City of Levites

Numbers 34:28-35:10         1/8/2018

This is an instruction for the team of tribal leaders tasked with dividing up the Promised Land between tribes. Through Moses, God directed the leaders to provide cities for the Levites. The Levites cities would be distributed throughout the Promised Land and east of the Jordan.

Levite Ministry

During the exodus, their principle job was to support the priests in conducting the sacrifices and to move the tabernacle equipment as they went from place to place.

So what is their job supposed to be once they enter the Promised Land? Why do they need cities? Why don’t they just stay near the tabernacle, or have their own land?

The Levites were the practical, day-to-day ministers to the people who did not live close to wherever the tabernacle was located. God required the children of Israel to tithe one-tenth of their income. This tithe was given to the Levites as compensation for their ministry.

Ministry

So how many paid ministers should there be in a church?

How many times have you heard someone lament, “Teachers are paid little but have the most important job.” If the Authentic Community held to the 10% tithe commitment, 1 in 12 of us would be in paid ministry supporting the spiritual needs of the community.

How much more should we be investing in ministry? How important is the Authentic Community?

“And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” Eph 4:11-12