate continually upon the Word of God. The Lord Jesus Christ never sinned in all his life, because he thought only those thoughts which pleased God. He was holy to God in every thought and action. Believers today are to be holy too. Peter says, "Gird up the loins of your mind", (ie make sure your mind is prepared for the coming of Christ) and be holy in all your behaviour; because God has said, "Be ye holy; for I am holy" (I Pet. 1:13-16). God's Word is able to sanctify us (ie make us clean and holy)(John 17:17), and so we shall bring every thought into subjection to God's will (2 Cor. 10:5).

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. What tribe did God give to Aaron to help in the work of teaching the people?

2. How did the Levites help with the Tabernacle?

3. Why were the Levites chosen as God's special workers?

4. Whose family were chosen to be the priests in Israel?

5. What were some of the duties of the priests?

6. Who was chosen as the first High Priest?

7. What was written on the golden plate on the High Priest's forehead?

Detailed Answers

1. God chose one tribe to be teachers of His Law to Israel. How did God provide food for the Levites, who did not have land of their own?

2. What was the work of the priests €

1. in the Tabernacle?

2. in helping the people?

Additional Answers

3. Describe the beautiful clothes worn by the High Priest.

4. What was the lesson from the golden plate on the High Priest's bonnet?