God has always had His special servants. In the case of entering the land of Palestine, the Levites were given forty-eight cities (Jos. 21:3,41). God put these Levites out among the people so that they could serve the nation as a whole. They assisted some of the time at the tabernacle, but in the main, they served as assistants or servants of the entire nation. We are not surprised to see God manifesting His great concern for His entire nation through the placement of the Levites among them. He wanted every Israelite to be fully informed of His ways and commandments.
As we look at the Levites, we get a better understanding of how God defines a servant and how He works with them.
Sanctified: They were set apart for God. The Priests and Levites did not receive a land inheritance per se; they received forty-eight cities. They were supported by all the tribes so that they could give fulltime to serving the people. God wanted them to act as ministers of His will to every part of the nation. He asked the Levites to represent Him in a fulltime way. For this reason, He made it possible for the Levites to serve Him without any monetary concerns (Jos. 21:41, 42)
Specified: They served continually for God’s glory. They were God’s perpetual servants. At special times, they would serve at the tabernacle, which was indeed the highest privilege, but the rest of the time they were living with the people, guiding and helping in various ways as ministrants to the people. They were supported by the tribes so that they could be free to serve at all times. They were not to neglect their families; and neither were they to neglect the communities.
Spirituality: They lived for spiritual designs and growth. God wanted them to give themselves totally for His work. Consequently, they were only given pastureland around their cities. This meant that the physical world around them was not their concern. They received no territory, as did the tribes. They raised their cattle for the sacrificial needs of the nation. Their main responsibility was to watch over the spiritual lives of the people.
Secondary: Servants usually do not lead; they assist those who are leading. In most cases the priest led and the Levites assisted them. They were not in a second-class position, but they were in a servant role, which nearly always took a back seat to others who were leading.
The Christian today is first and foremost a servant. Paul made this a major application of his letter to the Romans: “I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God” (Rom. 12:1). God’s great people are always servants; they have Levitical characteristics. They are set apart, they glorify God, they live for spiritual growth, and they are assistants.
-Eddie Cloer
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