Scripture Daily

Context No. 3334 of 4322 · Numbers

Context · Reflection

Numbers 4:1-6: in context

1The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2“Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, 3from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter into the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting. 4“This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting, regarding the most holy things. 5When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in with his sons; and they shall take down the veil of the screen, cover the ark of the Testimony with it, 6put a covering of sealskin on it, spread a blue cloth over it, and put in its poles.

The sons of Kohath are given the honor of carrying the most holy things, the ark and the sacred furniture, as the camp moves. But there is a careful order to it: they may carry these objects only after Aaron and his sons have covered them with the veil and the coverings; the Kohathites themselves must not look at or touch the holy things directly, lest they die.

The holy is to be approached with reverence and by God's appointed way, not casually. Even the honor of carrying the ark came hedged with strict boundaries, a reminder that God is holy and not to be handled on our own terms. Their service was real and important, and yet it was fenced with reverence, so that familiarity with sacred things would never slide into carelessness before a holy God. To be entrusted with holy things is a privilege that calls for greater care, not less, and for approaching God the way he has appointed rather than however we please.

Do I approach the holy things of God with reverence, on his terms, rather than growing casual or presumptuous with what is sacred?

Sources