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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 20 March 2025:
Numbers 4:15 — 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.
The Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites were three clans of the Levite tribe in Israel. The Levites filled the priestly roles in Israel and bore the responsibility of caring for the tabernacle. The Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites had specific roles within the Levite culture. The Kohathites had charge of caring for the objects associated with the sanctuary: “This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things” (Numbers 4:4–14). The Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, and other holy items were the responsibility of the Kohathites (Numbers 10:21; 1 Chronicles 9:32). The Gershonites took care of the decorations in the sanctuary—curtains, ropes, and coverings (Numbers 4:24–26). The Merarites had the task of maintaining and carrying from place to place the pillars, bases, frames, pegs, and cords that created the structure of the tent of meeting. Since the Israelites were often on the move, the tent of meeting often had to be taken up and moved. Each clan had its responsibility to the sanctuary of God.
The sons of Kohath were appointed to carry the most holy things. However, their access was limited, they were only to come after the articles had been covered by the sons of Aaron the priest. If the Kohathites touched the holy things when there were not covered, they would die. In fact, they couldn’t even look at the holy things for a second without dying instantly (Numbers 4:20), and Moses and Aaron were warned to protect the lives of the sons of Kohath by ensuring they didn’t become complacent and treat God’s holiness lightly. (Numbers 4:17)
In Christ, we have been made holy, the veil has been removed, and we now can draw near to the Lord without fear of death. On the contrary, Hebrews 4:16 encourages us: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need,” and 2 Corinthians 3:18 proclaims, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” Where once we were doomed to eternal separation from God and death, Jesus has given us total access to God, eternal life, and the power to be godly, to mature into Christlikeness. As has always been the case, we must never take the holiness of God lightly, and the Bible tells us we should, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12) However, where reverence to the Lord once demanded distance from the Lord, now our reverence to the Lord should inspire a passion above all else to remain in His presence, to abide in Him, to remove all sin from our lives, and to completely surrendering of our lives to Him – “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)
The Bible presents an apparent contradiction or dilemma in that we are to fear the Lord but not fear. Specifically it says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. (Psalm 111:10; Provers 1:7; 9:10) The Bible says the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life that prolongs life (Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 14:27). The fear of the Lord give confidence, security, prosperity, comfort, and satisfaction (Proverbs 14:26, 15:16, 16:6, 19:23; Acts 9:31). However, the God also says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love…. for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Fear not, I am the first and the last…. Do not fear what you are about to suffer.” (1 John 4:18; 2 Timothy 1:7. Revelation 1:17, 2:10) So, are we to fear or not fear?
The Bible is contrasting two different forms of fear, one which is focused on piety and protection verses another which fears punishment and powerlessness; one that properly reveres and respects the character of God verses another which doubts or defies the character of God.
Fear of the Lord deals with piety (reverence) and protection, and it so cherishes a unhindered relationship with the Lord, that it “fears” letting anything (like sin) damage it. This is the sort of fear one would feel carrying something very valuable in his hands like a Ming Dynasty Vase or a newborn baby – There would be great concern not to cause harm to the thing of great value. Above all else, we should guard with “fear” our relationship with God, which is our Life.
Ungodly fear comes from a wrong perception of the character of God or a lack of respect for the character of God which results in the fear of the consequences of God’s punishment or the fear of facing the world without God’s protection. Even Christians who rest assured that their sins have been forgiven by grace through faith in Jesus might still live in fear over the consequences of circumstances out of their control as if God isn’t in control or isn’t loving enough to protect them or give them only the very best in life. God wants us to fear, or to be concerned about, guarding our relationship with Him, but He doesn’t want us to fear, or have anxiety about, His sovereign love for us, which has only goodness planned for us. We are not to fear circumstances more than our Savior. Our God is Greater!
- Hebrews 4:1 — Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
- 1 Timothy 5:20 — As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
- Philippians 2:12 — Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 20 March 2025: Today, fear the Lord and have not fear in anything else. God is Great!
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 