Being a Post-Modern Levite, Part 1 - The History

So, I've been thinking a lot about this topic lately and what it means to work in the church and be a "Levite" now as compared to when God called the Tribe of Levi to serve. So, that's what I'm going explore in this series of posts. I can't say they'll come one exactly a week apart, but I'll do my best.

I think the first thing we should dive into is what a Levite was and did in scripture. The original model is always a great place to start.

So, the descendants of Levi are through out the Old Testament, but they are not given specific instructions until Moses and Aaron are numbering the 12 Tribes of Israel in Numbers 1:17-54. Now, without quoting the whole passage of scripture the general gist of it is that the Levites were not to be listed because they were appointed and called to serve in the Tabernacle. They could not own land (Joshua 13:14) because "The offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance." And they worked only in the the Tabernacle. The were fed and paid by the tithe that the rest of the nation of Israel gave to the Lord. So, God made sure that his people serving in the Tabernacle and ministering there were taken care of, and that their ministry could be their full-time occupation.

Now, what exactly did they do? Well, there are several times in Numbers where the duties of the Levites are spelled out. One of them is in chapter 3, verses 7 & 8. "They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle. They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle." (It's important to point out that the Tribe of Aaron were the Priests. The Levites and the Priests were not the same!) They were also musicians, as appointed by King David in 1 Chronicles 6. This is the first place we see the Levites assigned the task of leading worship in scripture, but I would venture to guess that they did this long before David appointed them "officially". Their tasks were generally to serve under the Priests.

The tribe of Levites was also ceremonially set apart by God and the whole nation of Israel witnessed it. In Numbers 8 beginning at verse 5, the Levites are washed clean with water, atoned for with the sacrifice of a young bull, the nation of Israel lays hands on them, and they are offered to the Lord as an offering. The scripture says that the Levites are "to be given wholly to me [God]." This to me is essential. Yes, they are serving the community, but they are God's, and He has called them specifically for this purpose.

Now, I know this seems to jump around a bit, but the main thought I want to convey is this: the Levites were worship leaders, not priests. They were called by God to serve in this way, and they were wholly devoted to their God and service. I think this reflects on us, the post-modern worship leaders. We have been called by God, we are not pastors (most of us serve under a pastor), and we are (hopefully) wholly devoted to our God and serving Him in this way. I'm hoping to dive a little deeper into what it looks like to be a post-modern Levite in the weeks to come.

I pray that this bit of history helps you root yourself in the deep richness of worship in the scriptures and your position as a leader.

Hello, My Name is Karen, and I am a Perfectionist

This week I was reminded of how difficult it is sometimes to be a perfectionist, artist, musician, and leader of volunteers, who are not necessarily those things.

The artist in me really hates leaving a rehearsal with issues unresolved, but the leader in me knows that sometimes it's really better that way. Sometimes finding that balance is difficult for me.

This week I talked to my choir about the real reason we are singing a particular song on Sunday. And the truth is, I sometimes need that reminder myself. I have this mentality (healthy or not) that if I can't do it well, then I shouldn't do it at all. Now, this is a total and complete lie I have made myself believe. Whether it is cleaning ("I don't have time to do the whole bathroom now, so I won't clean it at all.") or music ("I have to practice that for the next week to be ready!") I either go all in, or not at all. I hate half committing to something. I have, on occasion, not prepared for something and I can't tell you the amount of stress that causes me.

So, I say all of that to remind you, and remind myself, that being a perfectionist is a barrier to true worship. Jesus told us in John 4:24 to worship in "spirit and truth." And the truth is I'm not perfect, the music that I make isn't perfect, and there is not a ton I can do about it.

I have to remember that the reason I worship is to glorify my God, not myself. I have to be okay with failure. And, perhaps most importantly, I have to be the kind of leader/choir director that allows that in others. Having a group up front singing the wrong notes does not matter. We can strive for them, but we won't always hit them. The important thing is the spirit that we declare this music in, and the truth that is in their words. That is the most important thing.

I pray that your worship this weekend is filled with joy, love, spirit, and truth! I pray that you fail, just a little, to remind you how much you need our God. I hope that you grow closer to Him through the music that you sing and the truths it contains.

Worshipping Through Suffering

Let me first say I am not suffering in my life right now. But I know lots of people who are. And I've heard about lots of people who are.

And, brothers and sisters, our world is suffering right now.

Wars in the Middle East, war in Ukraine, Ebola, murders, suicides, cancer, poverty, natural disasters, and so many more. Listening to the news for a half hour makes things in our world seem pretty dire. It makes things seem pretty hopeless. But we know that there is hope. It's Jesus. But how do we worship Him when things seem to be falling apart all around us?

Here's what Jesus says on the subject, in John 16:33, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

This is our hope. This is our joy. This is our God! He has overcome the world. No matter the trouble we see.

But, how do we come before our God with hearts heavy with these trials of the world? How to we help people understand that God did not cause any of their trouble? How?

That, my friends, is a great question. One that I struggle to answer too.

Here is what I know.

1. Jesus loves people. He loves you. He loves me. He loves all those who are suffering right now.
2. God does not cause suffering. Plain and simple. (see John 16:33)
3. The Prince of this world (Satan) is a sneaky, conniving little beast, and he is blinding our neighbors. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 says, "In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

Here's what we can do.

1. Pray for our neighbors. Pray for our world. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
2. "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
3. Worship our God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I don't know what that looks like for you, but I know that God takes great pleasure in seeing His children worship Him. I know that everything we do each day, when done to the glory of God, is worship to Him. Worship is not just an hour on Sunday. Worship is our every day life. Worship is giving all glory and honor and praise to the only one who deserves it.

Do I know how to worship when you have cancer? No, but this woman, Kara Tippetts, does. Do I know what it looks like to worship in the midst of war in your country? No, but the people at Preemptive Love do. Suffering is different for all of us, and worship is different for all of us. Take hope in the knowledge that there is a God that loves you and died for you. I pray that we all learn and relearn over and over what it looks like to worship in every circumstance.

28

Today is my 28th birthday. Normally birthdays don't feel different for me, but for some odd reason this one does. So, instead of a lengthy post I'm going to share some favorite bible verses. I hope they bless you today!

Psalm 150:6 - "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!"

Psalm 34:8 - "Taste and see that the LORD is good."

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

John 4:24 - "God is spirit, and those that worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

May these truths from scripture be with you this week and always.