Numbers 8:5-26 - The Separation Of The Levites Or An Ordination Service In The Wilderness

I. Let us begin by taking A GENERAL VIEW OF THIS ORDINATION SERVICE . The outstanding features were these. It took place at the door of the tabernacle and in presence of the whole congregation. The Levites being marched in, the congregation put their hands on them, q.d.: "We are thine, O Lord. Thou hast redeemed us and brought us out for thyself, to be to thee a kingdom and priests. With respect to the charge of this thy sanctuary, thou hast made choice of these our brethren to minister to thee in our stead. We freely give them up to thee, and renounce all the rightful claim we should otherwise have had upon their service in peace and war." This done, Aaron "offered" the Levites to the Lord as a "wave offering." Finally, Aaron in turn accepted the Levites as the Lord's gift to him, to aid him in the tabernacle. Who can fail to see the significance of all this? Besides suggesting

II. BESIDES THESE MORE CATHOLIC AND SPIRITUAL SERVICES , THE LEVITES ' ORDINATION WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH OTHERS PURELY CEREMONIAL . These were of three kinds.

1 . Lustral ( Numbers 8:7 ). First, Aaron sprinkled the Levites with water of purifying—either that described Numbers 19:1-22 , or, more likely, spring-water, such as was used in the laver. Then the Levites, on their part, shaved off their hair and washed their clothes, q.d.: "Lord, we are not meet for thy house and service. Holiness becometh thine house. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil. And we are unclean. But thou canst make us clean. As thou hast sprinkled our persons with clean water, so do thou remove all filthiness from our hearts. And we, for our parts, are resolved by thy grace to put away the evils of our past lives and to follow after holiness henceforward."

2 . Expiatory ( Numbers 19:8 , Numbers 19:12 ). The Levites were to bring a sin offering for atonement; laying their hands upon it with confession of sin (see Leviticus 4:1-35 ). They were thus reminded of their guilt as well as impurity, and were encouraged to believe that there is forgiveness with God, on the ground of which they might hope to be accepted in their persons and service.

3 . Dedicatory. The sin offering was to be followed by a burnt offering to signify that the Levites presented their whole persons to the Lord, a living sacrifice, to be employed in his service all their days. Blessed be God, we are rid of these burdensome and carnal rites. Care must be taken not to let anything like them creep again into the sanctuary. But the ideas they set forth—the great realities of purification, and pardon, and dedication—ought to be often present to our minds and hearts in the house of God.—B.