Numbers 16:3

THE PRIESTHOOD

‘Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: where fore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?’

Numbers 16:3

I. This assertion was strictly true.—Every one of the congregation was holy—i.e. separated to the service of God from all other people (Exodus 19:6; Leviticus 20:24). The Lord, too, was amongst them, as He said, ‘I will dwell among the children of Israel, and I will be their God’ (Exodus 29:45).

But though they (the rebels) spake what was quite true, they drew a totally wrong inference from it. Because all the children of Israel, all the congregation was holy, they drew the inference that there were to be no priests among them—none to stand between the Lord and the people to offer to God on behalf of the people.

Now the very same God who had separated all the people to be holy to Himself, and had made them a kingdom of priests as well as a holy nation, had separated one tribe to minister to Himself, and one family of that tribe, the family of Aaron, to be priests in a sense that no other Israelites were, and to perform functions of worship which no other Israelites could perform.

II. Now the same thing has taken place in Christian times, and by Christ’s own appointment.—He separated twelve men from the whole body of His disciples, and put a very great difference between them and His ordinary disciples. To these twelve, and these only, He said, ‘Do this in remembrance of Me.’ To these only He said, ‘Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them.’ And He promised to be with them to the end of the world, so that the Church has always held that they live in their successors. Just, then, as the common priesthood of all the Jews did not prevent God ordaining a particular priesthood, so the common priesthood of all Christians does not undo the fact that there is an Apostolical ministry ordained more directly to represent Christ to His people. Let us then devoutly use the functions of His ministry, looking to the action of Christ in each case, giving all glory to Him alone, and we cannot be wrong. We must ask Him to enable us rightly to honour His ordinance, and He will hear our prayer.

—Rev. M. F. Sadler.

Illustration

‘Aaron’s family was but a junior branch of Levi’s tribe; “therefore,” said Korah, “our right is equal to yours, and, perhaps, better. You should at least share the priesthood with us. As to the Reubenites, who should rule, if not they? Was not Reuben the first-born? Should Moses, a mere Levite, keep the power all to himself?” The true origin of this conspiracy was to be found in two secret springs:—(1) Rank Ungodliness. The human law of primogeniture is everything, but the will of God, so clearly shown in the choice of both these men, is nothing. Here is that exaltation of man’s claims, to the belittling of God’s, which degrades and poisons so much of our modern politics. (2) Rank Selfishness. They talked grandly about rights, but their real aim was place and power, the priesthood and the leadership. Here, then, in this ungodliness and selfish hypocritical ambition, is enough to account for any depths of folly and any heights of presumptuous sin. What may not happen when, God being ignored, self both usurps His place and masquerades in the garb of righteousness?’