Numbers 4, "(1) The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron,
saying, (2) "Take a census of the sons of Kohath
from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers' houses, (3)
from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can come on duty,
to do the work in the tent of meeting.
(4) This is the service of the
sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things…(17) The LORD spoke
to Moses and Aaron, saying, (18) "Let not the tribe of the clans of the
Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites,
(19) but deal thus with them,
that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things:
Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his task and to his
burden, (20) but they shall not go in to look on the holy
things even for a moment, lest they die."
The Kohathites were given the very special privilege of carrying the
most holy things, the Ark of the Covenant, the altar and various other items.
To many it may not seem that this should be seen as a position of great
privilege, after all these items would have been quite heavy, and all the more
so once they were covered. How can it be a privilege to carry a cumbersome and
heavy object, hundreds and hundreds of miles?
The privilege lies in the fact that the Kohathites came as close as a
common Israelite could come to the most Holy place and to the place that
symbolised God’s presence. They came as close to the Ark of the Covenant and
the altar as one could come without being struck dead. They had the privilege
of being responsible for the safe transport of their nation’s most valuable and
precious articles. God was bestowing upon them a special privilege, setting
them specifically aside for this great task.
However, there are two important points that we must note. Firstly, though
the Kohathites came as close as a common Israelite could come, they never had
complete access. They carried the Ark of the Covenant, but they never saw the
Ark, as it would have already been covered. They could carry the altar, but they
were not permitted to approach the altar and serve God before it by laying
their sacrifices upon it. This duty was reserved for those who were serving as
priests. They had great privilege, but did not enjoy a special access to God.
Secondly, the holiness of God, their sinfulness and the need for absolute
obedience would have been impressed upon them. They were not to look upon the
Ark, nor touch it. Aaron is given very specific instructions by God, so as to
ensure that God’s judgement would not come against the Kohathites. Aaron’s
obedience to these instructions was very much a matter of life or death for the
Kohathites. In fact later on in Israel’s history they would have been reminded
of this at the cost of Uzzah’s life in 2 Samuel 6. The Kohathites had a special
privilege, they came close to the sacred objects, but there was still a
distance between them and God. They had a special privilege, but one that would
always remind them of the absolute holiness of God, their sinfulness and the
reality of God’s judgement coming against any who disobeyed.
For us who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, our privilege is
greater than that of the Kohathites. We are invited into God’s presence, into
the most Holy place, into the throne room of heaven. There is no distance
between God and us, there is no need for veils, curtains or coverings. Nor do
we have the fear of God’s judgement hanging over us, for we are clothed in
Christ’s righteousness.
We need to be careful not to envy all the various signs, symbols that
God gave to the Israelites. Yes they may have been spectacular to behold, and a
helpful reminder, but we have something much better, better by far. In Christ
we have the reality of all these signs and symbols, we have something greater
than a tabernacle, temple, altar or ark.
We need to be mindful of the special and unique position we have been
given because of Christ, for we are now children of God, who know both now and
for all eternity the love, favour and blessing of God. Our sin has been
removed, the distance has been bridged. Therefore you and I can run each and
every day into the presence of God and find favour! We can pray to our Father
in heaven, not having to first offer up a sacrifice and ask the priest to pray
on our behalf. We don’t have to look far to see and know the presence of God,
we don’t have to walk to the tabernacle or temple to meet with and worship God.
We have the presence of God within us, and thus we permanently meet with God,
we can worship Him anywhere and at any time. We can cry out to Him in any place
and know that He will hear. Our privilege is so much greater and higher. Let us
not envy those in the Old Testament with all the wonders that God did, for
Christ is better by far, and all the saints in the Old Testament longed for the
day of Christ. It was a privilege many of them died waiting for, yet we have
seen and know the truth and blessing of what they longed for. What the Kohathites
and every other Israelite longed for, free, unrestricted, personal access to
God, with the fear of sin and judgement removed, we have and know this every
day. We are privileged beyond what we can fathom!
Gracious Father, thank You that through
the ages You have revealed Yourself in so many ways, ways that are wonderful,
mighty and awesome. Yet as great as these revelations were, they all pointed to
the greatest coming revelation, that of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Help us to know, to understand how privileged we are to have seen and known
this revelation, and the salvation that comes through Christ. Forgive us for
often being envious of the signs and symbols of the Old Testament, or wishing
to have been there to see the miraculous and powerful works You performed. May
we realise that Christ is better by far, to have and know Him is to gain
everything and to be the most favoured, blessed and privileged of all people.
Amen.
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