Numbers 4

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Further Details of the Responsibilities of the Levites

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The holiness of God requires responsible protection.

  2. The worship of God requires responsible work.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. You don’t have to be on the front lines to serve the Lord.

QUESTIONS

  1. Review the divisions of the Levites.

  2. Could all of the Levites handle the objects in the tabernacle?

  3. What is the tabernacle in the wilderness a type (spiritual picture) of?

  4. How did the priests guard the holiness of God?

  5. At what age did the Levites begin and end their most active ministry in the tabernacle?

ANSWERS

  1. The sons of Kohath, the sons of Gershon, and the sons of Merari.

  2. No, only the priests could see the holy objects.

  3. It is a type of the Church in this world.

  4. They covered the holy objects with cloths and animals skins before the rest of the Kohathites came to transport them.

  5. The Levites served most actively from thirty years old to fifty.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The Lord dwelt amidst His people in the tabernacle in the wilderness. Today, the Church is God’s dwelling place here on earth. Our lesson taught that the holiness of God must be guarded and protected. As believers, we are each priests of God and are responsible to guard the holy things of God. Discuss Matthew 7:6. Discuss how your language and humor in everyday life can either cheapen or promote respect of the things of God.

  2. Along with being priests in the church of God, we are all called to be servants. List the variety of work that must be done in your local church so the people of God can worship together. This list should be surprisingly long. Are you fulfilling some of these ministries? Are you thankful for your brothers and sisters in Christ who work with the other ministries?

CHALLENGE

  1. Moses used the same phrase in Numbers chapters 1 and 4 to describe the Israelites going into military service and the Levites going into the service of the tabernacle. Both of these types of service were necessary; and the people could honor God in their assigned area of service. What area of service has the Lord given you? Don’t be envious that God has given another believer a “better ministry” or more noticeable service. Serve where you are. Ask the Lord to show you the value of your ministry.

KEY VERSES

  • “Take a census of … all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting.” Numbers 4:2-3

  • “But they shall not go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, lest they die.” Numbers 4:20

Talks, Old Testament, NumbersRon ReidNUMBERS 4