Levi Through the Scriptures

I had finished reading the book of Exodus for the fourth time this year, when I put several events together and connected something in my mind.

It's about the tribe of Levi. Now Levi first came around in Genesis when Leah (Jacob's wife) named her third son, but from the 12 sons of Jacob, we get the 12 tribes that exist all throughout Scriptural history. They begin in Genesis and end in Revelation. Levi was a scattered tribe geographically. They had no land to claim as their own, possibly resulting from the violence and bloodshed of Simon and Levi in Genesis, and so the descendents of Levi lived in 48 cities throughout the land of Israel working in the temple when their time came.

But in the beginning of Exodus we read of a husband and wife from the tribe of Levi who had a baby. This baby would be a Levite, too, and as the High Priest would one day intercede for the people before the Lord, so this baby would grow up to be Moses, who led the Israelites and interceded for them on their behalf. Moses' brother, Aaron, would be the first High Priest, and from this tribe would come the priesthood.

Later on in Exodus, Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving instructions from God on how to govern this huge group of people, and he also receives detailed instructions on how to create the tabernacle and priestly clothing, as well as how to fulfill the sacrifical duties. Aaron (a Levite) leads the people waiting below the mountain in forming a golden calf to worship. When Moses (a Levite) returns, he calls those who are on the Lord's side to come stand with him: the sons of Levi gather around him and mete out justice on those who substituted a golden calf for a holy God.

In Numbers 16, it's a Levite, Korah, who leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron--his own tribe members. And he brings about the death of many others who join with him and follow in his disobedience. Then God shows his approval of another Levite by choosing Aaron's staff and causing in to bud--demonstrating that He had chose Aaron as the one to approach God in the priestly duties.

In 1 Chronicles, the Levites are some of the first to settle in Jerusalem again after their exile in Babylon. Under King David, the Levites were the ones who bring the ark of the covenant from Kiriath-jearim back to Jerusalem. Johoshaphat, king of Judah, instructs the Levites to teach the people the law of God in order to bring about a spiritual reformation in the land. The Levites were the tribe to carry out sacrifices and teach the people when good kings ruled the land. They were holy to God.

In Ezra (a priest), it's the priests and Levites (along with others) whose hearts are stirred by God to go and rebuild the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. And though they rejoiced at the  rebuilding of the foundation, they were also the ones who wept at the sight of it because they remembered the former temple's glory. And they came together later with Nehemiah and Ezra to teach the people the Law.

In Ezekiel, the priest are the ones whom God instructs to serve Him in the sanctuary after His glory fills the temple again. We're also told that the Levites were not faithful to God, but instead forsook Him for idols, therefore the sons of  Zadok (priests), being commended for keeping the Lord's charge and not going astray as the Levites did, are the ones who will enter the sanctuary of the Lord and serve Him there.

The Levites are mentioned many times in the rest of the Old Testament. Many times they are just minor incidents, but they're still there, preserved as part of the remnant of God's people.

In the New Testament, John the Baptist interacts with priests and Levites when Jews sent them to question John about his identity and preaching. And Jesus Himself tells the story of a Levite who was so concerned with his self-righteousness that he wouldn't stop to help his fellow man.

Acts tells us of another Levite who sold a field that belonged to him and gave the money to the apostles. He's better known by his name, Barnabas.

But the Levites and priests knew that the important duties of temple work and the sacrifical system couldn't take away the sin that defiled them. Perfection could never be attained through a human priesthood. Aaron, the first High Priest couldn't perfectly mediate between God and man. And so the Jewish nation waited for the better High Priest who, though He didn't come from the Levite tribe, He was the perfect Mediator. And because He never sinned, His shedding of blood could provide remission for sins. The Levites' and priests' duties had been fulfilled forever. He was the Lamb of God who was chosen of God to be the Sacrifice and the Priest. And as a non-Levitical priest He completely fulfilled all the law as a perfect sacrifice, showing that the old covenant had finished and the new had begun.