Deuteronomy 18:1, 2 The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel… True of the priests and Levites, it is true also of each believer, that "the Lord is his inheritance" (Psalm 16:5, 6). He is in this respect a "priest unto God" (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6). I. THE MEANING OF THE EXPRESSION. Inheritance - equal to lot, part, share. Inheritance in families - the share which each receives of the patrimony. In the partition of Canaan, each tribe had its lot, its portion, its share. God's portion or inheritance was the tithes, with the prescribed parts of the sacrifices, the firstfruits, etc. Levi had as his portion God himself, involving a share of the provision from God's table (ver. 1). II. THE GRANDEUR OF THE TRUTH. 1. The believer possesses God. God is a better possession for the soul than any of his gifts. "It is a thought which lies at the foundation of all true religion, that God himself is the Supreme Good, the true and real portion of the soul.... More intimately than light becomes the possession of the eye on which it streams, or air of the organs of breathing which inhale it, or the food we eat, assimilated and diffused through the physical system, incorporates itself with the nature of him who partakes of it, does he, that Infinite One, the Light of all our seeing, the Bread of Life, the nutriment of our highest being, become the deep inward portion of each soul that loves him" (Caird, sermon on 'The Christian's Heritage'). 2. In possessing God, the believer possesses all things. And this, though in an outward sense he has nothing (2 Corinthians 6:10; cf. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23). (1) God provides for him out of the fullness at his command. Possessing God, the Possessor of all, he knows that he will want "no good thing" (Psalm 84:11). Temporally and spiritually, he will be provided for, kept, saved, delivered (Psalm 37:3, 9, 11, 25, 34; Psalm 121.; Isaiah 33:16; Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 1:3). (2) All things work together for his good (Romans 8:28). (3) He perceives and enjoys God in all things, as none else can (Psalm 104.). (4) He is one of the" heirs of God" in "the times of the restitution of all things" (Acts 3:24), when the redeemed enter on their glory (Matthew 25:84). Let the saint reflect on his inheritance in God. (1) How surpassingly rich it is! (2) How delightsome it is! (Psalm 16:6). (3) How enduring it is - eternal! (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18). (4) How all-satisfying it is! (Psalm 73:26). - J.O. Parallel Verses KJV: The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. |
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