Concerning the Levites, when they asked Joshua for places to live: … “The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle. And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.” Joshua 21:2-3
First note, they quoted Scripture! (Among the Levites were the priests, who well knew the Law of Moses, taught it to the people in fact.)
“Give us cities,” they cried!
Remember, the Tribe of Levi did NOT get any assigned land, not in the sense of many square miles! No vast tribal allotment! That was NOT their inheritance, material real estate. “Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.” Numbers 18:24
No inheritance?
Quite the contrary! Listen to God talk to Aaron, and the Levites through him: “I AM thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.” Numbers 18:20, wow. an early “I AM” statement!
Deuteronomy 10:9 makes this even more lucid. “Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; THE LORD IS HIS INHERITANCE, according as the LORD thy God promised him.” God speaking directly to Moses.
But … as per our Text today … the Levites were going to be given a few “cities” in which to live, to dwell when they were not “on duty” at Jerusalem, serving God in the things of the Tabernacle or Temple. But that’s a far cry from mega-grants of the Promised Land the other Jews enjoyed.
But with the LORD as their inheritance, they did not seem to mind a bit!
Now, the rest of Joshua 21 simply lists the cities in which the Levites could establish residence.
But I have already hit upon my “POINT” for today’s Lesson.
In a sentence, although compound … “God’s Old Testament children the Jews (generally) were given MATERIAL blessing for serving Him; but God’s New Testament children are given (generally) SPIRITUAL blessings!”
“The Lord is our portion!”
The Levites here are an obvious exception to the rule, maybe even being “types or symbols” of the principle I just named, typed, observed.
Again … “God’s Old Testament children (the Jews) generally were given MATERIAL blessing for serving Him; God’s New Testament children (the saints, the Church) are given generally SPIRITUAL blessings!
Wow!
Ephesians 1:4 says it perfectly … “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in heavenly places in Christ.” Amen!
“ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST!”
So today, even though you may not have a lot of this world’s goods … remember what you have “in Christ Jesus!”
Spiritual Blessings innumerable!
Hallelujah!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell