Joshua 21:27-33: a reflection

27They gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Be Eshterah with its pasture lands: two cities. 28Out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, 29Jarmuth with its pasture lands, En Gannim with its pasture lands: four cities. 30Out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, 31Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands: four cities. 32Out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Hammothdor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands: three cities. 33All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.

As the land is divided, the Levites, who had no territory of their own, are given cities scattered among all the other tribes. Rather than being gathered in one place, they were dispersed throughout the land, among every tribe, so that God's ministers were present everywhere, accessible to all the people. The Levites, God's servants, were placed among all the tribes, so that the service and teaching of God were near to everyone.

Notice the wisdom in dispersing the Levites among all the tribes. They were not gathered in one region, where God's service and teaching would be accessible only to some; they were scattered throughout the land, among every tribe, so that God's ministers were present everywhere, and the service and teaching of God were near to all the people. God's servants were dispersed to serve everyone, present among all the tribes, so that no part of the people was left without them. The scattering ensured that God's presence and instruction reached throughout.

That dispersal of God's servants throughout the land points to something about how God's people are to be present in the world. God's servants are not to be gathered only among themselves, in one place, accessible only to some; they are to be dispersed, present throughout, so that God's service and witness reach everyone. We who are God's are, like the Levites, dispersed among the wider world, placed where we are so that God's presence and witness might reach those around us. Do not think of yourself as one who should be gathered only among fellow believers; you are, like the Levites, dispersed, placed among those around you, so that God's witness and service might reach them through you. God scattered the Levites among all the tribes, that his service might reach everyone; and he has placed you where you are, among those around you, for a similar purpose. Be a faithful presence where God has dispersed you, so that his witness and service reach those around you, as the Levites were dispersed to bring God's service to all the tribes.

Lord, as the land was divided, the Levites, who had no territory of their own, were given cities scattered among all the other tribes; rather than being gathered in one place, they were dispersed throughout the land, so that your ministers were present everywhere, accessible to all. Show me the wisdom in dispersing the Levites. They were scattered throughout the land, so that your service and teaching were near to all the people; no part was left without them. Let that dispersal point me to how your people are to be present in the world. Your servants are not to be gathered only among themselves, accessible only to some; they are to be dispersed, present throughout, so that your service and witness reach everyone. I who am yours am, like the Levites, dispersed among the wider world, placed where I am so that your presence and witness might reach those around me. Keep me from thinking of myself as one who should be gathered only among fellow believers; I am, like the Levites, dispersed, placed among those around me, so that your witness might reach them through me. You scattered the Levites among all the tribes, that your service might reach everyone; and you have placed me where I am for a similar purpose. Help me be a faithful presence where you have dispersed me, Lord, so that your witness and service reach those around me. Help me serve where you have placed me.