Numbers 4:1-6: a reflection

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.

As the tabernacle is prepared to be moved, the most holy things, above all the ark, are to be handled with the greatest reverence: carefully covered by the priests before the Kohathites may carry them. Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil, the instruction says, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. The holy things were not to be treated casually or handled carelessly; they were covered, veiled, approached with reverence and care, in the way God appointed. This care surrounding the holy things reflects the reverence due to what belongs to God, to his holiness. The holy things were handled with reverence and care. Reverence surrounded the handling of what belonged to God. God's holy things were not treated casually but with care. The holy was approached with reverence, as God appointed.

Notice the reverence built into the handling of the holy things. The ark and the other most holy objects were not to be casually approached or carelessly carried; the priests were first to cover them carefully, veiling them, and only then were they to be borne. Everything about the handling of the holy spoke of reverence, of care, of the seriousness of dealing with what belonged to God and represented his holy presence. This reflects a truth we can lose sight of: that God is holy, and what pertains to him is to be approached with reverence, not casually or carelessly. In an age that tends toward casualness about holy things, this careful reverence reminds us that God's holiness is real and calls for a reverent, careful approach, not a flippant or careless one. While we come to God in Christ with confidence and as beloved children, we do not therefore come casually, forgetting his holiness; reverence and confidence belong together. God's holiness calls for reverence in how we approach him. We come to God with confidence, yet not casually or flippantly. The holy is to be approached with care and reverence. Reverence for God's holiness is not lost in our confidence.

That is worth taking to heart, for God is holy, and what pertains to him is to be approached with reverence and care, not casually, as the most holy things were carefully covered and reverently handled. We can grow casual or flippant about holy things, forgetting the reverence due to God's holiness; but the careful, reverent handling of the ark and the holy things reminds us that God's holiness is real and calls for a reverent approach. Come to God with confidence in Christ, yet not casually; let reverence for his holiness remain. Let the careful reverence surrounding the holy things, which were covered by the priests and handled with the greatest care before the Kohathites could carry them, remind you that God is holy and to be approached with reverence and care rather than casually or flippantly; for we can grow casual about holy things, forgetting the reverence due to God's holiness, and though in Christ we come to God with real confidence and as beloved children, we do not therefore come casually or carelessly, forgetting that he is holy, since reverence and confidence belong together, so that the care with which the holy things were handled reminds us to approach God with a reverence that his holiness deserves, coming boldly in Christ yet never flippantly.

Lord, as the tabernacle is prepared to be moved, the most holy things, above all the ark, are to be handled with the greatest reverence: carefully covered by the priests before the Kohathites may carry them. Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil, the instruction says, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. The holy things were not to be treated casually or handled carelessly; they were covered, veiled, approached with reverence and care, in the way you appointed. This care surrounding the holy things reflects the reverence due to what belongs to you, to your holiness. Show me the reverence built into the handling of the holy things. The ark and the other most holy objects were not to be casually approached or carelessly carried; the priests were first to cover them carefully, and only then were they to be borne. Everything about the handling of the holy spoke of reverence, of care, of the seriousness of dealing with what belonged to you and represented your holy presence. This reflects a truth I can lose sight of: that you are holy, and what pertains to you is to be approached with reverence, not casually. In an age that tends toward casualness about holy things, this careful reverence reminds me that your holiness is real and calls for a reverent, careful approach. While I come to you in Christ with confidence and as your beloved child, I do not therefore come casually, forgetting your holiness; reverence and confidence belong together. Take that to my heart, for you are holy, and what pertains to you is to be approached with reverence and care. Help me come to you with confidence in Christ, Lord, yet not casually or flippantly; let reverence for your holiness remain in me, so that I approach you boldly as your child yet never carelessly, honoring the holiness that is truly yours.