The priests and the Levites shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and His portion. Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance. (Deuteronomy 18:1-2)
It is fact of history that, in medieval Europe, the clergy possessed vast land holdings and, therefore, accumulated a lot of wealth. It’s not hard to see how that scenario might present a problem when it came to loyalty and allegiances, particularly the main one — to God and His people. In sharp contrast to that situation, the priests of Israel did not possess land in the way their countrymen did, but instead, received the “first-fruits” of the peoples’ harvests. Not only did this system help the priests avoid the temptation they might have succumbed to had they possessed land, but also amplified the fact that the LORD was their source for all. As it is written, the LORD was their inheritance.
Seeing that the LORD was their inheritance, the spiritual benefits were enormous but so were the responsibilities. The tribe of Levi and the Priests were to properly lead the people in the ways of righteousness, teaching them to discern between what was holy and what was not. As it is written, “The lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 2:7). Obviously, this meant they had to walk in the ways of righteousness themselves — one cannot properly lead others in ways they’ve never known. Let’s look at it this way: just because someone was born into a priestly or levitical family didn’t mean they were righteous or evil; they had to make a choice.
Likewise, we who are regarded as a “royal priesthood” and servants of the Most High must understand that, just because we were born into a family of church-goers — or for that matter, preachers — doesn’t mean that we are evil or righteous. Like all others, we must make a choice to follow in His ways or to walk in a way that suits us. But let us consider that, as those called to be a light to others, when we choose to walk in His ways, our lives are blessed with provision, protection and the knowledge that He is our portion. As David wrote, “O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance” (Psalm 16:5). That is, in reality, what it is all about — knowing that our inheritance is the Creator of all things which means that, in Him, all things are possible.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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