Numbers 8:6 –
“Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean.”
The Lord now has assigned the significance of the “first born sons” of Israel to this tribe. He has set the apart from His people to become the interface between God and their nation. Their duties were focused on worship and the ceremonies in the Tabernacle. But what does that mean today for Christians? Things have changed so much between God and the way people “interface” with Him.
This though is kind of out there, but where the Tabernacle was an earthly representation of God’s presence, the Israelites were representations of God’s favor. When Jesus died things changed radically for the world because at that point the people’s sins were forgiven. Also, at Pentecost the Holy Spirit came and gave everyone access to God’s presence. With this the Tabernacle was no longer needed, hence the tear in the curtain from top down, as if God was opening the door for everyone. The people of Israel now represent how one could live if they remained in God’s favor.
Now my question is the role of the Levites and how it applies with the New Covenant? Also, have the Jewish people remained true to the Levites original charge and do they still honor that “tribe” as religious leaders? Today, since the Temple is gone, they have a diminished role in Jewish society, but they are still set aside. When the Temple is rebuilt they will resume their roles managing the operations there. This will be good for the Israelites, but bad for the Christians, since that represents the end times … but that’s a study in Revelations.