Thurs.’s Devo - The Levites

Read: 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81; Acts 26:1-32; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 18:20-21 The tribes that wanted land east of the Jordan were Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh. They were great warriors that had defeated Og, King of Bashan and Sidon, King of the Ammorites. But they were unfaithful to God and worshiped the gods of the nations that they had destroyed. So God caused King Pul of Assyria (Tiglath-pileser) to invade their land and take their people captives. They were exiled to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the Gaza River. The tribe of Levi were the priests and were divided into three main families: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The Kohath tribe included Moses and Aaron and Miriam and were the ones who had access to the presence of the Lord. The high priests came from their family. Jehozadak was the last high priest before they went into exile under the conquest of Nebuchadnezzar. Gershon’s line included the famous judge and prophet Samuel. The musicians also came from Kohath’s line. Heman was a musician who was highlighted. His name means faithful. He was the grandson of Samuel and is believed to have written the 88th Psalm. He was one of the seers named and was over many others that he trained. Aaron and his descendants were the only priests that could present offerings on the brazen altar and the altar of incense. The tribe of Levi were not given land like the other tribes but they were given cities within every tribe so that every tribe would have priests who could teach them and remind them about the law and what God says about it. Some of these Levitical cities were assigned as cities of refuge. These were cities that would try murder cases and judge the people. In Acts, Paul gave his defense to King Agrippa. He began by giving his religious background and his training. He had served as a Pharisee and was high in the Jewish religious order. He had condemned Christians, ruled against them and had many killed for what they believed. Then the Lord appeared to him in a light and spoke to him out of the light. The voice was the voice of Jesus and it told him that he would be his witness to the Jew and the Gentiles. He was sent to bring light to the Gentiles which was what he was doing when he got arrested. After Paul gave his defense, the king, the governor and all the leaders trying the case met to discuss his case. They found no cause of death or imprisonment and if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar, he would have been released. Lord, your patience with man is beyond my comprehension. Thank you for your long suffering and love for mankind. Thank you for grace and for Jesus who died that we might have eternal life and forgiveness of our sins.