1 Chronicles 6:71-76: a reflection

71To the sons of Gershom were given, out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, and Ashtaroth with its pasture lands; 72and out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, 73Ramoth with its pasture lands, and Anem with its pasture lands; 74and out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, 75Hukok with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands; 76and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its pasture lands, and Kiriathaim with its pasture lands.

In the long list of the towns given to the Levites, a striking pattern appears: the Levites, who had no territory of their own, were given towns and pasturelands scattered among all the other tribes, throughout the whole land. They were not gathered into one region, but dispersed among Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the rest, so that God's servants, the ones set apart for his service, dwelt in the midst of all the people, in every part of the land. This meant that God's service and the presence of those devoted to him were near to everyone; no tribe was far from the Levites who taught the law and served at the worship of God. God scattered his servants among all his people, so that his service and instruction were near to all. The dispersal of the Levites among all the tribes meant that no one was far from God's servants and God's ways. God places his servants among all his people, so that his service is near to everyone. God's ministers were spread through the land, near to all.

Notice how the Levites were placed: scattered among all the tribes, throughout the land. They had no territory of their own; instead they were given towns among every tribe, dispersed through the whole land. This was not an accident but a design: God's servants, set apart for his worship and for teaching his law, were to dwell in the midst of all the people, so that God's ways and God's service were near to everyone, in every region. No tribe was left without the presence of those devoted to God among them. This tells us something about how God works: he places his servants among his people, not gathered off by themselves, but dispersed where they can serve and teach and bless, near to all. God's service is meant to be near to everyone, his servants scattered where they are needed. This is a picture of God's care to have his ways known and his service available throughout the land, among all his people, not confined to one place. God's servants belong among his people, near to all, not gathered apart. To be dispersed among the people, near to all, is fitting for God's servants. God spreads his servants where they can serve and bless all.

That is worth taking to heart, for God places his servants among all his people, so that his service and ways are near to everyone. We can imagine God's servants and worship as confined to one place, gathered apart; but the Levites were scattered among all the tribes, so that God's service and instruction were near to all, in every region. God disperses his servants where they can serve, teach, and bless his people, near to everyone. This reflects God's care to have his ways known and his service available throughout, among all his people. Value the way God places his servants among all his people, near to everyone, and be willing, as one of his, to serve and bless where you are placed among others. Value the way God scatters his servants among all his people, so that his service and ways are near to everyone, as the Levites were given towns dispersed among all the tribes throughout the land rather than gathered in one region; for God places his servants in the midst of his people, not confined to one place but where they can serve and teach and bless, so that his ways are known and his service available throughout the land, near to all, and this is fitting for God's servants, who belong among his people rather than apart from them, dispersed where they are needed to serve and bless.

Lord, in the long list of the towns given to the Levites, a striking pattern appears: the Levites, who had no territory of their own, were given towns and pasturelands scattered among all the other tribes, throughout the whole land. They were not gathered into one region, but dispersed among Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the rest, so that your servants, the ones set apart for your service, dwelt in the midst of all the people, in every part of the land. This meant that your service and the presence of those devoted to you were near to everyone. Show me how the Levites were placed: scattered among all the tribes, throughout the land. They had no territory of their own; instead they were given towns among every tribe. This was not an accident but a design: your servants, set apart for your worship and for teaching your law, were to dwell in the midst of all the people, so that your ways and your service were near to everyone. No tribe was left without the presence of those devoted to you among them. This tells me something about how you work: you place your servants among your people, not gathered off by themselves, but dispersed where they can serve and teach and bless. Take that to my heart, for you place your servants among all your people, so that your service and ways are near to everyone. I can imagine your servants and worship as confined to one place, gathered apart; but the Levites were scattered among all the tribes, so that your service was near to all. You disperse your servants where they can serve, teach, and bless. Help me value the way you place your servants among all your people, Lord, near to everyone, and be willing, as one of yours, to serve and bless where you have placed me among others, that your ways may be known and your service near to all.