The True Levite

THE TRUE LEVITE

: Numbers 1.47, 2.1-34.

Of all the tribes of Israel, the Levites were the most privileged to live in the midst of the camp surrounding the tabernacle, The tabernacle, according to the plan of God, was erected in the centre. This was to remind them that God. holy God- wanted to live and work among His people.

Now the name “Levi” means joined or united. As singers, there wasn’t a ray of hope for meeting with God, except through the mercy seat, which speaks of the cross of Jesus Christ. The tabernacle and all its details speak of the longing of God the Father to have His life flow into us. Every believer becomes a Levite when he is joined to God through Jesus Christ. He is made nigh to God through His Blood,

I remember so distinctly, when I was yet a Sikh, praying ind crying asa child: “O God, where art Thou? Tell me how ‘o find Thee”. Every time I went to the Sikh temple to say my prayers, God seemed sa very, very far away—millions of miles away; and it seemed that it would take many re-births to get even a glimpse of Him -He was so fax away! But now: I can say, He is so near! I know that His life is flowing through me!

This was the privilege of a Levite. He lived so close to. the tabernacle that he could see God’s cloud resting upon it. God was there, the living God was speaking from between the Cherubim, above the mercy-seat.

Now you will see that after the Levites had been commanded to camp around the tabernacle that the other eleven tribes were also given the heavenly plan to camp. Three tribes were to.camp on the east side, three on the south. three on the west, and three on the north.

‘When they marched, they were to observe God’s order. The ark came in the middle carried on the shoulders of the Levites (not in a bullock cart). Judah came in the lead, then came Issachar, Zebulon, Reuben, Simeon and Gad; the Levites in the centre, and Ephraim close behind followed by Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, and lastly, Naphtali. This was the order appointed by God, and they could not change.. sit for any purpose. From that we must learn one thing, and that is, that God is a God of order, whatever or however He does a thing, it really doesn’t matter. We may not see nor understand it, but He works by a plan; and our safety and. growth depend upon following the divine order, We can’t, change it. For every believer there is a plan of God.,

In the eyes of the world, I am a foolish man—despised by my fellowmen. But because of Christ’s precious blood applied to my soul, I have become precious to God—Hallelujah! I may be a sweeper, a stone-breaker, a coolie; but before Him I am very precious, and my ministry is as precious as that of anyone else. I must take my place according to the divine order. None can say, ‘Go here or go there’. Others have no business making choices for me. That plan was made for me by God, and I must stay where God has put me. I know my calling. I know my place and position in God's heavenly plan. Have you found your place in God's plan? Can you truthfully and joyfully say, ‘t know my ministry”

As an engineer, plans were always my problem. As a new. Christian too, I kept on making plans and God kept breaking them—one by one, till they were all broken.

At a meeting in Winnipeg, Canada, a very tall man, Mr. Flint, came and with a very strong hand shook my hand and. said: “Why don’t you go to India and preach the Gospel?” I told him: “Mr. Flint,I am dn engineer—I have been training for five.years, and what is worse, I stutter and stammer and I am very nervous when I speak even to a small group of THE TRUE LEVITE 59

people.”” He smiled and walked away. But for two years I kept hearing his words! I had some very ‘nice’ promises and arguments to say to the Lord. You see, I thought I could give my income to the Lord’s work, by employing good preachers and singers. But God said: “No, I don’t want your money, I want you.”

When we say “Yes to God, then it is His business to train us, equip us and thrust us forth. It was like a miracle with me in the beginning a man with so many handicaps! It is ° only by grace! I know one thing: i am in His plan.

One day it came to me this way: Why should the Lord take so much time in giving the details concerning these. names? The Lord has His purpose. First, there are twelve names mentioned of the twelve tribes. The number twelve denotes foundation, just as the number seven stands for perfection, and eight for election and other recurring numbers also have significance in Scripture.

Now if I want to be a true Levite I must come on a strong foundation—the heavenly foundation which cannot be shaken by changing world conditions. There I am occupied with the Lord Himself--where money or worldly honour can no more deceive me, He has the first place in my heart, life and ministry.

Then you will find in this same chapter two, that to each name there has been added two more names totalling thirty-six names. (Those of you who want to prepare sermons will find material here for 36 sermons!) Each name has a message and a deep meaning. They represent experiences by ° which the believer is able to grow spiritually.

Unlike animals, human babies do not walk in a day—it takes time for them to grow. It is likewise true that ta be-. come spiritually mature, it takes time. We must be willing to pass through spiritual experiences as God directs—and you will find that these thirty-six names point to some of those experiences which will draw us closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. I

In the first place, it is clear from verse two, that it was compulsory for “every man of the children of Israel” to “pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house”. That means, that every person had to be in his God-appointed position. God says: ‘Don’t be jealous!”

In the West, it seems that the ladies do not wish to be ladies, but prefer to be men! They wear men’s trousers, and coats, and have their hair cut short! Has God made a mistake? Every believer must be what and where God meant him to be..

The first name to consider is Judah (verse 3). Judah means praise. If you want to be a true Levite, the first thing to learn is to praise God. We don’t prow spiritually by hear-. ing good sermons or by having good teachers, or by seeing visions and dreams. We must praise God from morning until night!

In London, it is very hard to say ‘good-morning’ to people. The first thing they are likely to say is:.“What a rotten day!” You will never see a man smilingly say: “Hello, how de you do!’ Because the first thing they want to say is: ‘What a miserable day!’ So I used to tell them, ‘I will never say that! To me, every day is a good day! It may be cloudy or rainy, sunny or a foggy and cold day, or even hot, but I never say, ‘It’s a miserable day’. As children of God we can rejoice in any day; and praise God for any situation. Let there be sickness or health, poverty or prosperity, friends or enemies, in lonely and far-off places, I can thank God for all these things.

In 2 Chronicles 20.15,18-22 we have a living illustration. of how the people of God learned to triumph through praising God.

King Jehoshaphat and his people were trembling with ‘ fear because they saw the enemy coming upon them—with weapons and armies. much larger than theirs. The Lord showed the king, that it would not be a matter of fighting and fearing, but praising and singing. When they believed God, they began to praise and they went out before the enemy singing, ‘Praise the Lord”. The Lord smote the enemy.;

That is a divine principle. The enemy may come like a flood, but you must learn how to praise God in advance. Generally speaking, we only praise Him when we get something from Him. That is our nature.

When God answers our prayers, we say, ‘God is good!” And when there is some delay, we say sadly, ‘God has forgotten!” And we shed tears like a child!

While aboard a ship, a little girl used to go and play with the Captain. One day her doll fell into the sea. So the little gill begged the Captain to stop the ship and fetch the doll out of the water. But the Captain exclaimed, “How can I stop such a big ship for such a little doll?” From then on, she refused to play with him. No matter how much the Captain tried to win her, she would only reply, “You are a very bad Captain, I am not going to play with you any more”. When the ship reached the shore, the Captain went to one of the shops and bought the little girl a big doll and wrapped il up in a nice box, and took it to her at the hotel where she was staying. He called to her, but she said, “No, no, you are a bad captain. I won't come to you”. Slowly, as the Captain opened the box, the little girl saw the doll, and asked: “Is it forme? Now you are a very good Captain—avery good Captain’.

That is our nature. When God answers our prayers, He is so good. When troubles and trials come, our faith fails. The first thing we must learn is how to praise Him like Judah. Let there be darkness like the thickest night, let there be suffering of any kind, I know my Lord will never fail nor forsake.

At a certain place in Canada, I was feeling very sad and sorry for myself. [| was a stranger in the city and didn’t know a single soul. F said to myself, ‘Suppose I fall sick, who will take care of me? Suppose my money is spent, where will I go?’ With these thoughts I felt very miserable ’ and dejected. Then I went into a big store and sat down in a big chair in an empty room. Ina little while I fell asleep. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, and a voice spoke to me, “Why did you say that you are alone? Didn’t I say to you that I would never leave you nor forsake you.” J promptly asked the Lord to forgive my doubts. I never knew He was so near! As! came out of the store and stood on the corner, a tall man began to ask me if I was from India. I said, “Yes, I come from India”. So he told me that his parents were very. interested in meeting a man from India. He motioned to me to get into his car, which I.did, and he took me to his home, His parents seemed very happy to see me, and asked me to stay for dinner. They had roast lamb and mint sauce—it ’ tasted so good! I had been saying, “Nobody loves me’, but God was beginning to prove to me, that, for me He had prepared so many homes unknown to me.

It is possible that God tests us for a while, but He doesn’t forget us. That is why He takes us through such experiences, so that we learn the lesson of praising Him. Praise Him in the morning, praise Him at midday and evening, and praise Him in all situations, and trials. He is faithful, and gracious and will not fail.

The question is, how do we praise God?

Nahshon means origin or a mouthpiece, Vf you want to learn how ta praise God then become God’s mouthpiece. That means. never be ashamed to give testimony to His saving power to anybody when you are on a bus or train, or eve in the market. Many times we are terrified by appearances, but when we testify, our fears always go away.

One day God spoke tu ie clearly: ‘“You go and talk to that man over there.” I looked at the man’s curly moustache. and his chin, and thought: “O no! never!” He seemed so proud. and I was sure that he would not give any respect o7 attention to the Bible! Again God spoke to me: “You leave everything to me, and go and talk to him.”

So, trembling, I went and sat beside him and said: “Sir, I please look at this book.” He looked at the book with great pleasure and said: “Please sir, do you have a full Urdu Bible for me?” I took his address and delivered him a full Bible the next day. He was so thankful and paid me the full price. He continued: “! have waited for more than two years to get this book, I wanted it so badly. I want to know more about it!”

" He was such a hungry soul. But I was going by the face and the moustache and was terrified by tum. When the Lord gives you His Word, you must be His mouthpiece.

. — Our next consideration is Amminadab. His name means: ‘My people are willing’. Are you willing to give God whatever He demands? If He demands time, give it. If He demands money, give it. Do not hold back from Him anything that He demands of you. It is because we don’t give willingly to Him that we don’t know how to praise Him.

One day a man came to me and said: ‘Brother, I am feeling very cold; can you give me something to cover me?” I said: “Wait just here, while I go and find God’s will.” As I prayed God told me to give him that “new blanket”. But I prayed even more, because f thought God had made some mistake. It was a new blanket with not a single hole in it! But the Lord said: “It is My blanket; you give it to him”. So I very half-heartedly gave him the blanket, thinking all the while that I would have to suffer cold that night. I began to scheme as to how I would keep warm. But when I ‘ came back to my room that night, there was a parcel there with a note. The note said: “God has spoken to us to send this to you. Please accept it as from Him’. In the parcel. was a brand new blanket, the same colour and size as the other.

Many times we murmur. We say: “Lord, not so much! I must keep something for my wife, my children, or for my old age”. But God must come first. Whatever He demands must be given cheerfully. The more we give that way, the more we prove His faithfulness. I thank God that this is what He taught me from the beginning.

In verse 5 we have mention .of issachar, which means: ‘J am certain of my reward’. In other words, do everything as unto God. When you do a kindness to anyone in need, do you do it to be rewarded by your fellow-men? When you give money for some good cause, do you give more when your name and the amount is posted on a list? That is not giving to God, That is got what Issachar means. He means: I am certain of reward: I am not looking to man for my re. ward!

Nethaneel? means: God gives. God can give more than man can give. One famous question was always being asked of me in America: “What do you want for your work?” I would tell them: “Nothing, I will go only to God; not io Americans, Canadians, English or Indians. What God gives me is sufficient. He knows my needs much more than you do, So why should I go to men?” They say: “After all it is God’s work, and we must tell our fellow-believers!"’ To broadcast and make your needs known is unscriptural. It is lack of faith. Before God you become a beggar. First of all, prove God. God can speak to anyone on my behalf anywhere in the world. If God fails to give, then you can ask men for it!

In Madras, many years ago,-we rented a house for a meeting, and we had to pay about Rs, 300,00 for the rent, We told no one about this, but quietly prayed. I then had a letter from someone in Malabar, and it read like this: “Brother, I am sending you a money order for Rs. 285.00 My little girl has been sick and unconscious for about fourteen days. When she recovered, her first words to me were: ‘Send Brother Bakht Singh some money’. I said: ‘My child, we have no money’. Then she took the gold chain from around her neck. I have sold the gold chain, and this is the money I have received for it”. It came in exactly the time it was needed, in God’s time.;

This is the way we have been proving God for thirty years!

But please don’t give any gentle hint like: “This is my last writing pad!” or “We haven't had any butter for a week!"" All these hints will weaken your faith. Remember Nethaneel: the God who gives abundantly. He never slumbers; He never forgets; He knows my need, and at the right moment He meets it.

* When I was about to go to Australia, I had to go via America, and a man suggested I should get a round-trip ticket. I prayed quietly, and the very same week I received. four gifts: one came from South Arabia, one from India, one from Canada, and one from Germany; and they all came together at the same time.:

The gift from Arabia has an interesting story. Many years ago I was in a place called Surat, and I went to the station to catch a train for Bombay. I prayed: “Now Lord, which shall it be, the first, second or third train?’ ‘They all went at different times that afternoon. The Lord said ta me: “Go by the second train, the second train”. When the first train pulled in, I looked in and saw lots of room to lie down comfortably, but the Lord kept saying: “No, no, the second train”.,

The train went away, and the second one pulled in, and in the carriage a man said to me: “Brother, we are going to a marriage, would you-please give us God’s message?” The wedding party, twenty-five in all, was going from Baroda to ‘ Bulsar. So I gave God’s message at midnight to the wedding party on the train. When we reached Bulsar we prayed, and. the party got off. While the train was still moving, a man came running With an envelope of money. After about three ° years I received a second letter from the man for whom I had prayed in the carriage. And now again a third letter came containing the third gift. All these events started at Surat station. It is safe to obey God implicitly. He will} not fail us; He gives! I do not know of any occasion in the last thirty years of ministry when God has failed us. We have never given hints or suggestions to anybody, either by letter, passing remark, or appeal. Yet often we have had to spend many more thousands in God’s service, than even a mission board has had to do! God has never failed.

Next comes Zuar, which means: little. In other words, what God gives is more than man gives; because what God gives He multiplies. When F lived in England I learned to say: “Madam, J enjoyed my tea very much; the tea and cake * were so good!” Otherwise she would not be happy. To man we have to say these things, but not to God, When God gives, He gives without obligation. Little from God is more than much from man..

Zebulon means a dwelling place. When we follow the order of these names we learn how to praise God; how ta trust God for everything; how to make God our reward; and how te build a house for God. God has called me to make a house for Him. First of all, He makes my body His temple. Then we are all put together to become God's house. Stones by themselves cannot make a building. We have to be brought into the plan--the roof, the wall or the floor, We have to be cut and chiselled, planed and softened, and smoothed and refined, to fit into God’s building—God’s plan.

For many years I did not know what my real place was in God’s House. But now I know it. He has shown me from His Word, You too should seek God by prayer, and do not leave Him till you know what is your specific ministry in His House. Then let Him cut you, smooth you, and do whatever. He likes, that you may come into that plan.

In the same verse seven. you will find also the name Eliab. It means God is Father. If you want to enjoy your place in; God’s House, then learn haw to call God your Father. See Luke 11.13. Hebrews 12.6-10. If I say that He is my Father, then I must be willing to be chastised by Him. He must punish me and scourge me to bring me to His standard. and to make me a partaker of His holiness.

It is by chastening and suffering that we become strong. Of course it is hard and we murmur and complain. We resent that kind of treatment. But we don’t get faith by text books or by knowledge: we get a strong living faith by suffering and trials. You cannot escape suffering. [t is God’s order, But go to Him as a Father, because He knows how to give you what you need. “If you, being evil. know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more will your Heavenly Father give!”

In verse 10 there is Reuben, which means. Behold, I see. God has seen my need. In the first place, God sees my life-- my private life, I dare not hide anything from Him, J must. he willing tu open my heart to Him. Then secondly, He sees my condition; He sees my trouble, my difficulties. There is no need fur me to gu giving hints to people.

I feel that is why God's people in the West are so bankrupt spiritually—they have developed into such clever beggars. Whenever there is a missionary campaign, these ‘clever beggars’ are invited to help lift the offerings. They plead, they beg: “Give more generously, give liberally!” Let us remember that, whatever our need. God sees it, and we must call upon Him, and not look to ¢earthly trends.

In india there are some cows that will not give milk easily, They require experts to milk them. Experts find it easy to squeeze milk from stubborn cows!

This is how it seems to be in Some campaigns in the West.

. But God sees. and does not need our worldly ways and methods to get His work done!

Elizur means, God is a Rock, He is a strong God; never changing. What He has said, He will also perform. He will. not gu back on His Word. Please believe that! “Call upon Me.and will answer thee,” (Jer.33.3). God’s promise is so clear.

Shedeur means, the Shedder of Light: the same God also gives light. I fl walk in the light of what He has shown me, I know that He will help me, and look after me. and supply aid my needs.

Simeon means hearing, God can hear also. I see in Isaiah 65.24, that He can hear while we are yet speaking.

I was once travelling to Delhi on the train. It was a third class compartment and very crowded. I was sitting next te a window. T told the Lord that I needed a shave, but if I got up would lase my seat: “Will You please send me a barber right here’. J put my head out of the window. and there. was a barber. At the moment he had completed the shave, the train moved on!

You see, I believed God fully, and while I was yet speak- ’ ing, He heard. I could tell you of many other instances of how while we prayed in faith, God was already answering our prayers, So we praise and thank Him even before the answer comes.

Shelumiel means, the peace of God. Try to maintain your inward peace, for it is by inward peace that we can have proper faith. By that peace we know that He will not fail us. He is the God of peace. Resolve that you will not be disturbed by second causes. Never allow the devil to disturb your peace: God will always work on your behalf.

Zurishaddai means, the Almighty ts the Rock, There is nothing too hard for God, for He is the God of impossibilities. “For with God nothing shall be impossible ~ (Luke 1.37):

Now you see what I mean! You can develop thirty-six messages out of this chapter? Due to shortness of time, I. want to touch just Briefly on some of the names that remain.

Ephraim is mentioned in verse 18, The name means Fruitful. Ephraim was the son of Joseph who through fifteen “ years of affliction and suffering of various descriptions. was a fruitful bough, according ta Genesis 49.22. We also must be fruitful in affliction.

Ammihud means the people are honourable; the people are praiseworthy. God wants to make us honourable, and people of high position, though, like Joseph, we may be sorely tried for a long time.

Manasseh means Forgetting. lt is very very hard to forget the past. Joseph was a perfect example of one who was able to forget as well as to forgive. Maybe that is why he named his son Manasseh. We may say: “I forgive you, but don’t come to see me any more. I cannot forget what you have done to me!” Manasseh teaches us to forget all those past painful experiences. God overrules. I believe it! He will transform all things for His glory.

Gamaliel means Recompense. God is our only compensation. If a fire destroys your building you go.immediately to the Insurance Company, and ask for compensation. Have you thought of compensation for your old age? God is the same in every age! He will not fail, nor forget.

Pedahzur means the God who redeems. By our many follies and mistakes we suffer loss, but my God will redeem every loss.

Benjamin means the son of my right hand. When he was born, his mother wanted to call him, Ben-oni, the son of my sorrow. But his father protested, saying: “He must be called the son of my right hand.” And so it was that through Benjamin, all the sons of Jacob came into favour with Joseph. Through sorrowful experiences we are brought to God’s right hand.

Abidan means judge. It implies that G - will judge my cause. He is my Judge. I go to Him.and «se to take revenge nor wish anyone any evil. He is my Judge.

Gideoni means one who is a warrior. As we learn how to conquer temptation, we have more strength for every trial.

Dan means justice. Lf anybody is trying to do me harm. i believe one day God will surely take up my case. I shall not lose any sleep. He is my Advocate. Let them speak ill LORY of me, I will praise Him. Stephen is an example of one being falsely accused, and yet his face was shining. We too can rejoice even when 2 are falsely accused,

Ahiezer means a helping brother. We have to learn how to help and even pray for our enemies.

Asher means the Lord is my happiness. The Lord is not my money, my gifts, nor my success; but He Himself is my happiness.

When King Mahmud came to India, he plundered and looted every temple. On his return, he said: *'Now, my brave comrades, you have been so faithful, and have suffered with me all these months, open up the bags of treasures, and divide them up into one hundred heaps.”’ There were heaps of diamonds, rubies, gold and silver. ‘“‘Now each of you go and make a choice.” One soldier kept standing close to the king. Eventually the king urged him to go and get his share but ail he would say was: “No, sir, I choose you. I do not want this passing wealth; I want you.” Afterwards this same soldier became heir to the king’s throne.

There are so many people who want only things, But: Asher says: “He Himself is my happiness.” You will never get the same joy from anything else as from the Lord #!itself. The gifts which He gives are not to be compared with the living Lord Himself,

Pagiel means God meets, What a privilege that God comes to meet with me. The Lord Himself comes and speaks to me, give me messages. and blesses my soul.

Ocran means the trembler. By God you can cause all the powers of darkness to tremble, when you are conscious of the divine presence.

Naphtali means wrestling. As Jacob wrestled and would not let the angel go. except he bless him, so we, too, must goon wrestling and prevailing as Abraham also did on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is our privilege too, in our ministry for each other and the world. Thus God works through your intercessory prayer in many parts of the world.

Ahira means the deliverer from evil. We are deliverers by prayer. Even those who have lived in darkness and sin and shame can be rescued by our prayers.

A man was born again in our meetings. The next time I saw him he had backslidden. He told me he was going back into the old life of stealing; so I told him I would pray for him. Soon after, I saw him again, and he said: “Brother, all my plans were broken, and everything went wrong.” So our prayers can destroy the power of evil.

Enan means the fountain. We become a fountain of life through the life of God flowing in and through us.

Gad, in verse 14, means Behold. a troop cometh. It means we shall see great things in small events, as in the case when our Lord, through the woman at the well—through one person—won the whole of Samaria.

Now we must keep on praying that God will make us true Levites, strongly joined and living close to the heart of God, enjoying unbroken fellowship with the living God. Go. through these names again, one by one, and continue praying: “Lord, give me the experience of Judah, Issachar, of Zebulon, Reuben, Simeon, Gad.”