Friday 1st May
Read Ezra 2:36-42
“The priests:
| the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) | 973 |
| 37 of Immer | 1,052 |
| 38 of Pashhur | 1,247 |
| 39 of Harim | 1,017 |
40 The Levites:
| the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah) | 74 |
41 The musicians:
| the descendants of Asaph | 128 |
42 The gatekeepers of the temple:
| the descendants of | |
| Shallum, Ater, Talmon, | |
| Akkub, Hatita and Shobai | 139 |
“(NIVUK)
One can’t return to Jerusalem, rebuild a temple and re-establish worship without priests and over 3000 answer the call. This is a significant fraction of the returning exiles. What is also needed however are Levites and the number returning is disproportionately small – an issue that Ezra will have to deal with later.
Why are Levites so important? If one recalls the temple structure: priests are descended from Aaron, and are the only people consecrated to offer sacrifices and ultimately stand before Yahweh. However, an entire tribe was set aside, the tribe of Levi, and tasked with serving the Lord through practical service. They carried the tabernacle and its implements, they likely moved the sacrifices and served the people in all sorts of seemingly trivial and menial ways, without which the temple services could not happen. One family as priests, one tribe in service.
Churches sometimes have precisely the same imbalance. Lots of people willing to be up front, far fewer willing to work behind the scenes. Yet it is those behind the scenes that keep the lights on – and are just as important as those up front. All service is valued by God.
