Números 18

Números 18

Spurgeon - Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name. Though not ordained to the typical priesthood, Moses was a true priest, even as Melchizedek had been before him. God has ever had a priesthood beside and above that of the law. The three holy men here mentioned all stood in his courts, and saw his holiness, each one after his own order. Moses saw the Lord in flaming fire revealing each perfect law, Aaron full often watched the sacred fire devour the sin-offering, and Samuel witnessed the judgment of the Lord on Eli's house, because of the error of his way. These each one stood in the gap when the wrath of God broke forth, because his holiness had been insulted; and acting as intercessors, they screened the nation from the great and terrible God, who otherwise would in a dreadful manner have executed judgment in Jacob. Let these men, or such as these, lead us in our worship, and let us approach the Lord at the mercy-seat as they did, for he is as accessible to us as to them. They made it their life's business to call upon him in prayer, and by so doing brought down innumerable blessings upon themselves and others. Does not the Lord call us also to come up into the mount with Moses, and to enter the most holy place with Aaron? Do we not hear him call us by our name as he did Samuel? And do we not answer, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth"? They called upon the Lord, and he answered them. Not in vain were their prayers; but being a holy God he was true to his promises, and hearkened to them from off the mercy-seat. Here is reason for praise, for answers to the petitions of some are proofs of God's readiness to hear others. These three men asked large things, they pleaded for a whole nation, and they stayed great plagues and turned away fiery wrath; who would not exercise himself in adoring so great and merciful a God? If he were unholy he would be false to his word and refuse his people's cries; this, then, is recorded for our joy and for his glory, that holy men of old were not suffered to pray in vain. Thou art coming to a King, Large petitions with thee bring; For His grace and power are such, None can ever ask too much; None can ever ask too much. (Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare) Bush summarizes the intent of chapter 18 - The recent manifestations recorded in the two preceding chapters, had operated so effectually upon the congregation as to fill them with a kind of panic consternation in view of the danger of approaching the Tabernacle, or dealing in any way with the sanctities of worship. The divine benignity designs, in the present chapter, to reassure the Israelite's confidence, and at the same time to impress Aaron himself with a deep and abiding sense of the responsibility that rested upon him in the discharge of the duties of that sacred office which had been so signally confirmed to him by the miraculous tokens of the Lord’s appointment. These indications might tend to puff him up with a conceit of his own importance, and therefore he is here reminded of the burden laid upon him and the duty required of him as a priest. The consequence would naturally be that instead of being made proud of his preferment, he would receive the honors of his office with reverence and holy awe, being made aware of the danger arising from any default in his service. When men are invested with authority, their responsibility rises in proportion. It is a law running through the whole providential economy of heaven, that to whom much has been given, from them much is required. So the LORD said to Aaron - Only place in Numbers were God addresses Aaron by himself (also Nu 18:1, 8, 20). Most often Yahweh speaks either to Moses alone or to Moses and Aaron. In this case the subject is the responsibilities of the priesthood. UBS says "So renders well the Hebrew waw connector here (literally “And”), since the LORD is responding to the fearful cry of the Israelites in Nu 17:12–13. This is the first time the LORD addresses only Aaron in this book." Currid points out that "The only other instance appears in Leviticus 10:8–11+. Both times occur at the conclusion to events in which the worship structure of Israel has been under grave threats." (EPSC-Nu) You and your sons and your father's household with you - He is speaking of the house and posterity of the tribe of Levi. Shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary - NET = "you must bear the iniquity"; NLT paraphrase = "will be held responsible for any offenses related to the sanctuary." The point is that the Levites and Aaronic priesthood would bear the punishment for any and all the iniquity that is done in the sanctuary. They are to prevent the "laymen" Israelites from approaching the sanctuary and would have to pay the penalty if they failed to fulfill their duty. If the sanctuary should be profaned by the intrusion of strangers or the unclean, the priests and the Levites were answerable for the offense, because they would be considered negligent for letting it take place. David