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Commentary on "Worship and Dedication"
Day 5: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Overview
Today's lesson focuses on the dedication and ministry of the adult males of the tribe of Levi. Remember, all first-born males belong to God. Instead of claiming every first-born Hebrew male, the men of the tribe of Levi were to take their place. Numbers Chapter Eight covers this first dedication and setting apart of the eligible Levite men, men between the ages of 25 and fifty.
Problems
The first issue is the assumption of the lesson author that "it is obvious that some parts of their dedication were done by symbolic representation" because there were more than twenty thousand Levite men involved.
In Numbers 3:39 it states that there were 22,000 eligible Levite men who would soon participate in the tabernacle service. It then mentions in verse 43 that there were 22,273 first-born Hebrew males. And then, it specifies a redemption price for the 273 men who didn't have a Levite male to be their propitiation. Clearly, God is being very exact by providing for the extra 273 men. Now, coming back to Chapter Eight, we see that the whole Hebrew assembly was commanded to participate in this dedication. All 22,273 first-born Hebrew males were there. All twenty-two thousand Levites had a 'laying on of hands' by the whole Hebrew assembly. There was no "symbolic representation" because Moses spoke in the name of God and the people obeyed.
One other issue is one of neglect. At this point in the lesson, concerning the dedication of the Levites, we should take note of what God means when he states that all first-born belong to him. We should consider what the symbolic meaning is for the Levites to serve as a propitiation, a substitute, for the first-born Hebrew men.
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Romans 3:23-25 ESV)
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." (Heb. 1:6 ESV)
By claiming all first born as belonging to him, God is pointing to Jesus Christ who is the true Firstborn and Creator of all creation. The Levites, by becoming the Hebrew propitiation in this dedication ceremony, prophetically point to Jesus Christ, the Firstborn of God and the propitiation for the sins of all the world.
Summary
- By getting sidetracked in making speculations on how many of the Levites participated in this dedication, the most significant lesson applicable to a Christian was overlooked. Jesus Christ is the First Born and Creator of all Creation. The role of the Levites pointed to Jesus Christ being our Savior and the propitiation for the sins of the world. Their tabernacle service pictures the ministry of Jesus Christ.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised September 29, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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