62 The Tabernacle descendants were called to the most sacred offices, as priests and Levites. In this ministry they took the place of the firstborn in Israel, who belonged to God ( um. 3: 12, 13; 8: 18). If man had written the Genesis record, doubtless he would have omitted the story of the black sin of Levi and Simeon; but God tells the whole truth. He shows "the exceeding sinfulness of sin," and our need of a Saviour; "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). We, too, were once "dead in trespasses and sins ... children of disobedience ... having no hope, and without God in the world" (Eph. 2: 1, 2, 12). "But now in Christ Jesus" we "who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:13 ). We have been called to serve the Lord as "an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph. 2: 22). Such is the wonder of His grace! The Levites were washed in the presence of the whole congregation, a picture of our "washing of regeneration" "once for all." Then they shaved their flesh and washed their clothes, symbolic of their separation from the god- less world, even as believers in Jesus are to "come out from among" unbelievers, and be a separate people (II Cor. 6: 14-18). When Joshua, under the guidance of God, divided the land of promise among the twelve tribes, no inheritance was given to the tribe of Levi; for Jehovah Himself was their portion, and they partook of His offerings (Deut. 18: I, 2). They were given forty-eight cities, scattered throughout the land, six of which were the cities of refuge. Scattered thus in Israel, their duties and privileges were to minister to the spiritual needs of God's people. Jehovah saw to it that they lacked no good thing (Num. 35: 1-8).
63 The Tabernacle The time came when the Jewish tabernacle was done away. David was old, and he appointed Solomon king over Israel. The story is recorded in the twenty-third chapter of I Chronicles: "And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites" (verse 2). All three families of the Levites were there to hear their aged king, the "man after God's own heart," tell them of their new duties. The wilderness wanderings had long been over. Solomon was to build a beautiful temple to re- place the tabernacle. No longer would the Levites need to care for the tabernacle, in which Israel had worshipped for many years. "For David said, The Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: and also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof" (verses 25, 26). The new duties of the Levites are outlined in the closing verses of the chapter. They were to "wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord." It is a picture of that glorious rest which awaits the people of God in the New Jerusalem. When the pilgrimage of the wanderings of this life are past, the servants of God shall serve Him in the glory. The aged John tells us some- thing of the wonders of that coming day: "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Be- hold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev. 21:3, 4).
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