Mon.’s Devo - The Responsibilities of the Priests

Read: Numbers 2:1-3:51; Mark 11:27-12:17; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 10:24-25 When the tribes set up camp, they were to camp under their banners in a certain formation. The tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun were to camp on the east side of the Tabernacle. When it was time to leave, they would lead the way. They also marched under their banners. *** The tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad marched behind them and were to camp on the south side of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle carried by the Levites were to set out from the middle of the camp. Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin came next and were to camp on the west side of the Tabernacle and the divisions of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali brought up the rear and were to camp to the north of the Tabernacle. *** From heaven it looked like a huge cross walking on the earth with the foot of the cross going first. *** The priesthood came from the line of Aaron. He had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar which were all anointed to be priests. Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord’s presence when they offered strange fire before the Lord. After this, God called forward the tribe of Levi and presented them to Aaron to serve as his assistants in the Tabernacle. They were to carry and help maintain all the furnishings of the Tabernacle. Only the priests and Levites were allowed to come near the Tabernacle, anyone else would die. *** Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The descendants of Gershon were given the area west of the Tabernacle for their camp. They were to care for the Tabernacle by carrying and setting up all the outer curtains. The Kohath’s were given the area south of the Tabernacle to camp. Their responsibility was caring for the sanctuary - the Ark, the furniture, the inner curtain and all the equipment used inside the Tabernacle. Eleazar, Aaron’s son was the chief administrator over the Levites and the oversight of the sanctuary. *** The descendants of Merari were to camp north of the Tabernacle and their job was to care for the frames supporting the Tabernacle. *** God told Moses that now the Levites were to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people. God told Moses to take a census of the male sons one month old or older from the tribe of Levi. A census was also taken of the first born sons of the people. There were 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there were Levites so to redeem the extra first born sons they were to collect five pieces of silver for each of them and give it to the priest for their redemption price. *** In Mark, Jesus came back to Jerusalem the next day and came to the Temple area. He was met by the priests and religious leaders who had plotted to kill him. They demanded to know by what authority he was doing all his miracles. *** Jesus was not to be outsmarted. He asked them by what authority John the Baptist operated under. Because they were afraid of the people, they refused to answer him. So he refused to answer them. *** Then Jesus told the parable about the owner of a vineyard who leased his vineyard to tenant farmers. At the time of the harvest, the owner sent his servants to collect his share of the crops. But the farmers beat the servants and sent them back empty-handed. They did that to the next servant and killed the third. The owner decided to send his only beloved son to collect but the evil farmers thought they could kill him and take possession of the vineyard. They murdered his son. *** Jesus asked them what they thought the owner of the vineyard would do. Then he answered his own question. He would come and kill those famers and lease the vineyard to others. Then he quoted Psalm 118:22-23 about the chief cornerstone. *** The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus right them because they knew they were the evil farmers in the story. *** Later, they tried to trick Jesus by asking him whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar or not. Jesus asked them to show him a Roman coin and asked whose picture and title were stamped on it. They replied it was Caesar’s. Jesus said to give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God. They were amazed at his answer. *** God is wisdom and that wisdom is ours if we ask for it. He will give us an answer to everything we need. *** Lord, thank you for all the pictures you give us throughout the Bible of your great plan of redemption and salvation. Thank you for your wisdom to navigate our journey through this life. May we plant seeds for the future.