“This is it that belongs unto the Levites: from twenty five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more. But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shall you do unto the Levites touching their charge” (vs24-26).
It comes a time when we CEASE to serve the Lord in the heat of the day, in the burden of the ministry, in the way that we served before. We must SERVE in Babylon, but there comes a time, appointed by God, when the slavery ceases, and we’re given freedom - “For thus says the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an hoped for end“ (Jer 29:10-11). Not only did He determine our path, but He ORDAINED blessings for us that we don’t deserve, even giving us rest and peace.
I have, again, been TOUCHED by the justification that’s by faith, anointed of God to SEE that my whole relationship and acceptance with God is by FAITH in Jesus’ sacrificial death, that what He did, and FAITH is sufficient for me to be justified, saved, and blessed; I don’t need to “do”, but only believe, and God REVEALED this to me after years of up and down, weak and flustering Christianity, so that the GOSPEL I heard in the start that saved me from Egypt is the gospel that I heard not long ago to break Babylonian captivity and free me from sin (Jer 16:14-15).
God said how long I would serve, and then God gave me rest from my labors of captivity. We shall leave this planet to sin no more, and we shall be delivered from sin MORE POWERFULLY while we live, by the gospel at the appointed time, because God is pleased that we SERVE Him in tears, fighting against sin, under His humbling and chastening hand, and God is PLEASED to give us relief from captivity, strength to build, and the blessed Spirit in a special way by faith only - “Then spoke Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, says the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did WORK in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God” (Haggai 1:13-14). The believer UNDER chastisement is accepted of God, but he doesn’t enjoy the same power and pardon as he experiences when delivered to obedience (Heb 12:11).
Bless God that you have respite from your labors and SERVE Him now, not by carrying burdens, but by HELPING those who must carry them, learning and teaching from God’s throne - “But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shall you do unto the Levites touching their charge” (Numb 8:26). Do not say, “I’m great now” and leave the gospel; you and I were saved by grace only; let us THANK God for grace, point sinners to grace, and use GRACE to do what God says in a much more easy fashion!
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