“But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to it; they shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they shall attend to it and camp around the tabernacle” (Numbers 1:50).
The Levites were caretakers of the holy things that represented God’s presence with Israel including God’s laws and statutes. They camped around the tabernacle as a buffer between those who went to war and the holy things. They also camped around the perimeter to protect and defend the holy things from enemy armies (Numbers 1:51). They guarded God’s presence with them as well at the Truth behind the veil – the very words of God.
God’s ministers are to guard what is holy and keep the testimony today. This does not mean today’s senior pastors, for we are all priests. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). We are entrusted with His Word and His ways. All who are in Christ are tasked with the duty to guard the holy things of God and this begins in our own selves.
Paul wrote, “We have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). If we are all priests, we have all been commissioned to guard the gospel truth. We are not to live to please men, but to please God. Yet as the Levites were called to war differently from the rest of Israel, they were still given a duty, to guard what is holy. Just as the Levites were called to war differently from the men of war, so are we called. It is a stewardship of love.
This battle begins within us as we accept Christ into our lives and the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). We, too, are encamped around God’s presence and all things holy. His very Spirit dwells within us. This is amazing! Our response ought to be awe, wonder, and commitment to keep His habitat holy. We must take up the fight against those things which would defile us and seek to employ those things which fill us, encourage us, and grow us to maturity in Christ.
What has the Holy Spirit prompted you about as you have read this? Has He encouraged you to continue on the path you are on? Has He put a finger on something you know you need to make a change in? A yes answer to either question is great, even better is what you will do with the information. When the Holy Spirit brings something to our attention it is with grace and without condemnation. He inspires us to want to do and be what God wants us to do and be. The enemy will come in with condemnation and attempt to drive a wedge between us and God.
Remember, “there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2). Don’t lose heart, continue forward in your faith. Get to know His Word by being in it daily. Get to know Him by prayer and the practice of listening for His response. Then you can say as Paul said, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8). For we do not war as those called to physical battle. Our war is born of love and value for all mankind. Let us guard what is holy and fight the good fight with love at the center of our intentions. Then let us sit back and watch God move on our behalf and on behalf of those to whom we are loving to Him.