devotional post # 2266

Numbers 4:1-6

Num 4:1 Yahveh spoke to Moses and Aaron, and this is what he said,
Num 4:2 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers’ houses,
Num 4:3 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can come on duty, to do the work in the conference tent.
Num 4:4 This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things.
Num 4:5 When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it.
Num 4:6 Then they will put on it a covering of goatskin and spread on top of that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.

taking extra precautions

What strikes me as I read these words again is that the Levites are a special forces army charged with protecting the things of God, but also with protecting the people from God. They had to be young men in the prime of life. They had to take extra precautions with the most holy objects — like the ark, which had to have a triple layer of protection.

LORD, we give you our best because we know your holiness, and we choose to respect your ministry, being mindful of your power.