The Levites: Ministers of Substitutionary Atonement (Read Deuteronomy 18:1-8)⤒🔗

The history of the Levites provides an interesting commentary on divine grace in the life of Israel.

The tribe's father was Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. Together with his older brother Simeon, Levi distinguished himself as a bloodthirsty avenger of their sister Dinah's disgraceful rape (Genesis 34:25-29). This savagery was memorialized when their dying father pronounced a curse upon Simeon and Levi, that they would be scattered among Israel (Genesis 49:5-7).

Years later, at the foot of Mount Sinai, the tribe of Levi was the only one that assisted Moses in exercising church discipline after the golden calf episode (Exodus 32:25-29). On the way to Canaan, the LORD favored the Levites by assigning them to serve in the taberna­cle, and later in the temple (Numbers 18:20-23).

Perhaps the most remarkable service the Levites performed was that they substituted for Israel's firstborn sons in ministering to the LORD. You will recall from the events surrounding Israel's exodus from Egypt that the LORD had sent Moses back to Pharaoh to contend for the rights to His firstborn son, Israel (see Exodus 4:21-23). Since Pharaoh refused to let the LORD's firstborn go, the Egyptian king and people lost all their firstborn sons.

Later, on the way to Canaan, the LORD repeated His claim to the service of Israel's firstborn sons, but permitted the Levites to serve as their substitutes. We find this in Numbers 3:11-13:

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'Now behold, I myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be mine, because all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be mine: I am the LORD.

You can read about the levitical duties in Numbers 3:25-26, 31, 36-37. The details involving the levitical redemption of Israel's firstborn you find in Numbers 3:40-51.

Providing for the Ministry of Atonement←⤒🔗

In the light of this history, the LORD instructs Israel in Deuteronomy 18:1-8 regarding the support of the Levites who were dispersed throughout the land of Canaan.

The relationship between priests and Levites in Israel isn't easy to figure out. Were all Levites priests, or only some Levites? Perhaps we can best understand our passage this way: Deuteronomy 18:1-2 apply to all Levites, Deuteronomy 18:3-5 to levitical priests, and Deuteronomy 18:6-8 to Levites who were not functioning as priests.

Since none of the Levites had an inheritance of land among Israel, they were to be supported by the generosity of the people. The sacrifices and offerings collected in local towns or brought to the central sanctuary were used to supply their needs.

The priests among the Levites were assigned specific foods (portions of meat that had been sacrificed, corn, wine and oil) and certain materials suitable for making clothes (wool).

Some Levites who lived at a distance from the central sanctuary might volunteer to leave home, live near the tabernacle and minister alongside their fellow Levites. The LORD assigns such a 'minister' an equal portion with those already living near and serving in the tabernacle. (Question 1)

Depending on the LORD for Direction [1] (Read Deuteronomy 18:9-14)←⤒🔗

The rest of Deuteronomy 18 deals with instruction about seeking guidance and direction from the LORD rather than through magic, sorcery or witchcraft. The prohibitions are set forth in Deuteronomy 18:9-14, while the positive commandment and promise are provided in Deuteronomy 18:15-22.

The common thread joining Deuteronomy 18:9-14 is the LORD'S prohibition of divination, or contact with the spirit world. Pagans often sacrificed children in order to discern the course of events (see 2 Kings 3:26-27). Similar to this were soothsaying, interpreting omens, along with consulting mediums or the dead. Practices which sought either to discern or to influence the course of future events are strictly forbidden.

Why did the LORD forbid these? Because they form part of the reason why He was going to destroy the Canaanites by driving them out of the land. Earlier we saw that Israel was commanded to 'clean house,' to rid the land of pagan altars and idols (Deuteronomy 12:2-4). Blamelessness with regard to these detestable practices was the condition for a healthy land and for divine blessing. (Question 2)

Depending on the LORD for Direction [2] (Read Deuteronomy 18:15-22)←⤒🔗

In contrast to these pagan practices, the only legitimate means by which the LORD would communicate regularly with His people was prophecy. The prophet among Israel would be no foreigner, but like Moses he would be from their midst.

The background for this institution of continuing prophets among Israel involved events at Mount Sinai. The people had been afraid to listen directly to the LORD'S voice, so they asked Moses to act as a media­tor on their behalf (see Exodus 20:18-19). The LORD honored their request, promising to raise up for them a prophet like Moses. But this required Israel in turn to listen to the prophet's words, since he came with divine authority. To ignore his word was to court divine judgment (v. 19).

As we know, any religious phenomenon can be perverted, including prophecy. If a prophet's honor came with divine authority, how tempting it was to seize the honor without having been given a divine message, or to look for honor under the sponsorship of another god! Such heresy was to be punished with death.

But that possibility of abuse leads immediately to the question: How can we know for sure if the prophet's word originated with the LORD? Obviously, if a prophet spoke in the name of another god, he was breaking the first commandment and deserved death. But the LORD adds another standard in Deuteronomy 18:22:

When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Literally the verse says, 'if the thing is not, and does not come to pass.' That is to say, if the prophet's word simply is not so, or is not in accord with the word of God already revealed, then it was automatically suspect. (Question 3)

Deuteronomy 18:22 concludes with a very useful encourage­ment for Israel: if the LORD has not spoken through the false prophet, then the people need not be afraid of him. When preaching on this verse, John Calvin concluded that

The effect therefore of those things which our Lord meant to say in this text is that being well assured of God's word, and having examined all doctrine (howbeit with humility), and having used the aforesaid touchstone of the Holy Scripture, we may well defy all those who cloak themselves under the gay mantle of God's name, abusing their commission and executing tyranny instead of serving the Church of God.

Indeed, this verse has been a crucial encouragement during every biblical reformation of the church throughout history. Whenever God's people measure teaching by the Scripture, they confidently chase heresy and tyranny (which usually go hand in hand) to the hills! (Question 4)

The Law of the LORD as Guardian unto Christ←⤒🔗

We conclude our study of Deuteronomy 18 with a word about how these regulations paved the way for the coming Lord Jesus Christ.

The LORD gave to Israel these offices of king, priest and prophet to protect and preserve His chosen people with government, with atonement and with revelation. Godly kings, diligent priests and faithful prophets served as Israel's custodians or guardians, accompanying her on the way to her Savior (see Galatians 3:24).

Each of these offices finds perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the church's Chief Prophet, Only High Priest, and Eternal King (see Heidelberg Cate­chism, Lord's Day 12, QA 31). As Prophet, Christ not only spoke the Word, but He was the Word made flesh. As Priest, Christ not only administered the sacrifice, but He Himself became the final sacrifice. And as King, Christ not only fought against sin and Satan, but He is the victory over them.

Everything Israel received in the laws of Deutero­nomy regarding the institution and function of these offices was given to lead her to Christ. Faithful office bearers taught her what He would look like, while unfaithful office bearers caused Old Testament believers to yearn and pray fervently for the revelation of the Messiah.

Here then is one reason the law of the LORD is our delight: the law foreshadows our Redeemer and Savior. As an administration of the covenant of grace, these Old Testament provisions for office bearers in Israel display the contours of Christ's saving ministry of revelation, reconciliation and rule. Ah, but all these shadows have now given way to their substance: Jesus Christ! The One greater than Moses, the One superior to Aaron, the One mightier than David has come! Hallelujah! (Question 5)

Questions for Reflection and Reply←⤒🔗

1. Read 1 Peter 2:9-10. Who are the 'Levites' today? What does it mean that Christians are priests (see Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 12, QA 32)? Illustrate with specific examples.

2. What are some modern methods that people use to discover the future?

3. Read 1 Kings 13:1-32. In v. 18 we read the coun­ter claim of the old Bethel prophet. How could the man of God from Judah have known that the Bethel prophet was lying? Why did the LORD kill the man from Judah? How can we know today if a minister or religious teacher is speaking the truth? Show from the Bible how heresy should be handled in the church.

4. Illustrate from church history that heresy and tyranny usually go hand in hand. Why don't we need to be afraid of false teachers?

5. Read Matthew 5:17-20. What does it mean that Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law and the prophets?