” ‘Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. And after that the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering. For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.’ ” (v14-16,19)
This chapter mainly describes the consecration of the Levites for God’s service. Any Levite between 25 and 50 was to serve as elders to the people, ministering to them at the tent of meeting and praying for the people before God (intercessory prayer). Once they were over 50, they were to continue praying for the people, but were no longer required to serve at the Tabernacle.
I find this interesting – it’s kind of like the phrase I’ve heard in modern times: “once a pastor, always a pastor”. This applies not only to pastors, but to all Christ followers (remember a few weeks ago we talked about all Christ followers being considered as priests/pastors/ministers?). Once we commit to following Jesus, we are to always follow Jesus, that doesn’t stop when we reach a certain age.
Age was not a limiting factor for the Levites’ prayer ministry, only for their physical service. This goes to show that everyone can be a prayerful follower at any age, young or old, and God does not discriminate or limit us on that factor – age is just a number when it comes to our submission to God’s will.
My learning for today is to continually submit my heart to God every day of my life for the service and intercession of others. Though the physical outflow of service changes over time, the heart and prayer life should remain vibrant, or grow even deeper. My 96 year old grandmother has told me she prays for me – what’s stopping us from praying for others and ministering to them?
Father God, Lord of Israel, Moses, and David we come before You today. Please shape our hearts into vessels of prayer and thanksgiving. Please teach us how to pray in alignment with Your heart Father, for we know from Your word Your heart is for mankind. Please remind us of those who are in need of prayer, even if their specific needs are not known to us. Spirit, please impress upon our spirit those for whom we should pray, so we may obediently intercede on their behalf and they may acknowledge Your lovingkindness. Please help us to minister to those around us, no matter what physical form that ministry takes. Please guide our tongues and our hands for Your service, so that You may be glorified. In the name of our servant savior Jesus we pray, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training