And after these things He went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He said unto him,
“Follow Me.”
And he left all, rose up, and followed Him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, “Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?” And Jesus answering said unto them,
“They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 5:27-32
Levi
An Uprising
“And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And He hath brought thee near to Him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?” Numbers 16:8-11 (KJV)
Korah, Dathan and Abiram were family in the tribe of Levi, and the children of Israel journeyed through the wilderness, out of Egypt. The family of Aaron was appointed as the family of the priesthood, and these Levites were caretakers of the “Holy articles” of the tabernacle. Yet, at least these three raised a ruckus against Moses and Aaron and GOD.
This is one sad, but too often repeated in the Biblical history, as well as throughout world history. People who are not content with their God given place in service and life. That is where wars and strife come from (James 4:1-2).
Look at the leadership of Moses. He states the case for what it is. It is a rebellion against the LORD (v. 11 in the text above). These were God’s people, going God’s way, doing God’s will; and yet there was discontent, jealousy, and bitterness. All those things are against God.
As Korah gathered the congregation together against God, Moses and Aaron “…The glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation” (V. 19). The LORD had appointed Moses and Aaron to their positions of leadership, and the other Levites to their positions. It is a dangerous thing to challenge God, and His appointments, and/or His authority to do so; then to question the authority of those He has placed in authority.
Moses plead with Korah, Dathan and Abiram (vv. 8-9), to change their heart and mind; but to no avail. Moses and Aaron fall on their faces before the LORD (v. 22), and plead with God for the congregation, and God’s mercy upon them.
All who would separate themselves from the uprising, and the three men would be spared the event that was about to happen.
Because they refused to repent the judgment of God was about to fall. Hear the words of Moses to the men and the congregation….
And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. vv. 28-34
We all need to consider these words which are from God. This by no means even hints at toleration of evil and godless leadership; especially within a Congregation of Christian people. Neither does it allow for false teachers who preach contrary to the content of Scripture, or of Christ Jesus.
Let us be content with our calling and place in life. Let us do our part, and not even desire the office of another. If we could we might want to ask Korah, Dathan and Abiram about the reality of God’s wrath and judgment. I think they would agree with…
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
You do not need to perish. Realize you have sinned, that God sent His Son Jesus to die for you; that He was buried, and that He rose again from the grave, and that He eternally lives giving life to all who believe Him.
Sinners – Not the Righteous are Called to Repentance
“And after these things He went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He said unto him, “Follow Me.” And he left all, rose up, and followed Him. And Levi made Him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, ‘Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?’ And Jesus answering said unto them, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” And they said unto Him, ‘Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?’ And He said unto them, “Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.” And He spake also a parable unto them; “No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, ‘The old is better.'” ~Jesus dealing with the scribes and Pharisees (Luke 5:27-39)
God Our Refuge
Today we are going to take a gander at Psalm 46:1. Before I get to that however, I want to explain the title of the Psalm.
“To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.“
There are seven of the Psalms here together. From Psalm 42 – Psalm 49; with the exception of 43, they all refer to the “sons of Korah”. Korah is mentioned in a rebellion in Numbers 16 who with Dathan and Abiram rebelled against the leadership of Moses and God. Because of this rebellion the men and the families of these men were engulfed by an opening of the earth, and slain. According to Numbers 26:11 -“Not withstanding the children of Korah died not.”
Korah was of the tribe of Levi; thus he had duties as a caretaker of the tabernacle. There is much to know and learn of Korah, and his sons. They evidently were needing encouragement. These Psalms were written for that purpose.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
A refuge is a place you go to hide, to be protected from a source of harm. It is a place to go when you are afraid. The Psalmist says that “God is our refuge”.
The Psalmist goes on saying that He is also our strength. When you do not have the power to continue call upon the LORD and He will give you strength. When fear robs you of the will to continue; and if you experience fear it will rob you of strength; go to the One who is our refuge and strength.
The LORD is God; not faraway, but very near you. He is our very present help in trouble.
In the Treasury of David Spurgeon has written –
“God is our refuge and strength.” Not our armies, or our fortresses. Israel’s boast is in Jehovah, the only living and true God. Others vaunt their impregnable castles, placed on inaccessible rocks and secured with gates of iron, but God is a far better refuge from distress than all these: and when the time comes to carry the war into the enemy’s territories, the Lord stands his people in better stead than all the valour of legions or the boasted strength of chariot and horse. Soldiers of the cross, remember this, and count yourselves safe, and make yourselves strong in God. Forget not the personal possessive word “our;” make sure each one of your portion in God, that you may say, “He is my refuge and strength.” Neither forget the fact that God is our refuge just now, in the immediate present, as truly as when David penned the word. God alone is our all in all. All other refuges are refuges of lies, all other strength is weakness, for power belongeth unto God: but as God is all-sufficient, our defence and might are equal to all emergencies. “A very present help in trouble,” or in distresses he has so been found, he has been tried and proved by his people. He never withdraws himself from his afflicted. He is their help, truly, effectually, constantly; he is present or near them, close at their side and ready for their succour, and this is emphasised by the word “very” in our version, he is more present than friend or relative can be, yea, more nearly present than even the trouble itself. To all this comfortable truth is added the consideration that his assistance comes at the needed time. He is not as the swallows that leave us in the winter; he is a friend in need and a friend indeed. When it is very dark with us, let brave spirits say, “Come, let us sing the Psa_46:1-11.”
“A fortress firm, and steadfast rock,
Is God in time of danger;
A shield and sword in every shock,
From foe well-known or’ stranger.”
Be strong in the LORD today and always. He is very Present with those who have called upon His name.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 