SCRIPTURE: Numbers 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
This reading reminds me of the central importance attached to the Tent (later turned into the Temple under Solomon). Those set apart for the Lord’s work (Levites) were assigned specific tasks in order to keep the honour and purpose of the Tent clear and respected. This was the symbol of God among the people. It was the place where God connected with them, and they connected with God. It was a ‘house of prayer’!
Jesus shows Himself to be a true servant of God and of God’s house. On at least two occasions He challenged the disrespect and commercialization of the Temple. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” [Mark 11:15-17] Jesus takes seriously what the priests and temple servants did not. He was consumed with zeal for the house of God [John 2:17]!
Today the ‘house of the Lord’ is not a temple, nor a church or building at all. It is the human heart. Like Jesus, we need to be consumed with a holy love and respect for people, God’s children. We need to take a stand against any and all abuse against all people (including those of other nations, faiths). We are commissioned to handle them with care, to do our utmost to convey them with holy respect to the Lord. Lack of concern for the salvation of others, lack of respect for the well-being of others, is the same disrespect that the Levites were warned against with the symbolic Tent. God is in this, God is in them, HANDLE WITH CARE AND RESPECT!
How do I treat my own body? How do I treat others? Do I use them for my own pleasure or advantage? Do I treat them with my words or actions carelessly, callously? Do I see each and every person I come in contact with as the temple of the Lord, in need of His presence on their throne? Am I zealous (consumed with zeal) for the Lord’s house in me, and in others? Am I about my Father’s business?
PRAYER:
Lord, forgive me for slacking in my duties. Forgive me for not loving and respecting Your temple in me, and in others. Help me to take my job very seriously!
Jesus requires the best of us. The Levites who served Him in the Tent were men in their prime. As we grow older our relationship to the Lord also grows stronger. While in our prime, we may think that we are able to live as we please because we are invincible. God wants our very best all the time in His service. The various clans of the Levites did various tasks in the tent – some greater and some lesser. But all was for His service.
So it must be this day – those who are His serve Him with the gifts and talents they have to the best of their abilities, no matter what kind of ‘vessel’ we are. All is for Jesus. Each day I must do my daily work as one serving the Lord and not man, nor myself. It is the Lord God I am serving each day and that must be my focus always. I am His. This is my Father’s world. This is my Father’s house. Handle with care.
Come and go with me
To my fathers house
Come and go with me
To my fathers house
Chorus
Its a big big house
With lots and lots a room
A big big table
With lots and lots of food
A big big yard
Where we can play football
A big big house
Its my fathers house