Numbers 8:1-11: a reflection

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to Aaron, and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lamp stand.’” 3Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the lamp stand, as the LORD commanded Moses. 4This was the workmanship of the lamp stand, beaten work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work. He made the lamp stand according to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses. 5The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6“Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. 7You shall do this to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of cleansing on them, let them shave their whole bodies with a razor, let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves. 8Then let them take a young bull and its meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil; and another young bull you shall take for a sin offering. 9You shall present the Levites before the Tent of Meeting. You shall assemble the whole congregation of the children of Israel. 10You shall present the Levites before the LORD. The children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, 11and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for a wave offering on the behalf of the children of Israel, that it may be theirs to do the service of the LORD.

In this passage, the Levites are set apart for the service of God, and the process is one of cleansing and dedication. They are cleansed, sprinkled with the water of cleansing, their clothes washed; and then they are presented before the LORD, offered to him for his service, with the whole congregation laying hands on them. Before they could serve God, they had to be cleansed and dedicated, set apart wholly for the work of the LORD.

Notice the order: cleansing, then dedication, then service. The Levites were not simply put to work; they were first cleansed, then presented to God and set apart for his service. Cleansing came before service; one did not serve the holy God while unclean, but was first made clean, then dedicated to him. And the dedication was total: they were offered wholly to God, set apart for his service, no longer their own but the LORD's, given to do his work.

That pattern, cleansing and dedication before service, speaks to our own service of God. We may be eager to serve God, to get to the work; but the Levites remind us that service flows from being cleansed and dedicated to God, set apart wholly for him. We serve God rightly not as those who remain our own, doing his work on the side, but as those cleansed by him and given wholly to his service. Before you rush to serve God, let yourself be cleansed and dedicated to him, set apart wholly for his service, as the Levites were. Come to God for the cleansing you need, and offer yourself wholly to him, no longer your own but his, given to do his work. Service that flows from being cleansed and wholly dedicated to God is the service he seeks; be, like the Levites, cleansed and set apart wholly for the LORD, and serve him out of that dedication.

Lord, in this passage the Levites were set apart for your service through cleansing and dedication: cleansed, sprinkled with the water of cleansing, then presented before you and offered wholly for your service. Let that pattern, cleansing and dedication before service, speak to my own service of you. I may be eager to serve you, to get to the work; but the Levites remind me that service flows from being cleansed and dedicated to you, set apart wholly for you. I serve you rightly not as one who remains my own, doing your work on the side, but as one cleansed by you and given wholly to your service. Before I rush to serve you, help me let myself be cleansed and dedicated to you, set apart wholly for your service, as the Levites were. Help me come to you for the cleansing I need, and offer myself wholly to you, no longer my own but yours, given to do your work. Service that flows from being cleansed and wholly dedicated to you is the service you seek; help me be, like the Levites, cleansed and set apart wholly for you, Lord, and serve you out of that dedication. Cleanse me and take me wholly for your service.