Deuteronomy 33:8-11 – Being faithful and diligent in service to God

Deuteronomy 33:8-11 contain Moses’ pronouncement of blessing over the tribe of Levi. The blessing Moses pronounced over them was longer than the other tribes, apart from the tribe of Joseph. The priests who hailed from this tribe were responsible for the Urim and Thummim through which God provided guidance. The blessing was for God to continue to guide the people through the tribes of Levi.

The two most notable characters of this tribe were Aaron and Moses himself. They were probably the two most tested and abused personalities in the whole of their tribe. Remember how the people would grumble and murmur against them whenever they stumbled over challenges and difficulties. Verse 8 describes the two occasions on the journey, at Massah and at Meribah, where water was lacking and the people came against the leadership, but they proved themselves to be godly men.

The tribe of Levi was the tribe that had stood gallantly for God when the rest of Israel fell into temptation and turned wayward. The Levites were known for their courage to stand for God. They did not allow the natural relationship with the other tribes to affect their stand for God when the rest fell into temptation. And the last two lines of verse 9 are held up as models of covenant obedience.   

Verse 10 tells us that they were responsible to teach the law and in the offering of sacrifices to God to atone for the sins of Israel. It was through the tribe of Levi that God released His blessing. So the blessing of the tribe of Levi would mean that the whole of Israel would be blessed. When God accepted the tribe of Levi, the whole nation of Israel would be benefitted. Attacking them, even from among their own people, would affect the whole nation. So the prayer was for all opposition against them to be abrogated.    

The tribe of Levi had proven themselves in their God-assigned service. In their stand for God, in their teaching the law, or in the offering of sacrifices, they were responsible and faithful. Yes, they were even held up as examples of covenant faithfulness. Their faithfulness to the duties assigned to them leaves us with an example of how we need to show the same faithfulness and diligence. Won’t it be an honor to be held up as being faithful to God? Talking about the faithfulness and diligence in service, be motivated by a prayer of Thomas Aquinas. He prayed, “Bestow upon me, O Lord my God, understanding to know Thee, diligence to seek Thee, wisdom to find Thee and a faithfulness that may finally embrace Thee.” Be faithful to God. O how we need it!