Called to Stand Guard

January 24, 2024 Ken Winter

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God called the Levites to be in charge of the Tabernacle, and all of its furnishings and equipment. He called them to stand guard and protect it.(1) When the Israelites were camped in the wilderness, God’s Spirit dwelt in the Tabernacle in their midst, but the area immediately surrounding His dwelling place was the home of the Levites. Whenever the pillar of cloud moved from the Tabernacle to lead the people, the Levites took down the Tabernacle and carried it. Whenever the cloud stopped, the Levites would set up the Tabernacle and prepare it for the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit.

The Levites were chosen by God and called to this role because of their response after the people had rebelliously worshiped the image of the golden calf. You may recall that Moses stood at the gate of the camp and said, “All of you who are on the LORD’s side, come over here and join me.”(2) And all of the Levites came to him.

Moses had then instructed the Levites to strap on their swords and kill those who had been responsible for this abomination against Jehovah God. Now, lest there be any confusion, some of the Levites had also taken part in worshiping the golden calf. Aaron, who had formed the golden calf, was a son of the tribe of Levi. They had been as much a part, if not even more responsible, for the sin of the people. What differentiated them on that day, and as a result, for every day thereafter, was their immediate repentance before the Lord. They recognized their sin, they repented of their sin, and they immediately responded in obedience to the Lord.

Scripture records that the Levites killed 3,000 Israelites that day, including some of their own sons and brothers. i believe that left them with a memory that they would never be able to forget and a stain of blood on their hands that they would never be able to wash away. Because they were God’s instruments of death, they saw God’s wrath poured out upon His rebellious people firsthand. They saw the payment of the wages of sin. With this reminder imbedded in their memories, they understood their charge by God to now protect the people of Israel from the LORD’s wrath. They took seriously this charge to protect not only the Tabernacle, but also the people, that they might not do anything again that would incite the LORD’s wrath.

All of the tribes displayed their family banners in their designated camping area, except the Levites. On that day when Moses had told them, "Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, for you obeyed Him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Because of this, He will now give you a great blessing."(3) From that day forward Jehovah Nissi was their banner. They had need of no other. His dwelling place was in their midst and He alone was their banner.

In that calling, the Levites served their Lord and they served the people. They stood guard so that nothing would disrupt the Lord’s dwelling place, and nothing would disrupt Him from dwelling among the people.

The Levites are a picture for us of what Paul was describing when he wrote, “We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ Himself were here pleading with you, ‘Be reconciled to God!’”(4) We have been called to be Christ’s ambassadors; we have been called to stand guard.

We have been called to communicate His Good News of reconciliation. We are His earthly dwelling place. We have been ordained to this place of service, not because of our goodness but because of His grace. If we have repented of our sin and turned to Him in obedience, He has blessed us with His presence. He has become our banner. Just as the Levites and the Tabernacle became inseparable, so His presence must be equally conspicuous and inseparable in our lives. He has called us to be His salt and His light. He has called us to be His ambassadors to a world that so desperately needs Him. He has called us to stand guard!

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You can read about the assignment God gave the Levites in the first chapter of the Book of Numbers.

This post is taken from chapter 2 of my book, The Wandering Years. For more information about the book, click here.

(1) Numbers 1:47-53 (NLT)

But this total did not include the Levites. For the LORD had said to Moses, "Exempt the tribe of Levi from the census; do not include them when you count the rest of the Israelites. You must put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, along with its furnishings and equipment. They must carry the Tabernacle and its equipment as you travel, and they must care for it and camp around it. Whenever the Tabernacle is moved, the Levites will take it down and set it up again. Anyone else who goes too near the Tabernacle will be executed. Each tribe of Israel will have a designated camping area with its own family banner. But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to offer the people of Israel protection from the LORD's fierce anger. The Levites are responsible to stand guard around the Tabernacle."

(2) Exodus 32:26 (NLT)

(3) Exodus 32:29 (NLT)

(4) 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)

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