Day 54: The Tribe of Levi

 Today's readings: Numbers 3, Deuteronomy 3, and Psalm 87.

I. In the third chapter of Numbers, the focus is on the Levites and their special role in serving God and caring for the Tabernacle. The Ignatius Bible notes on their role:

The Levites are put in charge of assembling and dissembling the Tabernacle as well as moving and maintaining it (1:50-51). Because the great majority of Levites are not priests from the line of Aaron (16:8-10), whose family has exclusive rights to the priesthood (Ex 40:12-15), they forbidden to perform priestly actions (e.g., sacrifices, libations, and incense offerings) in connection with the altars and vessels of the sanctuary (16:40; 18:6). The Levites serve instead as assistants to the priests, taking on most of the manual labor required for the sacrificial services. Numbers describes them as a divine "gift" bestowed upon Aaron and his sons (8:19; 18:6). (p. 232)

It sounds to me that these Levites acted like deacons in the New Testament, helping the priests. In the Old Testament, all priests had to be Levites, but not all Levites are priests.

II. Deuteronomy 3 continues Moses’ recounting of Israel’s final approach to the Promised Land, focusing on victory, inheritance, and transition. The utter defeat of King Og of Bashan is first told of, as well as the destruction of his lands, along with the distribution of the conquered territory to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh (3:1-20). Moses encourages Joshua to be strong and not fear for God will fight for Israel as He did with these overthrown kings (3:21-22). The chapter finishes with a sad scene of Moses begging God to allow him to enter the Promised Land with the Israelites, but God refuses because of his earlier disobedience (3:23-26). Instead, Moses is allowed to see the land from Mt. Pisgah and God tells him to focus on preparing Joshua to lead in his place (3:27-29). So a big theme of this chapter is that God’s promises stand firm, even as leaders change and consequences remain.

On the sad scene with Moses, the BIY Companion, Vol 1, comments:

God loves Moses, and he is a faithful man. But as leader of Israel, he is held to a higher standard. Moses is allowed to go to the top of Mount Pisgah to see the Promised Lan, but he will die without entering it. God always answers our prayers, but sometimes the answer is no. In refusing to answer our prayers in the way we want, God is always faithful and loving. He still loves Moses - and he loves us and knows what is best for us. (p. 118)

III. Psalm 87 is one of joy and celebration. As the Ignatius Bible notes:

Jerusalem is praised as the epicenter of the world, the city found (87:1) and loved by God (87:2). She is the spiritual mother of God's people, wherever they may dwell (87:4, 6). Reflection on the universal significance of Zion may have roots in Israel's religious feasts, which is postexilic times brought pilgrims to the Lord's Temple from all over the ancient world (cf. Acts 2:5-11). (p. 905)

That's all for today!