After Pentecost Devotional - Day 61
“Moses did not give any land to the Levi tribe, because the LORD God of Israel had told them, 'Instead of land, you will receive the sacrifices offered at my altar.'” Joshua 13:14
In a non-agricultural society, we often fail to grasp the significance of land ownership in a setting like Ancient Israel. We understand income and wealth in regards to employment, business ownership, investments, royalties, and other financial instruments. We tend to grasp the concept of home ownership as an aspect of wealth, but that is not what is in play in this passage.
The Levites were expected to have houses in which to live. What they were not expected to do was hold ownership of agricultural fields for wealth production. Their income and sustenance were to rely upon the faithfulness of the people in relation to the worship and provision of Yahweh. The people at large had access to the production of wealth. The priests and Levites were to benefit from that production as the people worshipped and followed Yahweh's directives.
The concept behind this strategy was two-fold. Yahweh would provide for the needs of the people, and the people, in turn, would provide for those dedicated to Yahweh's service in response to Yahweh's faithful provision.
There were other elements of this land distribution, but the basis was that as the people were faithful in meeting Yahweh's requirements, the land would flow with milk and honey. Yahweh's provision would be sufficient for one and all, regardless of one's specific kind of work. The land and all its production would and should provide for the needs of the entire population, not simply those with claims to the fields. There was a communal responsibility to care for one and all.
In other passages, this is fleshed out to include the needs of widows, orphans, poor, blind, immigrants, lame, and otherwise disabled or cut off from means of wealth creation. While the charity aspect of the law is clear, there was also the question of faithfulness to Yahweh in returning the production of the land by meeting Yahweh's priorities of caring for all. The feasts, sacrifices, and festivals benefitted the priests and Levites, but also the rank and file. This was seen as the product of Yahweh's generosity including all members of the society, including the otherwise marginalized.
The flip side of this was that as the farmer depended on Yahweh for sun, wind, and rain in proper balance, so the priest and Levite depended on the faithfulness of both Yahweh and the people. They were to learn dependence upon Yahweh, just as the rest of the population. Their dependence, however, would be two-fold. It would depend not only upon Yahweh's provision, but also on the people bringing their sacrifices, tithes, and offerings into the Tabernacle or Temple in thankfulness to Yahweh.
As a result, the priests and Levites saw their welfare tied up with the welfare of the poor, oppressed, and outcast of society. It was to be a reminder that we are all in this together. We all depend on Yahweh's provision. Likewise, when one of us hurts, we should all share the pain, from the least to the greatest.
Do I perceive that God's provision for my needs is also for the benefit of others?
"Lord, help me understand that in your economy there is enough to share with all."
—©Copyright 2016, Christopher B. Harbin
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