devotional post # 2243

Numbers 1:52-54

Num 1:52  The sons of Israel will camp by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard.
Num 1:53  But the Levites will camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. And the Levites will keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.”
Num 1:54  This is what the sons of Israel did; they did according to all that Yahveh had commanded Moses.

layers of security

The tabernacle was surrounded on all sides by the tribes of Israel, and each tribe was protected by a outer layer of soldiers, encamped near the standard of their respective tribe. These soldiers were charged with protecting the tribes they belonged to.

But there was an inner layer of soldiers — Levites — surrounding the tabernacle of the testimony itself. These were charged with protecting the symbol of God’s presence among them.

For a society to operate well, there must be a defense force protecting the people from outside harm. But there must also be protection for the spiritual aspect of that society as well. If a society ignores the central focus of prayer and worship of the one true God, no amount of money spent on its external defense will give that society security.

The same is true of families, and individuals. We all need both layers of security.

FATHER GOD, restore our capacity to protect ourselves through prayer and worship.