8At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. 9Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him. This is from Deuteronomy chapter 10: 8 and 9
Here we see that the tribe of Levi had been separated to bear the ark of the Lord, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name. Numbers 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. The Levites had an awesome responsibility.
Deuteronomy 31: 9 – 13 9And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel. 10And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, 11When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: 13And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
The verses above are for a little bit of a background to help us better understand the Tribe of Levi, what there responsibility was and what was placed in the ark. Hebrews 9: 4 tells us that the ark contained the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. This tribe was responsible for carrying the ark, not only when they wondered in the wilderness but when they went into battle the ark always went first.
It was there duty to carry the ark. No one but the priestly tribe of the Levites could even touch the ark. Look at 1st Samuel 6:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. Also look at 2nd Samuel 6:6-7 6And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. That kind of changes your image you may have from Raiders of the Lost Ark doesn’t it?
I want to look at one more thing before I close this study out today. Paula from http://flutterby.christianblogsites.com/blog/ left a comment on my last post, one that I haven’t even considered. Here is the comment: “Consider the words of John (20:12) describing Mary Magdalene's view as she looked into the tomb - "She saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain." Is this not a perfect rendition of the drawings you've seen of the mercy seat? An angel at each end, wings overspread, covering, watching, protecting? No longer are they watching, their faces "toward the mercy seat" - they are as Mary saw now simply sitting - the work of mercy has been accomplished! The One whom they watched over, guarded, the purveyor and Master of Mercy is no longer there - He is risen!! Awesome!!!!” Paula I hope you don’t mind me reposting your comment, but it a great point and needs to be made again. Here is the verse from John that she mentioned: And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
God Bless You!
Brent
