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Thursday, January 30, 2014

We Are Set Apart For CHRIST's Service



Numbers 8:1-26 NIV






Setting Up the Lamps




1The Lord Said to Moses, 2“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.’ ”




3Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, Just As The Lord Commanded Moses. 4This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold—from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern The Lord Had Shown Moses.






The Setting Apart of the Levites






5The Lord Said to Moses:  


6“Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean. 7To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing on them; then have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. And so they will purify themselves. 8Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.a9Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting and assemble the whole Israelite community. 10You are to bring the Levites Before The Lord, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them. 11Aaron is to present the Levites BeforeThe Lord as a wave offering from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the Work of The Lord.




12“Then the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, using one for a sin offering to The Lord and the other for a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites. 13Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering to The Lord. 14In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, 


and the Levites will be MINE.


15“After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering, they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting. 16They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to ME. I Have Taken them as My Own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring from every Israelite woman. 17Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal, is MINE. When I Struck Down all the firstborn in Egypt, I Set them Apart For Myself. 18And I Have Taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel. 19From among all the Israelites, I Have Given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the Sanctuary.”




20Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites Just As The Lord Commanded Moses. 21The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering Before The Lord and made atonement for them to purify them. 22After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites Just As The Lord Commanded Moses.




23The Lord Said to Moses, 24“This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, 25but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. 26They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”








The Setting Apart of the Levites




Here we have directions for the solemn ordination of the Levites. All Israel must know that they did not take this honor to themselves, but were called of GOD to it; nor was it enough that they were distinguished from others. All who are employed for GOD must be dedicated to Him.


Christians must be baptized, ministers must be ordained; we must first give ourselves to The LORD, and then our services. The Levites must be cleansed. They must be clean that bear the vessels of The LORD. Moses must sprinkle the water of purifying upon them. This signifies the application of the Blood of CHRIST to our souls by faith, that we may be fit to serve The Living GOD.


GOD Declares His Acceptance of them. All who expect to share in the privileges of the Tabernacle, must resolve to do the service of the Tabernacle. As, on the one hand, none of GOD's creatures are His necessary servants and HE Does Not Need the service of any of them; so none are merely honorary servants to do nothing. All whom GOD Owns, HE Employs; angels themselves have their own services to The Living GOD.





Offerings At The Dedication Of The Tabernacle




Numbers 7:1-89 NIV






Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle




1When Moses finished setting up the Tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils. 2Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted, made offerings. 3They brought as their gifts Before The Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the Tabernacle.




4The Lord Said to Moses, 5“Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man’s work requires.”




6So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their work required, 8and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 


 9 But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.




10When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar. 11For The Lord had said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.”


12The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.


13His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekelsa and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels,b both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 14one gold dish weighing ten shekels,c filled with incense;15one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 16one male goat for a sin offeringd ; 17and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.


18On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.


19The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 20one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 21one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 22one male goat for a sin offering; 23and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.


24On the third day, Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.


25His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 26one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;27one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 28one male goat for a sin offering; 29and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.


30On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.


31His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 32one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;33one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 34one male goat for a sin offering; 35and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.


36On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.


37His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 38one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;39one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 40one male goat for a sin offering; 41and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.


42On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.


43His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 44one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;45one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 46one male goat for a sin offering; 47and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.


48On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.


49His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 50one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;51one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 52one male goat for a sin offering; 53and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.


54On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.


55His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 56one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;57one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 58one male goat for a sin offering; 59and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.


60On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.


61His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 62one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;63one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 64one male goat for a sin offering; 65and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.


66On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.


67His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 68one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;69one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 70one male goat for a sin offering; 71and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.


72On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Okran, the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.


73His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 74one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;75one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 76one male goat for a sin offering; 77and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Okran.


78On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.


79His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 80one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;81one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 82one male goat for a sin offering; 83and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.


84These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. 85Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels,e according to the sanctuary shekel. 86The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels.f 87The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. 88The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.


89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with The Lord, he heard The Voice Speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Atonement Cover on the Ark of the Covenant Law. In this way The Lord Spoke to him.









The Nazirite Vow And Blessing In The Name Of Jehovah



Numbers 6:1-27 NIV






The Nazirite





1The Lord Said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to The Lord as a Nazirite, 3they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.





5“ ‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to The Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.






6“ ‘Throughout the period of their dedication to The Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body.7Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to GOD is on their head. 8Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to The Lord.




9“ ‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication, they must shave their head on the seventh day—the day of their cleansing. 10Then on the eighth day they must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.11The priest is to offer one as a sin offeringa and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for the Nazirite because they sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day they are to consecrate their head again. 12They must rededicate themselves to The Lord for the same period of dedication and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because they became defiled during their period of dedication.


13“ ‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over. They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting. 14There they are to present their offerings to The Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, 





15together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made with the finest flour and without yeast—thick loaves with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves brushed with olive oil.


16“ ‘The priest is to present all these Before The Lord and make the sin offering and the burnt offering.17He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to The Lord, together with its grain offering and drink offering.


18“ ‘Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.





19“ ‘After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast. 20The priest shall then wave these Before The Lord as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented.


 After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.


21“ ‘This is the law of the Nazirite who vows offerings to The Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’ ”




The Priestly Blessing



22The Lord Said to Moses, 23“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. 

Say to them:


24“ ‘ “The Lord Bless you
And Keep you;
25The Lord Make His Face Shine on you
and Be Gracious to you;
26The Lord Turn His Face toward you
And Give you peace.” ’








27“So they will put My Name on the Israelites, and I WILL Bless them.”






The Nazirite Vow



The word Nazarite signifies separation. Some were appointed of GOD, before their birth, to be Nazarites all their days, as Samson and John the Baptist. But, in general, it was a vow of separation from the world and devotedness to the services of religion, for a limited time, and under certain rules, which any person might make if they pleased. A Nazarite is spoken of as well known; but his obligation is brought to a greater certainty than before. That the fancies of superstitious men might not multiply the restraints endlessly, GOD Gives them rules. They must not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat grapes. Those who separate themselves to GOD, must not gratify the desires of the body, but keep it under.


Let all Christians be very moderate in the use of wine and strong drink; for if the love of these once gets the mastery of a man, he becomes an easy prey to Satan. The Nazarites were to eat nothing that came of the vine; this may teach the utmost care to avoid sin, and all that borders upon it, and leads to it, or may be a temptation to us.


They must not cut their hair. They must neither poll their heads, nor shave their beards; this was the mark of Samson being a Nazarite. This signified neglect of the body, and of the ease and ornament of it. Those who separate themselves to GOD, must keep their consciences pure from dead works, and not touch unclean things. All the days of their separation they must be holy to The Lord. This was the meaning of those outward observances, and without this they were of no account. No penalty or sacrifice was appointed for those who willfully broke their vow of being Nazarites; they must answer another day for such profane trifling with Jehovah their GOD; but those were to be relieved who did not sin willfully.


Such a difference there is between rules of man's invention and those directed in Scripture, Let us not forget that The LORD JESUS Is not only our Surety, but also our Example. For His Sake we must renounce worldly pleasures, abstain from fleshy lusts, be separate from sinners, make open profession of our faith, and be spiritually-minded, and devoted to GOD's service, and desirous to be an example all around us.


The priests were solemnly to bless the people in the Name of JEHOVAH. To be under the almighty protection of GOD our SAVIOR; to enjoy His Favor as the smile of A Loving FATHER, or as the cheering beams of the sun; while HE Mercifully Forgives our sins, supplies our wants, consoles the heart, and prepares us by His Grace for eternal Glory; these things form the substance of this blessing, and the sum total of all blessings. In so rich a list of mercies worldly joys are not worthy to be mentioned.


 Here is a form of prayer.


“JEHOVAH Bless you
And Keep you;
JEHOVAH m\Make His Face Shine on you
And Be Gracious to you;
JEHOVAH Turn His Face toward you
And Give you peace.”



Amen.