1 Chronicles 6:48 Their brothers also the Levites were appointed to all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God. It is a familiar thought to the Christian that what is done to others is really done unto Christ. Upon it rests our Divine Master's observation, and to it he gives his Divine approval. And we are permitted even to consider that such approval may rest upon so small and so simple a thing as the offering of "a cup of water." We have the corresponding teaching from the older dispensation suggested in this verse. What was done in the old tabernacle service was done unto God, and was accepted of him. Common work, porters' work, scavengers' work, all the wide circle of commonplace Levites' work, servants' work, was as truly service to God as the offerings of priests and the chantings of the singers. Two things may be fully opened and contrasted. I. MAN'S ESTIMATE OF THE GREAT AND SMALL. To him the great is that which makes a large figure to the eye, and man has in every age a set of arbitrary standards by which he judges the great and small. II. GOD'S ESTIMATE. To him its mere world figure and relation are of little significance. Things are judged according to their capacity for expressing character, quality, principle, virtue. To God a thing is miserably small that can offer no sphere for the utterance of a soul's love, and loyalty, and obedience, and unselfishness, and trust. So often to God man's high things are low, man's first things are last. Nothing has character in itself. It gains character only by the spirit in which it is done. Then we ask what spirit is it which can give greatness or littleness to our human actions. There are certainly these two: (1) loyalty to God and the right; and (2) service to others. St. Paul argues that the "lesser services" have the honourable stamp of superior necessity and usefulness. Porters' work in the temple bore directly on decency and cleanliness, and cultivated the idea of the pure and the orderly in God's worship. As well do without priests as without Levites. "Careful less to please thee much than to serve thee perfectly." - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.WEB: Their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God. |
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