RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIVILEGES OF GOD'S SERVANTS
We have in this chapter, spiritually, the status of those who are ἱερεῖς τῷ θεῷ and δοῦλαι ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ, as being the inheritance of the Lord, and (in this world) "having nothing, and yet possessing all things." Much that has been considered under the head of Numbers 3:1-51, Numbers 4:1-49, and Numbers 8:1-26 is applicable here. Consider, therefore—
I. THAT A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY WEIGHED UPON PRIEST AND LEVITE IN RESPECT OF THE SANCTUARY, OF WHICH THEY HAD THE CHARGE AND THE HANDLING. Whatever pollution came upon it was chargeable upon them in the double sense,
Even so all the faithful in Christ Jesus are deeply responsible for all the shame, reproach, and disparagement which comes upon that temple which is themselves (Ephesians 2:22; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 3:6), and that in the following senses:—
1. So far as such evils may be due to their own sin or carelessness (Matthew 18:6, Matthew 18:7; Romans 14:15, Romans 14:16; 1 Corinthians 10:32; 2 Corinthians 6:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).
2. So far as the evil can be undone or counteracted by their own piety and zeal (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:15, Philippians 2:16; 1 Peter 2:12).
3. If this cannot be, then at least to this extent, that they bear it on their heart in sorrow and in prayer (Ezekiel 9:4; Daniel 9:20; 1 Corinthians 12:25, 1 Corinthians 12:26; 2 Corinthians 11:29). Nothing is worse than the complacency with which Christians regard the scandals of religion, although such are often due in part to themselves, or might in part be cured by their own efforts, or should at least be a cause of inward grief and humiliation to them as members of Christ.
II. THAT A SIMILAR RESPONSIBILITY ATTACHED TO THE PRIESTHOOD IN RESPECT TO ALL FAULTS AND IMPERFECTIONS ATTENDING ITS EXERCISE. Even so it is no light or trivial thing to have received an unction from the Holy One, making us, in any sense of the words, priests unto God. There are no vain titles in the kingdom of heaven to gratify man's love of distinction; whatever we have is a dispensation committed unto us (1 Corinthians 9:17); any ministry in discharged, made a scandal or offence, is ruin to the soul (1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 4:17; 1 Timothy 4:16; Revelation 3:2, Revelation 3:15, Revelation 3:16).
III. THAT THEY WERE UNDER SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO WATCH THEIR WATCH AND OBSERVE THE DUTIES OF THEIR OFFICE ABOUT THE SANCTUARY AND THE ALTAR, lest wrath should come upon the people. Even so the custodians of Divine truth are under special obligation to guard most carefully and reverently the two doctrines of Jesus in heaven ("that within the vail," Hebrews 6:19, Hebrews 6:20) and of Jesus upon the cross (Hebrews 9:14), lest, either being tampered with, damage should accrue to the souls of men.
IV. THAT THE OFFICE OF THE PRIESTS WAS "A SERVICE OF GIFT." Even so every office in the Church of God is a service, for there is no such thing as a sinecure in the kingdom of heaven; and it is a service of gift, because it is not a matter of earthly honor, or of pay, or of human choice, or even of personal aptness, but of free grace and gift on the part of God—a trust conferred, a bounty bestowed.
V. THAT THE PRIESTS "WERE PARTAKERS WITH THE ALTAR." Even so hath the Lord ordained, &c. (1 Corinthians 9:13, 1 Corinthians 9:14).
Consider again, with respect to the Levites—
I. THAT THEY WERE GIVEN TO AARON TO "WATCH HIS WATCH" AND "THE WATCH OF ALL THE TABERNACLE." Even so are all the kindred of Christ given unto him to be his soldiers and servants to keep his watches, and to be the guardians of his spiritual house until he come again (Mark 13:35-37; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 5:15; Revelation 16:15).
II. THAT WHILE EVER WATCHFUL AND ON THE ALERT, THEY MUST NOT INTRUDE UPON THE SACRED THINGS OF THE SANCTUARY? OR THE ALTAR, ON PAIN OF DEATH.
Even so it is fatal presumption and loss of spiritual life when men leave their practical duties to "intrude" by vain speculation into "those things which they have not seen" in the heavenly state; or when they pry curiously into the unrevealed mysteries of the cross, "which things the angels desire to look into," yet forbear, because it is not given them to understand (Colossians 2:18; 1 Peter 1:12).
Consider again, with respect to Aaron and the people at large—
I. THAT EVERY OBLATION OR OFFERING OF THEIRS WAS GIVEN TO AARON. Even so everything which the piety or gratitude of man freely offers to God has been made over to Christ, as the High Priest of our profession, by an indefeasible title (Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:18; 1 Corinthians 3:23).
II. THAT THE FIRST AND BEST (THE FAT) OF EVERYTHING was TO BE GIVEN TO GOD AND TO AARON. Even so ought every faithful person to dedicate the first and best of all he has (or is) to the Lord and his Christ. It is a fearful thing to put him off with the odds and ends of our time, the gleanings of our mind and thought, the stray coins of our wealth.
III. THAT EVERYTHING UNDER A BAN—A VOW, OR CURSE—WAS GIVEN TO AARON. Even so does every soul devoted to destruction, every soul under the curse, belong to Christ, because he was made a curse for us, and devoted himself to death and wrath for our redemption; wherefore all souls are his, being given unto him of the Father for his portion.
IV. THAT ALL THE PEOPLE WERE TO PAY TITHES TO THE LEVITES, AND THE LEVITES THEMSELVES TO AARON, and thus the principle was doubly maintained that a tenth part of all was due to God for the support of religion. Aaron did not pay tithes, because he was the figure of Christ himself. Even so all good Christian people are bound, not of necessity to give an exact and literal tenth, but certainly no less than that, unless they think that their obligation to God is less than that of the Jews. This may be enforced by the following considerations:—
1. We are as much beholden for all we have to the mere bounty of Providence as the Jews.
2. We are in at least as much danger of covetousness as they.
3. We are much more in the practice of luxury and superfluity than they.
4. We are more distinctly called to a voluntary choice of (comparative) poverty than they (Matthew 13:22; Matthew 19:23; 1 Timothy 6:6-10).
5. There is more need of abundant offerings now than then, because we have all the world to evangelize, instead of a single temple with its services to maintain.
6. Our giving should be more ample, just because it is left to the holy impulse of faith and love. God has refrained from demanding a tenth in order that we might freely give—more (Malachi 3:10; Matthew 26:13; Acts 2:45; Acts 20:35; Philemon 1:19, &c.).
V. THAT THE LEVITES, HAVING "HEAVED FROM THE BEST" OF ALL THEY RECEIVED, WERE THEN TO ENJOY THE REMAINDER WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE. Even so the servants of Christ, when they have dedicated (and only when) the best of all they have—time, money, talents, opportunities, influence—to the direct service of Christ, may enjoy the good things which fall to them with singleness and gladness of heart (Luke 11:41; Acts 2:46; 1 Timothy 6:18; and cf. 1 Kings 17:13 sq.).
Consider again, with respect to priests and Levites—
THAT THEY HAD NO INHERITANCE AMONGST THE TRIBES, BUT THE LORD WAS THEIR PORTION AND THEIR INHERITANCE. Even so hath the Lord given unto us no inheritance in this world, because he himself is ours, as we are his. We do indeed have (most of us) many things richly to enjoy, but these are Dot our own, as the world counts its good things its own, but are only lent for an uncertain season (Luke 16:11, Luke 16:12—what we have here is "another man's," as distinguished from "our own"); and that we have anything at all is only of indulgence, not of right, nor of promise (Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33; John 16:33; Acts 14:22 b; James 2:5); and, further, whatever we have we hold only on condition of giving it up at once, without complaint or astonishment, if called thereunto (Luke 14:26; Hebrews 10:34; James 1:10; Revelation 3:17; Revelation 12:11). Nevertheless, we are not poor, though having nothing; but rich beyond compare, having the Pearl of great price, and the Treasure (albeit "hid" for the present, Colossians 2:3), and the bright and morning Star (2 Peter 1:19 b), and in him all things indeed (1 Corinthians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 3:22; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Revelation 3:20; cf. Genesis 15:1 b; Psalms 16:5; Psalms 73:26, &c.).
Consider again, with respect to sacrifice—
THAT CERTAIN THINGS MOST HOLY MIGHT BE CONSUMED ONLY WITHIN THE SACRED PRECINCTS BY THE PRIESTS THEMSELVES; OTHERS HOLY, BUT NOT SO HOLY, AT HOME BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. Even so there are things pertaining to the one sacrifice for sin with which none may intermeddle but the priest himself of the sacrifice; others which may be shared in common amongst all members of the family of Christ. Or, in another sense, there are aspects of the atonement which can only be made our own in a religious solitude and retirement, and which are profaned by being brought abroad; others, again, which befit the common and social life of Christian people, always providing that no "uncleanness," i.e; no unrepented sin, hinder them from having part or lot therein.
HOMILIES BY E.S. PROUT