This Week We Have a Very Great Lesson in the Justice and Love of God

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Reading #326 The Levite inheritance This week we have a very great lesson in the justice and love of God.

*************** Deuteronomy 18: 1 The priests the Levites, and all [the rest of] the tribe of Levi [as laymen workers, Numbers 3:9], shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they [all] shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and His inheritance. 2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brothers [and sisters]: the LORD is their inheritance, as He has said to them.

3 And this shall be the priest's [and the Levites’] due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give to the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw [this was apart from the tithe, Numbers 18:24]. 4 The firstfruit also of your corn, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, shall you give him. 5 For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever. ***************

Why were the men of Levi chosen above the firstborn, and above all the other tribes of Israel, as workmen in the tabernacle? God has no favourites, so they must have shown an attribute which set them aside as special. The short answer is that the majority of them remained faithful during the apostasy of the worship of the golden calf, the god of force. See Exodus 32. (However, not all of them were immune, for Aaron was a Levite and he led Israel in their idolatrous religious rituals.)

But then, at the command of Moses, the Levites committed the horrible crime of killing three thousand of their brothers, beside countless women and children! Exodus 32:26-29. Some have seen in this a bloody God and turned away from Him in disgust, and I don’t blame them. But if we remember the code that unwraps the Old Testament we will have no problem. What is that code? “The LORD God of the Old Testament is the Person whom we know as Jesus the Christ of the New Testament, the Son of God, and He does not punish, hurt or destroy, any one at any time for any reason.” See John 8:58, Isaiah 11:9 and Exodus 20:13. Knowing this code forces us to look for another explanation, for He would not have blessed or “consecrated” them for that slaughter. (Exodus 32:29.)

So what really happened?

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Let me try and show you by using Jacob’s experience while he was returning to the Promised Land.

When he heard that his brother was approaching rapidly with a strong band of soldiers, apparently bent on revenge, Jacob in his distress was not overwhelmed but he was very worried. (This experience came to be known as “Jacob’s Trouble”, for it has a meaning for all of us, Jeremiah 30:7.) Soon after his exile twenty-one years before, he had repented and been forgiven for the wrong he had done to his brother, and he had endeavoured to atone for it to Esau as he was returning. (See Genesis 32:13-18.) Therefore, when threatened with death through the wrath of Esau, he sought help from God with a clear conscience. However he was more concerned with how people would see his God than any effect his sin might have on himself, for he had God’s reputation uppermost in his mind.

“Yea, he had power over the Angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication.” Hosea 12:4. “And He blessed him there.” Genesis 32:29. After a night of wrestling with the Son of God, in the power of God’s might he stood up, no longer the supplanter [the con man], but a prince with God, known now as “Israel” the overcomer. Verse 28. He had gained not merely deliverance from his outraged brother, but deliverance from himself. The power of evil in his own nature was fully broken; his character was transformed. (See Genesis 32 for the full story.)

Later, Israel/Jacob, reviewing his life history, gave public recognition to the sustaining power of God – when he was blessing Joseph he asked the blessing from – “the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil [selfishness].” Genesis 48:15-16.

The same experience is repeated in the history of all the children of God – sin working retribution, and repentance bearing the fruit of righteousness to life. Repentance for past sins just grows deeper as we progress in Christianity till we are redeemed or die. When the evil man Saul met the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus, he accepted salvation and became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles. “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle [a sent one], (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” 1 Timothy 2:5-7.

But he never forgot his earlier experiences. 1 Timothy 1:15-16.

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God does not annul or set aside His laws. Nor does He work contrary to them. The result of sin He does not undo. But He transforms the sinner to be able to handle it. Through His grace the curse becomes a blessing, then He sends the transformed one out as His ambassador, for he who has been rescued from a long way from God knows best how to tell others of that Rescuer.

Now back to our subject. Of the sons of Jacob, Levi was one of the most cruel and vindictive, one of the two most guilty in the treacherous murder of the Shechemites, under the guise of religion. (See Genesis 34.) Levi's characteristics, reflected in his descendants, incurred for them the decree from the Son of God, “I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” Genesis 49:7. (No one would trust them after that crime.) But repentance wrought reformation; and by their faithfulness to God amidst the apostasy of the other tribes, the curse was transformed into a token of highest honour.

What did they repent of? Not the standing free from entanglement with the god of force, but from doing his work afterwards! Once again Moses had shown his misunderstanding of the character of the Son of God and issued a death decree, and they had fallen in with his wishes. Then, under the conviction of a “Jacob’s Trouble” they repented. Thus it is written:

“The LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to Him [to behave as He does], and to bless [not kill] in His name.” Deuteronomy 10:8. The Son of God says of that time, “My covenant was with him of life and peace [not death and war]; and I gave them [life and peace] to him for the fear wherewith he feared Me, and was afraid before My name [his repentance]. . . . He walked with Me in peace [love] and equity [fairness], and did turn many away from iniquity [by his example].” Malachi 2:5-6.

So, they, as the appointed workers of the sanctuary, when not employed in its upkeep, dwelt together in cities set apart for their use (like university towns), and received their support from the tithes and the gifts and offerings devoted to God's service. They were the authorised teachers of the people because they had experienced so much of what God had to offer. Occasionally some of them lived among the people as local teachers and ran schools about the ways of God. They were guests at all the festivities, and everywhere honoured as servants and representatives of God. To the whole nation was given the command: “Take heed to yourself that you forsake not the Levite as long as you live upon the earth.” Deuteronomy 12:19.

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*************** Deuteronomy 18: 6 And if a Levite come from any of your gates [cities] out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind to the place which the LORD shall choose; 7 then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brothers the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD.

8 They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which comes of the sale of his patrimony [Leviticus 25:33]. ***************

Any one of them had the right to sell his house (but not the land it sat on) and go to the sanctuary to work for God. It was purely a voluntary act and not decided by a committee, for he would have been called of God. And while there he could partake of the common fund, without first spending all his money.

Now Moses warns of false teachers: *************** Deuteronomy 18: 9 When you are come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire [as a test of purity], or that uses divination [seeking information], or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 or a charmer [hypnotist], or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer [an unnaturally- speaking medium]. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination to the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD your God does drive them out from before you.

13 You shall be perfect with the LORD your God [in this matter].

14 For these nations, which you shall possess, hearkened to observers of times [who were worshippers of the sun or moon, often through astrology], and to diviners: but as for you, the LORD your God has not suffered you so to do. ***************

It was not for pardon for sin and reconciliation with God that the Pagans went to these people, but for deliverance from their enemies, a totally selfish reason, or for harmony with their god. What path can be so dark for human feet to tread as that chosen by one who has persisted in having his or her own way, resisting the holy influences of the Spirit of God! What bondage so terrible as that of him

4 #326 8-Jun-18 7:45 a6/p6 who is given over to the control of the worst of tyrants – himself! Trust in God and obedience to His will are the only conditions upon which any can overcome. When we comply with these conditions our lives are secure; the Son of God is our guide, the Omnipotent our shield. When we do not? “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “to the wicked.” Isaiah 48:22.

God normally bears long with us, and although our rebellion and obstinacy may have well nigh silenced the divine voice in our lives, there is still opportunity for repentance till we die. But when in our peril we turn from God to obtain light from a confederate of Satan, we cut the last tie that binds us to our Maker; we place ourselves fully under the control of that demoniac power which for years had been exercised upon us, and which now brings us to the verge of destruction. The practitioners of these abominations have entered into a covenant with Satan to yield themselves to his control, to fulfil his purposes (of course, many of them think that he is Christ!) And in return, the prince of evil works wonders for them and reveals secret things to them, and through these they will separate us forever from God.

Yet in the days of the Hebrews there was a class of people who claimed, as do the spiritualists of today, to hold communication with the dead. But the “familiar spirits,” as these visitants from other worlds were called, are declared by the Bible to be “the spirits of devils.” (Compare Numbers 25:1-3; Psalm 106:28; 1 Corinthians 10:20; Revelation 16:14.) The work of dealing with familiar spirits was pronounced an abomination to the LORD. Leviticus 19:31; 20:27.

Today most people hold the practise of witchcraft in contempt. The claim that men and women can hold communion with evil spirits is regarded as a fable of the Dark Ages. But spiritualism, which numbers its converts by hundreds of thousands, yea, by millions, which has made its way into scientific circles, which has invaded professed Christian churches, and has found favour in legislative bodies, and is even in the courts of kings and politicians – this mammoth deception is but a revival, in a new disguise, of the witchcraft condemned and prohibited of old.

Satan studies every indication of the frailty of human nature, he marks the sins which each individual is inclined to commit, and then he takes care that opportunities shall not be wanting to gratify the tendency to evil. First, he tempts men and women to excess in that which is in itself lawful, causing them, through intemperance, to weaken physical, mental, and moral power. He has destroyed and is destroying thousands through the indulgence of the passions, thus brutalising the entire nature of man. And to complete his work, he declares through the spirits that “true knowledge places man above all law;” that 5 #326 8-Jun-18 7:45 a6/p6

“whatever is, is right;” that “God does not condemn;” and that “all sins which are committed are innocent [meaning instant forgiveness];” and today’s saying, “If it feels good, it must be good.” When the people are thus led to believe that desire is the highest law, that liberty is license, and that man is accountable only to himself, who can wonder that corruption and depravity teem on every hand?

Multitudes eagerly accept teachings that leave them at liberty to obey the promptings of the carnal heart. The reins of self-control are laid upon the neck of lust, the powers of mind and soul are made subject to the animal propensities, and Satan exultingly sweeps into his net thousands who profess to be followers of Christ, for many supposed teachers of Christ claim that the dead are not really dead but are still existing in some form or another.

But none need be deceived by the lying claims of spiritualism. God has given the world sufficient light to enable all of us to discover the snare. As already shown, the theory which forms the very foundation of spiritualism is at war with the plainest statements of Scripture. The Bible declares that the dead know not anything, that their thoughts have perished; they have no part in anything that is done under the sun; they know nothing of the joys or sorrows of those who were dearest to them on earth. Ecclesiastes 9:5-6. Furthermore, God has expressly forbidden all pretended communication with departed spirits for that is communicating directly with rebellious angels.

Now Moses turns to a nicer subject – the coming of Christ, and in doing so he explains why prophets were needed. *************** Deuteronomy 18: 15 The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet from the midst of you, of your brothers, like to me; to Him you shall hearken; 16 according to all that you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb [Mt. Sinai] in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.”

17 And the LORD said to me, “They have well spoken that which they have spoken [unlike the patriarchs, they can’t handle direct contact with Me]. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, like to you, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak to them all that I shall command Him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken to My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.” ***************

Between the time of Moses and His first advent, the Son of God sent many male and female prophets as His representatives, humans speaking to humans. Then

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He came Himself in human nature. See Matthew 21:33-39. But this gave Satan a grand opportunity too. He sent many false prophets to confuse everyone, so these words were added:

*************** Deuteronomy 18: 20 “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die [He does not specify how]. 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of him.” ***************

So performance of a sign or prophecy is a good indicator, but it should not be taken as the only one, for a false prophecy could come true. Deuteronomy 10:1- 3. Here’s another test. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist [in place of, not against], whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world [pretending to be Christian].” 1 John 4:1-3.

This test will disclose whether the speaker believes that Jesus was a real man on earth, with no advantages over any other Christian. If he (or she) says, “Yes, but . . .” then beware! Either He lived here as Christians do, relying on His Father’s power to overcome temptation, giving us an example of Christianity (John 5:30), or He used His own God-strength and gave us an example Christians cannot match. He did not give up His divinity, but He did put it to one side. Although both God and man He used only those powers available to Christians.

What can you see in the Bible?

Some of those who agree loosely with the idea that He came as a man say that He was like Adam BEFORE the Fall. But Adam before his rebellion did not have the nature of Abraham as Christians do now, so in that condition He would not be our example. The Spirit says, “For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the [nature of the] seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved [it was necessary for] Him to be made like to his brothers [and sisters], that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining 7 #326 8-Jun-18 7:45 a6/p6 to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to succour [deliver] them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:16-18.

“Forasmuch then as the children [of God] are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same [flesh and blood]; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Verse 14. This fact is repeated four times for emphasis! “He . . . took part of the same [flesh and blood]”; He ALSO . . . took part”; He . . . HIMSELF . . . took part”; He . . . LIKEWISE . . . took part”.

He came down to the level of a Christian man, for He lifts repentant sinners up to that level, and then He is not ashamed to call us brethren, for then we all have one Father. So it is written: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one [origin]: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brothers [and sisters], saying, ‘I will declare Your name to My brothers [and sisters], in the midst of the church will I sing praise to You’.” Hebrews 2:9-12.

It is written, “For even hereunto [to this condition] were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judges righteously. Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:21-25.

Bye for now, Ron

Jesus said, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37. Christ affirmed that His word was in itself a key which would unlock the mystery to those who were prepared to receive it. It has a self-commending power, and this is the secret of the spread of His kingdom of truth.

Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library. No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.