Jos 21:13 | KingComments | STEP | The first Levites to be assigned their share are the Kohathites. Among them, Aaron’s sons, the priests, occupy a special place. They get thirteen cities. Of these, nine are in Judah, including Simeon, including the city of refuge of Hebron, and four are in Benjamin. This division means that they will live in the right place, near Jerusalem, near the temple. Jerusalem is not yet known as such, but God places them there in view of the time He will dwell there. The task of the Levites is to teach and to offer incense ( ). Their task is a task toward the people and a task toward God. In their duty toward the people, they must teach the people the whole truth of God. Their duty toward God is to bring Him offerings. In our life as Christians, the two aspects of the Levites are connected. We have a task toward God and a task toward the people around us. Toward God we are “a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” ( ). Toward the people we are “a royal priesthood”, to proclaim the excellencies of God ( ). As said, dividing the cities among the Levites is in a way a climax. We have seen everything God has prepared for His people so far. He gave the people the strength to conquer the land and also gave them the wisdom to divide the land. But this is not all. The most important thing is not what we have received, but what God receives. We see this in the Levites. Levites are given to the priests to help them to bring offerings. Through the teaching they give, the people learn how they can bring to God something that is pleasing to Him. They always show the people to Whom they owe the blessings. That also applies to us. Every service among the believers must be aimed at creating true worship. The service of worship rises above gratitude for what we have received. For example, the Levite of the New Testament is the servant who explains God’s Word. In his teaching he presents to the people the blessing that the church in Christ has received. That will work in the hearts of the believers worship of God. For all that we have received is to the praise of His glory ( ). When we have seen some of the blessings, we honor, praise, worship. For this we “have our access in one Spirit to the Father” ( ). We see it in Paul himself, how he bows his knees before the Father of the Lord Jesus ( ). It is the wonderful task of the Levites among all the people to get the people to worship the Father ( ). How much do we personally owe to brothers who have shown the blessings to us, to turn our hearts from the blessings to Him from Whom these blessings come.

‏ Joshua 21:13

Cities for the Priests

The first Levites to be assigned their share are the Kohathites. Among them, Aaron’s sons, the priests, occupy a special place. They get thirteen cities. Of these, nine are in Judah, including Simeon, including the city of refuge of Hebron, and four are in Benjamin. This division means that they will live in the right place, near Jerusalem, near the temple. Jerusalem is not yet known as such, but God places them there in view of the time He will dwell there.

The task of the Levites is to teach and to offer incense (Deu 33:10). Their task is a task toward the people and a task toward God. In their duty toward the people, they must teach the people the whole truth of God. Their duty toward God is to bring Him offerings. In our life as Christians, the two aspects of the Levites are connected. We have a task toward God and a task toward the people around us. Toward God we are “a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Pet 2:5b). Toward the people we are “a royal priesthood”, to proclaim the excellencies of God (1Pet 2:9).

As said, dividing the cities among the Levites is in a way a climax. We have seen everything God has prepared for His people so far. He gave the people the strength to conquer the land and also gave them the wisdom to divide the land. But this is not all. The most important thing is not what we have received, but what God receives. We see this in the Levites.

Levites are given to the priests to help them to bring offerings. Through the teaching they give, the people learn how they can bring to God something that is pleasing to Him. They always show the people to Whom they owe the blessings. That also applies to us. Every service among the believers must be aimed at creating true worship.

The service of worship rises above gratitude for what we have received. For example, the Levite of the New Testament is the servant who explains God’s Word. In his teaching he presents to the people the blessing that the church in Christ has received. That will work in the hearts of the believers worship of God. For all that we have received is to the praise of His glory (Eph 1:6 ; 12 ; 14). When we have seen some of the blessings, we honor, praise, worship. For this we “have our access in one Spirit to the Father” (Eph 2:18). We see it in Paul himself, how he bows his knees before the Father of the Lord Jesus (Eph 3:14).

It is the wonderful task of the Levites among all the people to get the people to worship the Father (Jn 4:23-24). How much do we personally owe to brothers who have shown the blessings to us, to turn our hearts from the blessings to Him from Whom these blessings come.