The Priests (Deut. 18:1-5)

5/25/2009 8:44 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  The priests

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Deut. 18:1-5

 

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  "The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the LORD’S offerings by fire and His portion. 2  "They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them. 3  "Now this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. 4  "You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep. 5  "For the LORD your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of the LORD forever.”

            The first two verses explain that the Levitical priests have no portion or inheritance with Israel.  This goes back to when the Lord slain the first born of Egypt on the first Passover, and afterwards the Lord required the first born of all people and animals to be given to the Lord, the animals would be sacrificed and the people would serve the Lord.  Now the Lord chose the tribe of Levi to be given to Him for service instead of taking the first born from every tribe and He chose the descendents of Aaron to become priests before Him to serve at the tabernacle.

            In verses three through five Moses explains what the priests were to receive from the different sacrifices that all of Israel was to bring to the tabernacle and later on to the temple.  The priests were to be supported by the people so that the priests could do their job before the Lord at the tabernacle and later on at the temple.  If the people did not support them then there would be no intercession for them before the Lord and this would cause a big problem for the people.

            In the NT all true believers are priests unto God and can intercede for themselves and for others, however there are Pastors who preach the gospel and are in need of support, for those who preach the gospel are to be supported by the gospel.  “18  For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages.’”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  God does not need our money because He truly owns every thing and as a believer I am simply a steward of what He owns and has entrusted me with.  The problem is that sometimes I think that not only do I own what is entrusted to me but I also think that it is through my power and wisdom that I have gotten what I have and all of this is wrong and needs to be confessed to the Lord as sin.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1. Give myself to the Lord for service and worship.
2. Trust the Lord to guide my path today.
3. Ask the Lord to search my heart to make sure there is no sin in my life that I need to confess.
4. Continue to learn contentment.

 

Memory verses for the week:                                  1 John 2:15-17

 

15.    Do not love the world nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him.

16.    For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

17.    The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

 

5/25/2009 9:09 AM