Chapter 8 (There is currently no audio for this lesson.)

The Sanctification and Offering of the Levites

1. INTRODUCTION
1. Order of Chapters
1. Numbers 5 deals with Separation from the world.
2. Numbers 6 deals with Separation unto God.
3. Numbers 7 deals with Sacrificial giving of God’s people.
4. Numbers 8 deals with Sanctification and Offering of the Levites.
5. We have been seeing this develop over the past few chapters.  This pattern is only applicable to the saved.  A man desires to draw nigh to God.  He begins to see the things of this world as filthy and harmful.  He determines in his heart, “If I am going to be close to God, I can’t partake of these things.” He goes for a while feeling cleaner and purer, but realizes that there still must be more to the Christian life than this. He then begins to hunger for fellowship with God.  Throughout the day he feels the tugging of the Lord to spend time in prayer and in the word.  Spending this time with the Lord leads him to a strong desire to give to God.  It is not a matter of duty, but a matter of desire.  It doesn’t stop here though.  A man may give of his material wealth without giving of himself.  The next thing that occurs in a man’s heart is the desire to give himself.  This is mentioned in Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
   See All... and to our shame it is called “ your reasonable service. ”
2. Division
1. The lighting of the lamps (Numbers 8:1-4 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Speak unto Aaron and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. [3] And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses. [4] And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.
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2. The setting apart of the Levites (Numbers 8:5-22 [5] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [6] Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. [7] And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. [8] Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. [9] And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: [10] And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: [11] And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD. [12] And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites. [13] And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD. [14] Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine. [15] And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering. [16] For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. [17] For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. [18] And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. [19] And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary. [20] And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them. [21] And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. [22] And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.
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3. The service of the Levites (Numbers 8:23-26 [23] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [24] This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: [25] And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: [26] But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.
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4. Each section begins with the phrase, “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,”
2. THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMPS (Numbers 8:1-4 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Speak unto Aaron and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. [3] And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses. [4] And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.
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1. The Interruption of the Story
1. The first four verses interrupt the giving of God’s people.
2. Either God went off on a tangent here that is meaningless, or He has some special reason for interrupting a story to mention the lighting of the candlestick.
2. Significance of Timing
1. Time of new beginnings or restored fellowship
1. Creation (Genesis 1:1-4 [1] In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. [2] And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. [3] And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. [4] And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
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1. God is getting ready to create man to fellowship with Him after a time of broken fellowship.
1. Three things are in existence in Genesis l:2.
1. The earth
2. Darkness
3. The deep
2. Only one of these things is mentioned as being created in Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
   See All..., this being the earth.  Perhaps you could argue for the water being a part of the earth.
3. This appears to be a time of judgment.
2. Fellowship was broken because of the rebellion of Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-15 [12] How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! [13] For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: [14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. [15] Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
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3. God spoke out of the darkness.
4. The first thing God calls to come forth is light (Genesis 1:3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
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2. Tabernacle
1. The Israelites have been in Egypt.
2. They have been separated from their God.
3. In the wilderness the Lord gives Moses the pattern for the tabernacle where He will meet with them.
4. Upon the completion of the tabernacle and the offerings of the princes, the Lord speaks out of the darkness and calls for light, just as He did in the creation (Numbers 8:2Speak unto Aaron and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
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3. The Incarnation
1. God had been silent.
2. Men were in darkness.
3. The fulness of time came and God adorned flesh to come and restore fellowship with His creation.
4. The Lord Jesus in multiple places in John 1 is said to be the Light (John 1:4-9 [4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men. [5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. [6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. [8] He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. [9] That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
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4. The New Jerusalem
1. The earth has been destroyed.
2. There is a new heaven and a new earth.
3. God describes the holy city.
4. In the description He makes sure to tell us of the source of light in this city.  “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof”  (Revelation 21:23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
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2. Practical thoughts
1. The Israelites were seeking fellowship with God:  from the princes, to the Levites, to the common people.
2. In order for them to have fellowship with God, God Himself had to provide light.
3. God spoke to Moses out of darkness, but in order for the people have communion with Him there must be light (1 John 1:6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
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3. The Candlestick
1. The makeup
1. The main candlestick (Exodus 25:31And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
   See All...; Exodus 37:17And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:
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1. Made of pure gold
2. Beaten
3. Called a shaft
4. Possibly has its own branch at the top (Exodus 37:17And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:
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5. Had 4 bowls, 4 knops and 4 flowers (Exodus 25:33-34 [33] Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. [34] And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
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1. The bowl looks like an almond.
2. The knop was like a knob.
3. The flower is thought to be like a lily.
6. At the top it had a lamp for the light.
2. The branches
1. Made of pure gold
2. Beaten
3. Six in number
4. Each has 3 bowls, 3 knops, and 3 flowers.
5. At the top each has a lamp for the light.
6. At the bottom each has its beginning in the candlestick.
3. The lamps
1. The place where the light is manifested.
2. To be burning continually (Exodus 27:20And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
   See All...; Leviticus 24:1-4 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. [3] Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. [4] He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.
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3. Note:  See the circumstances in the days of Eli (1 Samuel 3:1-11 [1] And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. [2] And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; [3] And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; [4] That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. [5] And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. [6] And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. [7] Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. [8] And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. [9] Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. [10] And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. [11] And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
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4. The oil
1. Pure olive oil
2. Beaten
3. The source of the light
2. The purpose of the light
1. Shed light on the table of shewbread (Exodus 26:35And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
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1. The table of shewbread was on the north side.
2. The candlestick was on the south side.
2. Shed light on the altar of incense
3. Shed light on the candlestick (Numbers 8:2Speak unto Aaron and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
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3. The symbols
1. The shaft
1. The shaft is a picture of Jesus Christ.
2. Being a branch signifies His humanity, whereas the beaten gold demonstrates His deity.
3. Its source
1. The shaft or candlestick is its own source.
2. Jesus Christ His own source (Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
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1. Jesus Christ is before all things (Micah 5:2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
   See All...; John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
   See All...; John 8:58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
   See All...;  John 17:5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
   See All..., 24; Revelation 22:13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
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2. Jesus Christ created all things (John 1:3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
   See All...; Ephesians 3:6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
   See All...; Colossians 1:16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
   See All...; Revelation 3:14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
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3. Jesus Christ upholdeth all things (Psalm 75:3The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.
   See All...; Colossians 1:16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
   See All...; Hebrews 1:3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
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4. Its preeminence
1. It has four bowls, knops and flowers which cause it to stand above the other branches.
2. Jesus Christ became man, but He is still God.  As such He has preeminence (Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
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1. Christ has authority over nature (Matthew 8:27But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
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2. Jesus Christ has authority over heavenly powers (1 Peter 3:22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
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3. Jesus Christ is the King of Glory (Psalm 2:6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
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4. Jesus Christ is equal with God (John 5:18Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
   See All...; John 10:30I and my Father are one.
   See All...; Philippians 2:6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
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5. Jesus Christ is heir to the throne of David (Isaiah 9:7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
   See All...; Jeremiah 23:5Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
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6. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church (Ephesians 1:2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
   See All...; Ephesians 5:23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
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5. It is the source of the other branches.
1. The shaft is the origin of the other branches.
2. Jesus Christ is called the Branch (Isaiah 4:2In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
   See All...; Isaiah 11:1And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
   See All...; Jeremiah 23:5Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
   See All...; Jeremiah 33:15In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
   See All...; Zechariah 3:8Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
   See All...; Zechariah 6:12And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
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3. In John 15, He is called the vine (John 15:1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
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2. The branches
1. The branches are a picture of God’s people.
2. Its source
1. The branches find their source in the candlestick.
2. God’s people find their source for all things in Jesus Christ.  We are brought into this source by new birth just as a branch comes forth as new life.
3. Its connection
1. The branches would not exist apart from the shaft or candlestick itself.
2. Believers can bear no fruit and would not exist apart from the Vine (John 15:4-5 [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
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4. The branches signify humanity.  The gold is royalty.  The difference being that Christ is the Son of God by His own existence, however, we become sons of God by the new birth.