Good evening. We have two readings tonight, the first being from Hebrews chapter seven. That’s on page 1,280 of your Pew Bibles. And then we’ll move to Numbers chapter four, which is on page 141. Preaching of the Word tonight will be from Numbers. Let’s give attention to the very Word of God, Hebrews chapter 7, beginning at verse 23.
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office. He holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a son who has been made perfect forever. Amen. Now you turn to Numbers. We have a rather long reading there. Numbers chapter 4, beginning at verse 1. Once again, let’s give attention to the very Word of God.
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, take a a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi by their clans, and their father’s houses from 30 years old up to 50 years old, all who can come on duty to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting, the most holy things. When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it.
And they shall put on it a covering of goatskin, and spread on top of that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles. And over the table of the bread of presents they shall spread a cloth of blue and put it on the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls and the flagons for the drink offering.
The regular showbread also shall be on it. Then they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet and a cover, and cover the same with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles. And they shall take up a cloth of blue and cover the lampstand for the light with its lamps, its tongs, its trays, and all the vessels for oil with which it is supplied. And they shall put it with all the utensils in a covering of goatskin and put it on the carrying frame. And over the golden altar, they shall spread a cloth of blue and cover it with a covering of goatskin and put in its poles. And they shall take all the vessels of the service that are used in the sanctuary and put them in a cloth of blue and cover them with the covering of goatskin and put them on the carrying frame.
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. And they shall put on it all the utensils of the altar which are used for the service there, the firepans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar. And they shall spread on it a covering of goatskin and shall put in its poles. And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these. But they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry.
And Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, shall have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering, and the anointing oil. with the oversight of the whole tabernacle and all that is in it, of the sanctuary and its vessels. The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, let not the tribe of the clans of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites, but deal thus with them, that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things. Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his task and to his burden, but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment lest they die. The Lord spoke to Moses saying, take a census of the sons of Gershon also by their fathers’ houses and by their clans.
From 30 years old up to 50 years old, you shall list them, all who can come to do duty to the service, to do service in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the clans of the Gershonites in serving and bearing burdens. They shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and the coverings of goatskin that is on top of it, and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting, and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords, and all the equipment for their service. They shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them. All the service of the sons of the Gershonites shall be at the command of Aaron and his sons, and all that they are to carry, and all that they have to do. And you shall assign to their charge and all that they are to carry. This is the service of the clans of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting. And their guard duty is to be under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
As for the sons of Marare, you shall list them by their clans and their father’s houses. From 30 years old up to 50 years old, you shall list them, everyone who can come on duty and do the service of the Tent of Meeting. And this is what they are charged to carry as the whole of their service in the Tent of Meeting. the frames of the tabernacle with its bars, pillars, and bases, and the pillars around the court with their bases, pegs, and cords, with all their equipment and all their accessories. And you shall list by name the objects that they are required to carry.
This is the service of the clans of the sons of Marari, the whole of their service and intent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
And Moses and Aaron, the chiefs of the congregation, listed the sons of the Kohathites by their clans, and their fathers’ houses from 30 years old and up to 50 years old, everyone who could come on duty for the service in the Tent of Meeting. And those listed by the clans were 2,750. This was the list of the clans of the Kohathites, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the Lord by Moses. Those listed of the sons of Gershon by their clans and their fathers’ houses from 30 years old up to 50 years old, everyone who could come on duty for service in the Tent of Meeting, Those listed by their clans and their fathers’ houses were 2,630. This was the list of the clans of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the Lord. Those listed in the clans of the sons of Merari by their clans and their fathers’ houses, from 30 years old up to 50 years old, everyone who could come on duty for service in the tent of meeting, those listed by clans were 3,200. This was the list of the clans of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron listed, According to the commandment of the Lord by Moses, all those who were listed of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of Israel listed by their clans and their fathers’ houses from 30 years old up to 50 years old, everyone who could come to do the service of ministry and the service of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting, those listed were 8,580.
According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses, they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying, thus they were listed by him as the Lord commanded Moses.
As far in the very word of God. Amen. Would you pray with me? Father and our God, we thank you and praise you for this description, this historical record, your assignments for the tent of meeting for the tabernacle, for the Levites and for the priests. Father, this is strange to us. We don’t quite grasp it. And so we ask, please work by your spirit to guide and direct our hearts tonight, that we might take this historical record, this factual history, with regard to the way you are to be worshiped, and help us, guide us this evening, offer your glory, We ask this in the name of Christ. Amen. Are you taking advantage of the intercession of Jesus? It might be thought of as a strange question, but I think it’s a powerful one as we consider this passage in Numbers.
If you remember, in the first book of Samuel, when David was being chased by Saul, and he was hiding out, and he had men with him, and at one point in that account, David’s men had been guarding Nabal’s shepherds and the sheep. And as they guarded them, there wasn’t a single one missing. And David thought that he would send his men to Nabal to get some of the sheep meat as they were shearing the sheep. And this was a time of feasting and festival. And he thought rightly that we should have some of that, given that we had protected your men.
But if you know the account, as David sends his men, Nabal said to them, no. Who are you? As a result, David in his wrath was headed toward Nabal’s house to slay Nabal and every single male in the household. David’s wrath was about to be poured out. In a sense, there was righteous wrath here, but he was about to sin gravely against the Lord. And then we see this intercessor appear. in the account.
Her name was Abigail. She was the wife of Nabal. And as she hears of what has happened, she comes to David with 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already prepared, five sheaths of parched grain, and 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs on donkeys. She intercedes. She appeases David’s wrath. And as a result, David does not go to Nabal’s house. David does not inflict the punishment that he was about to inflict because Abigail interceded.
In one sense, that helps us understand this passage we have tonight in Numbers. In this book of Numbers, we’ve already seen the numbering of the Israelites. But if you remember, as the Israelites were numbered, there was one clan, there was one tribe that was left out of that listing, of that numbering, along with the rest of the Israelites, and that was the tribe of Levi, the Levites. And again, as Moses is writing this account of the preparations of the Israelites before they head out into the wilderness to Go to the promised land, we have this account of the numbering of the Levites, the listing of the Levites.
And along with that listing, their duties that were assigned to them as they were to care for the tent of meeting. And so we have an account which describes for us the tent of meeting, the tabernacle, that place where worship of God was to take place. And then who was to take care of it? Tearing it down and setting it up, tearing it down and setting it up. That’s what we have before us this evening.
The listing, the numbering of the Levites and the assignment of their tasks with regard to carrying the tabernacle, that thing which enabled the Israelites to truly worship the triune God. Tonight, as we consider this, I want us to see that the intercession of Jesus Christ enables true worshipers to come near to a holy God in reverent worship. The intercession of Jesus Christ enables true worshipers to come near to a holy God in reverent worship. We’ll see that in three heads or three points tonight.
The need for worshipful reverence. Secondly, the danger of God’s holiness. And then finally, the blessing of Jesus’s intercession. As we go through this passage again tonight, I’d like you to be asking yourself that question. Am I taking advantage of the intercession of Jesus? Well, our first point then, our first head, the need for worshipful reverence.
In a sense, this certainly is centered upon the Levites, but it’s really and truly centered upon the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. It’s all about the tent of meeting. Yes, Moses breaks down the labors as the Levites are being counted, the Kohothites, the Gershonites, the Merarites, the three different clans within the Levites who were to care and had different assignments with regard to the Tent of Meeting. He describes their labors, he describes their work, and all of it is centered upon the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. We don’t hear anything about them caring for sheep, or growing crops, or… nothing but the tabernacle, just the Tent of Meeting. It has been set forth in prior chapters in numbers, the Tent of Meeting is the centerpiece of the Israelite existence, it’s the dwelling place of God, it is that place which represents the dwelling place of God amongst his people.
And so it’s not a stretch or an exaggeration to say that the worship of the Israelites was not merely focused on the tabernacle, that it was the tabernacle. I’m not saying that they worshiped the tabernacle. But I’m saying that their worship was enabled by and through the things that constituted or made up the tabernacle.
They needed the Holy of Holies to be that small space created by the tent that represented the very presence of God with them, with the Ark of the Covenant inside the Holy of Holies containing the two tablets of the Ten Commandments and the atonement cover on top of it or the mercy seat on top of the law, mercy triumphing over justice. They needed a lamp to illumine the table for showbread, along with the incense constantly burning. constantly communing with God, the prayers wafting up of the people of God. They needed the altar where the sacrificed animals would be offered up in fire, where the blood would be sprinkled on it to purify it, that which was sinful or unholy. Each of the things of the tabernacle and the things surrounding the tabernacle enabled the Israelites as a nation to worship. This was their worship. Animal sacrifices, the sprinkling of blood, all set forth by the living God such that his presence would remain with his people and they would come before him reverently, blamelessly in the blood of these animals and joyfully.
And so the labor, the work, the tasks given to the Levites for transporting, taking down, Re-erecting the tabernacle gives us a distinct picture of reverence and worship. The care that was to be given in packing up and moving these holy things, these utensils, these articles, these things of worship or for worship, expressed reverence.
Just think of this with regard to the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen. This was the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies. They take that down, and they use that to cover the Ark of the Testimony, the Ark of the Covenant. That’s the first step. Secondly, they shall put on it a covering of goat skin. That goes on top of the veil. And spread on top of that a cloth of blue. Three coverings on top of the Ark of the Covenant. Very particular. very orderly, very reverent.
And then the Kohathites could not touch the Ark. Poles had to be placed through it so they could carry the Ark on their shoulders. You should see reverence in the way that God has called the Israelites to care for these implements of worship. They could not approach the tabernacle in a lackadaisical or a negligent way.
They had to be alert and exacting with regard to how they approached and worked in and on the tent of meeting the tabernacle. There was thought and planning and purposefulness every single time they came to pack it up and then to re-erect it. Clearly a picture of reverence for the worship of God.
Do you revere God? Webster’s defines reverence this way, fear mingled with respect and esteem, veneration. They continue, it’s a filial fear, an awful reverence of the divine nature proceeding from a just esteem of his perfections. Do you revere him? Do you revere his son, the Lord Jesus? And I’m hoping that your answer tonight is yes, of course. And how do you show it?
The Levites, their reverence was shown in a reverent attitude and demeanor. It was shown in the way they approached the tabernacle. Think of the priests, how they came in carefully covering each particular object, the way they did their work, the way they cared for the holy things, which enabled the entire nation to worship. How do you approach worship? If you revere God and his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, then how do you approach worship?
Do you see the relationship? Do you see the connection? What’s your plan? They had a plan every single time. The pillar of cloud and fire moved. Now, it’s time. It’s time for us to implement our plan. What’s your attitude even before you set foot in this place?
Have you thought through and prayed through what your work, what your labor, what your service is here in this place? Isn’t that what the Levites were called to do each and every time the tabernacle was to be packed up? and moved out. Every time they were called to stop their march and now re-erect the tabernacle, were they not thinking through their tasks, their labor, their service? They were certainly not doing it in a mindless way.
How are you approaching your service and worship? It’s something for us to meditate upon, pray through, and ask for the Lord to guide us in it. just as he guided the Levites. That brings us to our second point, the danger of God’s holiness. You might think that’s a strange title or a subtitle, but I think this passage really sets it forth.
The first 20 verses of this chapter is a description by Moses regarding the various tasks of the priests in preparation for the Kohathites to come in, come into the tabernacle. and start carrying the implements of worship. The plan was to carry each and every one of those things inside the tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the table for the showbread, the lampstand, all of the holy things. All of the utensils used in worship were to be carried by the Kohathites, but the priests had to come in and prepare them first. The Kohathites They couldn’t look on any of them.
Think of that. Verse 20, they, meaning the Kohathites, shall not go in to look on the holy things, even for a moment, lest they die. Reason for the coverings, and not just one covering, multiple coverings. And they certainly couldn’t touch the holy things. That’s the reason for the poles. verse 15, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. To touch or look upon any of the holy things would have meant death for the Kohathites, or for anyone other than the priests.
And so there was this plan in place. The priests were to go in and cover them. The priests were to go in and put the poles in. They had to prepare such that the Levites, the Kohathites, could go in without looking and without touching. Poles enabled the Levites to carry the holy things without touching them. The coverings enabled the Kohathites to go in and carry without looking. You might be asking yourself that question, which I did.
How did these things get to be holy? This is the way they’re referenced in the fourth verse. This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting, the most holy things. And that phrase is repeated at least three more times in verse 15. They must not touch the most holy things. In verse 19. Thus deal with them that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things. Verse 20, they shall not go in to look on the holy things. How did they get holy?
Is it something in the materials used to make them? The cedar wood for the Ark of the Covenant, the gold that covered the box, or the gold which became the lampstand. Were they necessarily holy in and of themselves? Was there something in these materials? No. It was God. It was God’s proclamation.
It was God’s setting these things aside, consecrating them, making them holy. In other words, by the purposeful and intentional choice and will of God in establishing the means by which his people would be enabled to worship him, the Lord set these things aside and designated them specifically as the means for worship, such that that was their sole purpose, because he designated them as such.
And so they became holy, or more appropriately, They became representations or manifestations, the word we used this morning, of his holiness. Here then is the teaching. God’s holiness was being represented in these articles, these furnishings. They were set aside, consecrated for worship. In a sense, God was projecting his presence by and through these things which were used to bring worship to him. They were set apart solely and exclusively for his worship and no other purpose whatsoever. God’s presence and thus his holiness was shining forth through these articles and implements of worship.
Holiness is difficult to define. It is caught up in his oneness, God’s singleness, his divinity, the purity of the perfections of each and every one of his attributes. God is holy in his purity. He’s holy in his righteousness. God is holy in his justice. In one sense, God is holiness. Just as the scripture states, God is love. We could similarly state, God is holiness.
Which, in turn, raised a significant problem for the Levites, didn’t it? How could they actually come near these things which represented and manifested the holiness of God? How could sinful men come near to the holiness of God without being consumed? We know that the Levites were sinners, and we know the wages of sin is death. And we know that evil may not dwell with God, that the boastful shall not stand before God’s eyes, that he hates all evildoers, that he destroys those who speak lies, that the Lord abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men. Psalm 5.
There’s the problem. And we see the resolution, we see the solution here in this chapter, don’t we? The covering. of the holy thing, so the brightness, the illumination of God did not penetrate and consume them. Maybe that was the reason for the three layers of covering. At least it gives us that impression, doesn’t it? And certainly the poles can’t touch the holiness of God.
But what about you? Think for a moment upon those Levites going up to pack up the tabernacle and not being able to look or touch, knowing they were right there, right underneath these layers of coverings, knowing that the priests had gone in serving and were able to look upon these things which they were not able to look upon, knowing that the priests were able to touch that which they were unable to touch. As physical human beings created in the image of God, we are sight and touch or feel oriented. This is part of our physical nature.
And these Israelites were unable to look. They were unable to touch. In short, they were kept at a distance. And then consider those who weren’t Levites. Those from the tribe of Judah or Reuben or Dan, they were outside the tent, not even getting close.
This points us to the transcendence of God, doesn’t it? And since we talked about that this morning as we were reading Psalm 10, why, O Lord, do you stand far away? There’s one sense in which the psalmist was recognizing the transcendence of God. He appears far off in terms of his holiness, his singleness, and thus in terms of his necessary dwelling place in the heavens above the heavens. There’s no one like God. Even as we’re made in his image, we’re not God. He’s singular and thus transcendent above all.
And so these Levites were unable to look on these holy things and unable to touch them. But you have Jesus. Do you think of that? If you’re trusting in Christ this evening, do you think of having Jesus? The Levites had these holy things that they moved from place to place, but they couldn’t look upon them. They couldn’t touch them.
But you have Jesus. 2,000 years ago, Jesus walked on the face of the earth. The disciples had Jesus. They were able to look upon him. They were able to touch him. They were able to be in intimate and personal communion with their eyes and hands as Jesus ministered to them.
You see, he’s the exact radiance of God. That’s what the writer to the Hebrews tells us. He’s the radiance and the glory of God, the exact imprint of his nature. The second person of the Trinity, the Son, has taken on human flesh such that then they, the disciples, could physically look upon Jesus and touch him as he walked on the face of the earth. God himself taking on human flesh so that they, the disciples, could commune intimately with the living God. But what about you? Tonight, are you looking upon Jesus? Are you having that intimate personal union and communion with Jesus Christ? You might be thinking, well, that’s impossible. I can’t do that. He’s not here. And if you were to think that, even say that, I would have to exclaim very loudly, You’re wrong. He is here.
He’s been set before you in the pages of scripture. The very word of God given to you so that you would have Jesus Christ. What did he say to those two walking on the road to Emmaus? He interpreted to them In all the scriptures, the things concerning himself. Jesus is set before you. In scripture. And in the person of his spirit. He abides in you. Again, you might be thinking, well, that’s not a physical presence in the form of a person like the disciples had in the pre ascended Jesus.
Again. If you’re thinking that or would even say that to me, then I would have to exclaim, you’re right, it’s better. For if Jesus were yet physically present walking on the face of this earth, in a simple way, he could only minister with a certain number of people at once. That would be very limited. How would he be able to minister to your heart day to day?
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and the knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways. In his unsearchable wisdom, the Lord has given you exactly what you need in order for you to have that personal, intimate communion with him through his son, the Lord Jesus.
You’ve been gifted with the word and the word preached. and the abiding spirit of Christ until he returns. You do have Jesus. How the Levites longed, I’m sure, to look upon the holy things, to touch them. But you’re able to do that, even now, even before Jesus returns. By and through his word, and his word preached and the abiding of the spirit. That brings us to our third point, the blessing of Jesus’s intercession. Jesus has already taken care of the danger of God’s holiness, hasn’t he? But now he also blesses you with his intercession. There’s one more significant aspect of the work of the priests that we need to touch upon tonight And that is that they labored as intercessors.
Isn’t that exactly what we read them doing in the first 20 verses or so of this chapter? When the campuses set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in. They were interceding. As they went in and prepared the holy things for the Kohathites to come and carry them, they were interceding.
Webster’s defines that as to pass between, to mediate, to interpose. to act between parties with a view to reconcile those who differ. Intercession is what a mediator does. In a civil dispute, say a contractual argument, we have two parties and there’s significant disagreement between them, usually something having to do with money. They’re not friends. Indeed, many times these parties are nearly at war with each other and a mediator may be called in to intercede between them. A go-between. placing one party in one room by themselves, another party in another room by themselves separately.
The mediator goes back and forth between the parties from one room to the other, seeking to bring the disparate minds, the warring minds, the two very different opinions into single union on the amount of money. That’s his job. Back and forth and back and forth goes the mediator until the intercession is complete. And he has achieved peace. That’s what the priests were doing.
They had to come between the Levites, the Kohathites, and the holy things. We’ve already recognized the holiness of the things in the tabernacle emanating or flowing from God himself. And in reality, the Levites, the priests, who were Levites as well, had to come between the Kohathites and God. Without this intercession, without the priests going between the Kohathites would have been consumed. They would have died in their sins. And so this intercession by the priests was necessary to keep the Kohathites alive.
I’m not exaggerating. Let not the tribe of the clans of Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites, verse 18. But deal thus with them that they may live and not die when they come near. to the most holy things. The intercession was necessary for this temporary peace. The Kohathites needed the intercession of the priesthood.
Consider Adam and Eve. Prior to their sin, they had no need for an intercessor, a go-between. There was no war. There was no need for reconciliation. For there was no opposition to God. Adam and Eve were in complete submission and alignment with the will of God. There was no sin, only devotion, obedience, and worship. And so they walked with God, without an intercessor, because they were holy.
Remember, after they sinned, they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. indicating that they knew what that sound was because they walked with him. You see, then they sinned and their holiness was no more. And they instituted a war against God. Instead of his friend, they caused themselves to become his enemy. There was no more peace, only animosity.
And thus Adam and Eve needed an intercessor. A go-between. They were no longer able to walk with God hand in hand, and Adam gave this need for an intercessor to each one of you. And me. Pointing to the necessity of the intercession of Jesus Christ. This wonderful passage in Paul’s letter to the saints in Rome. And it begins this way, who is to condemn? It’s a rhetorical question. The answer is no one. Why? Because Christ Jesus is the one who died. More than that, who was raised, who’s at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. He always lives to make intercession for them And I want to say for you tonight, if you’re trusting in Christ.
The writer to the Hebrews also writes this, for Christ has entered not only, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself. Now to appear in the presence of God, See, the only way that Jesus Christ was able to appear in the presence of God in his human nature is because of his holiness. You see, there’s no danger for Jesus. He’s holy, holy, holy, and thus he is able to and does constantly appear before his Father in his human nature, yes, his divine nature as well. He can’t be separated. He is the holy and righteous one, as Paul proclaimed in his sermon recorded by Dr. Luke in the book of Acts.
And so as he appears, he’s present not only for himself, but he appears on your behalf. That’s how that verse finishes in Hebrews chapter 9, to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Like the priests, but better than the priests, to intercede for you first so you can worship. Like the priests for the Kohathites and the rest of the nation, without Jesus as an intercessor, you would not be able to come near. But with Jesus, the veil has been torn in two. And he’s preceded you and accompanies you, that you may come near and worship.
Secondly, so you won’t be destroyed. That’s exactly what the priests were doing for the Kohathites. Every time they covered the holy things, every time they put the poles and the furniture that could be carried from place to place, they were protecting the Kohathites so they wouldn’t be destroyed. They were interceding for the Kohathites so they wouldn’t die, so they would live.
And so the Prince of Peace appears for you on your behalf. before his father, before your father, the reconciler. Jesus remains next to his father to give you peace, not war. In Christ, the war is over. You’re now the friends of God again, but in Christ alone. In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I’ve overcome the world, that in me you may have peace. Do you see why Jesus said that? As he appears before his Father in his holiness, he’s established peace for you.
Are you taking advantage of the intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ each Lord’s Day? Are you using it? In a sense, are you squeezing a ring out of it, out of his work, out of his intercession, every last drop of goodness as he intercedes for you, granting you access, granting you entry into the throne room to worship the living God? Are you taking advantage of the intercession of Jesus Christ?
It’s a powerful question. We need the Spirit to help us, don’t we? It should be our prayer as we prepare for worship. Remember that planning part, Levite’s planning? Part of our planning should be prayer, that the Spirit would help us every single Lord’s Day to get out of the intercession of Jesus Christ everything that he would have for us, Sunday after Sunday, Lord’s Day after Lord’s Day.
Are you taking advantage of the intercession of Jesus? Yes, the intercession of Jesus Christ does enable true worshipers to come near to a holy God in reverent worship. Abigail, Abigail interceded for her husband, a wretched man, just as Jesus intercedes for you. intercedes for all those who trust in him, just a group of wretched sinners saved only by grace.
Praise be to God. Amen. Father in heaven, what an awesome thing it is to consider the intercession of Jesus Christ. We thank you for this passage in Numbers which has has pointed us exactly to that. And we thank you, Lord God, that we can enter in and worship you in peace and in joy and in rejoicing without the fear of death because of our intercessor, because of our mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you and praise you and ask all these things in his precious name. Amen.