HE SUITS THE BURDEN TO THE BACK

HE SUITS THE BURDEN TO THE BACK!

Num 8:23-26

23 And the Lord  spake unto Moses, saying,

24 This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

25 And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:

26 But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

Ps 103:14

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

          The Jews had become slaves in Egypt. They were driven hard, mistreated and poorly nourished. God delivered them from this and established a day of rest as a perpetual ordinance among them. In all of His dealings with his people, God determined not to be a harsh taskmaster.

          The Levites could begin serving at the age of 30 (See Numbers 8:24 and 4:3) but, evidently, there was a five year apprenticeship. They would serve twenty five years and would retire from active service at age 50, at which time they would become helpers and advisors to the younger and stronger men. It was a good plan.

          I wonder if the Levites were embroiled in the same generational conflicts as ministers now seem to be. Seeing that the limitations were imposed by God I would think that simple obedience would suffice but the age of 50 is hardly a time to simply quit. In addition to that the 50-year-old Levites could tell the young guys a thing or two. I guess it is human nature. Logan Pearsall Smith once said: “The denunciation of the young is a necessary part of the hygiene of older people and greatly assists in the circulation of the blood.”

          An elderly woman was filling out an application for residency in a retirement village. She was a bit nervous answering all the questions about her health, fearing she might be refused admission. But, she finally finished the form and then signed her name and filled in the place where it asked for her current address. After "Zip" she printed firmly: "Normal for my age."

   --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 23.

Dear Lord, as I have well passed my 50^th year, help me to be a blessing to those younger ones who will begin to fill my seat. AMEN