Deuteronomy 18 – June 20
Today I apologize if it sounds like I’m writing for personal gain or benefit. As always, the intent is to remain true to the text before us and to interpret it correctly. This chapter begins with Moses talking about the responsibility of the people to take care of the Levitical priests. The reason being that they were not to receive an inheritance like the rest of the twelve tribes (v.1,2).We are not to feel sorry for them however as the end of verse 2 tells us that the Lord is their inheritance. Trust me, I would rather have the Lord than worldly treasures. David said in Psalm 119:57, “The Lord is my portion.” I could imagine him saying, “What is gold compared with my God? You could not live on it; your spiritual life could not be sustained by it. Put it on a troubled conscience, and could it relieve its pain? Apply it to a desponding heart, and see if it could stop a solitary groan, or make one grief the less? But I have God, and in Him I have more than gold or riches ever could buy.” Charles Spurgeon said, “There are griefs in life which wealth cannot alleviate; and there is the deep need of a dying hour, for which no riches can provide. But when thou hast God for thy portion, thou hast more than all else put together. In him every want is met, whether in life or in death. With God for thy portion thou art rich indeed, for he will supply thy need, comfort thy heart, assuage (ease) thy grief, guide thy steps, be with thee in the dark valley, and then take thee home, to enjoy him as thy portion forever.” So, folks, let’s not feel too sorry for the Levites.
There is one potential problem for the Levitical priests though and that is that their provisions have been placed by God into the hands of the people (v.3-4). I like reading verse 5 where it says, “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.” Does this remind you of a church you may be familiar with? He chose them and the means by which they were to be provided for. The priests were to receive a portion of the people’s tithe. Contrary to the silly statement people make about pastors only working 1-2 hours per week, although I guess that may be true for some, the priests were at the mercy of their fellow countrymen who had the responsibility as well as the privilege of caring for them. This would free them up to undertake their God-given role as the Lord’s ministers (v.5).
Now beloved don’t you worry. God has done far better than to merely give you an old pastor like me. Moses states to the people that God was going to raise up a prophet/priest who will speak His words on the order of Moses only better (v.15-19). This is surely reference to the coming Messiah – the Lord Jesus Christ. We know this because Luke’s reference to this passage in Acts 3:22-23 states it was so. The priesthood, like so many entities in the Old Testament, was a shadow (Heb. 8:5) of our Great High Priest – Jesus who came and superseded all others (Hebrews 5,7). Let me close today with a reminder of what Jesus, our Great Shepherd has done. “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises” (Heb. 8:6). Friends, let’s take care of the ministry and the ministers that God has ordained to serve us today. After all, we are called shepherds of His flock working under our Great Shepherd. Thanks for your faithfulness!
C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).