Deuteronomy 18:1-8 – The need to support God’s ministers

Although the priests and the Levites were differentiated in the Old Testament, they were all descendants of Levi, one of Israel’s twelve sons. Of the descendants of Levi, only the sons of Aaron were chosen for priestly functions to serve in temple worship. The rest commonly referred to as Levites, were people set apart to assist in the ministry of the Tabernacle. They were responsible for the setting up, dismantling, and transporting of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. All the priests of Israel must be Levites but not all Levites were priests.

Deuteronomy 18:1-8 deals with the support of the priests as well as the Levites. We know that the tribe Levi was set apart to serve God and would not be allotted any portion of the promised land. Hence their support would come from the people. They were the appointed ministers of God. These verses first deal with the provision for the priests. Because they would officiate in sacrifice, they would be given the shoulder, cheek, and stomach of the sacrificed ox or sheep. Besides that, they would also be given the firstfruits offering which would include grains, wine, and oil, as well as the first shearing of sheep. Since the role of the priests had to do with temple worship, they would be located mainly around the tabernacle. Eventually, they would be in the temple in Jerusalem, the place where God would establish His name. The Levites on the other hand were spread throughout the land in cities set apart for them. When a Levite felt led to go to another town and serve where God had chosen, he must be supported like the other Levites there and be treated equally like them.

What can we learn from these verses? Not everyone would be called into a full-time Christian vocation. Those whom God has called to serve Him must devote themselves wholeheartedly to the calling. Besides longing to be where God wants them to be, they must serve Him and His people eagerly and earnestly. Those who are called can trust God and His people to provide for them. And those whom they serve must be willing to be used by God to support and meet their needs. God wants His ministers to be supported by His people.