Numbers 18:1-7: a reflection

1The LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your fathers’ house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. 2Bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, near with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you; but you and your sons with you shall be before the Tent of the Testimony. 3They shall keep your commands and the duty of the whole Tent; only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar, that they not die, neither they nor you. 4They shall be joined to you and keep the responsibility of the Tent of Meeting, for all the service of the Tent. A stranger shall not come near to you. 5“You shall perform the duty of the sanctuary and the duty of the altar, that there be no more wrath on the children of Israel. 6Behold, I myself have taken your brothers the Levites from among the children of Israel. They are a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD, to do the service of the Tent of Meeting. 7You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil. You shall serve. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”

As God assigns to Aaron and his sons the responsibilities of the priesthood, he speaks of that service in a surprising way: as a gift. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift, God says. The priesthood, with all its responsibilities, was not merely a duty laid on them but a gift granted to them, a privilege of drawing near to God and serving him that others did not have. To be allowed to serve God, to minister before him, to draw near in his service, was itself a gift, not merely a burden. God frames the privilege of serving him as something given, a gift bestowed, not simply an obligation imposed. This reframes how we regard the service of God: not chiefly as a heavy duty, but as a gift, a privilege of being allowed to serve and draw near to the living God. To serve God is a gift; being allowed to minister before him is a privilege granted, not a burden merely borne. The service of God is itself a gift.

Notice how God describes the priesthood: as a gift. He does not present the service of the priesthood merely as a duty or a burden, but as a gift he gives, a privilege granted to Aaron and his sons. To be allowed to serve God, to minister before him, to draw near in his service, was itself a gift, something bestowed, not simply an obligation. This is worth pondering, for we can regard the service of God chiefly as a heavy duty, a burden laid on us; but God frames it as a gift, a privilege. It is a gift to be allowed to serve the living God, to draw near to him in his service, to have a part in his work. Not everyone is given this; it is a privilege, a gift. To see the service of God as a gift rather than merely a duty transforms how we approach it: with gratitude for the privilege rather than reluctance at the burden. Being allowed to serve God is a gift to be received with thanks. The privilege of serving God is itself a grace. To serve him is a gift, not merely a task.

That is worth taking to heart, for being allowed to serve God is itself a gift and privilege, not merely a burden. We can regard the service of God chiefly as a heavy duty, a burden laid on us; but God frames the priesthood as a gift he gives, and being allowed to serve and draw near to him is indeed a privilege granted, not merely an obligation imposed. To serve God is a gift. This transforms how we approach his service: with gratitude for the privilege rather than reluctance at the burden. Do not regard the service of God chiefly as a burden; receive it as a gift, the privilege of being allowed to serve and draw near to the living God. Receive the service of God as a gift and privilege rather than merely a burden, giving thanks that you are allowed to serve and draw near to him, as God gave Aaron and his sons the service of the priesthood as a gift; for to be allowed to serve the living God, to minister before him and have a part in his work, is itself a gift bestowed and a privilege granted, not simply an obligation imposed, and to see it so transforms how we approach it, with gratitude for the privilege rather than reluctance at the burden, since the service of God is a grace to be received with thanks.

Lord, as you assign to Aaron and his sons the responsibilities of the priesthood, you speak of that service in a surprising way: as a gift. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift, you say. The priesthood, with all its responsibilities, was not merely a duty laid on them but a gift granted to them, a privilege of drawing near to you and serving you that others did not have. To be allowed to serve you, to minister before you, to draw near in your service, was itself a gift, not merely a burden. You frame the privilege of serving you as something given, a gift bestowed. Show me how you describe the priesthood: as a gift. You do not present the service merely as a duty or a burden, but as a gift you give, a privilege granted. To be allowed to serve you, to draw near in your service, was itself a gift, something bestowed. I can regard the service of you chiefly as a heavy duty, a burden laid on me; but you frame it as a gift, a privilege. It is a gift to be allowed to serve you, the living God, to have a part in your work. To see the service of you as a gift rather than merely a duty transforms how I approach it: with gratitude for the privilege rather than reluctance at the burden. Take that to my heart, for being allowed to serve you is itself a gift and privilege, not merely a burden. I can regard your service chiefly as a heavy duty; but you frame the priesthood as a gift, and being allowed to serve and draw near to you is a privilege granted. To serve you is a gift. Keep me from regarding your service chiefly as a burden; help me receive it as a gift, Lord, the privilege of being allowed to serve and draw near to you, giving thanks that I am allowed to serve you, as you gave Aaron and his sons the service of the priesthood as a gift.