Num 8:23-26 | KingComments | STEP | There is a starting age and an end age. This must be applied spiritually. The Levites are only allowed to serve from the age of thirty ( ), but from the age of twenty-five they are allowed to cooperate. This refers to a preparatory period, which is necessary to be exercised (cf. ; ). Hastily rushing into a service for the Lord is not good. We have a good example in the life of Paul. Immediately after his conversion “he [began] to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God” ( ). After that he stays for some time in Arabia ( ). Later Barnabas visits him and brings him to Antioch. In that church he does his service as a teacher ( ). There, together with Barnabas, he is set apart by the Holy Spirit for a special work. In the church is fasting and praying, the hands are laid upon them and they may go ( ). There will also come a time when the service in its full weight no longer needs to be done. Servants should not think that they are indispensable. The work is the work of the Lord. He maintains it. But even if active service ends, they are not discarded. There remains a supporting task. It is important to give young people advice in their early service, to provide them with the necessary ‘tools’ to perform their service ( ). They can pass on the torch of faith. In this way, brothers who are bound to their homes after many journeys due to old age can help others with advice. Others who can no longer attend the meetings may also be helpful in other ways. Their prayer and intercession are an invaluable help.

‏ Numbers 8:23-26

Service Time of the Levites

There is a starting age and an end age. This must be applied spiritually. The Levites are only allowed to serve from the age of thirty (Num 4:3 ; 23 ; 30 ; 35 ; 39 ; 43 ; 47), but from the age of twenty-five they are allowed to cooperate. This refers to a preparatory period, which is necessary to be exercised (cf. Heb 5:14; 1Tim 3:13). Hastily rushing into a service for the Lord is not good.

We have a good example in the life of Paul. Immediately after his conversion “he [began] to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20). After that he stays for some time in Arabia (Gal 1:17). Later Barnabas visits him and brings him to Antioch. In that church he does his service as a teacher (Acts 11:25-26). There, together with Barnabas, he is set apart by the Holy Spirit for a special work. In the church is fasting and praying, the hands are laid upon them and they may go (Acts 13:2-3).

There will also come a time when the service in its full weight no longer needs to be done. Servants should not think that they are indispensable. The work is the work of the Lord. He maintains it. But even if active service ends, they are not discarded. There remains a supporting task. It is important to give young people advice in their early service, to provide them with the necessary ‘tools’ to perform their service (2Tim 2:2). They can pass on the torch of faith. In this way, brothers who are bound to their homes after many journeys due to old age can help others with advice. Others who can no longer attend the meetings may also be helpful in other ways. Their prayer and intercession are an invaluable help.