Why is reverence crucial when handling sacred items, according to Numbers 4:20? Setting the Scene: The Kohathites’ Task - The tribe of Levi was divided into three clans—Gershon, Merari, and Kohath. - The Kohathites were assigned the most sacred objects of the Tabernacle: the Ark of the Covenant, the table of the Presence, the lampstand, and the altar (Numbers 3:31). - Only after Aaron and his sons covered these items could the Kohathites carry them (Numbers 4:15). Their duty was weighty, but tightly regulated. Numbers 4:20—The Clear Command “But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.” Why Reverence Matters - Awe safeguards life. God ties irreverent curiosity directly to death, underscoring that casual treatment of holy things is lethal. - Holiness is exclusive. The sacred objects embodied the very presence and covenant of God; only those He appointed could even see them. - Obedience honors God’s order. Reverence flows from trusting His boundaries rather than testing them. Supporting Scripture Echoes - 2 Samuel 6:6-7—Uzzah touched the Ark and “God struck him down there for his irreverence.” - Leviticus 10:1-3—Nadab and Abihu offered “unauthorized fire,” and fire from the LORD consumed them. - Hebrews 12:28-29—“Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” - Revelation 1:17—John “fell at His feet as though dead” when he saw the glorified Christ, modeling proper response to holiness. Lessons for Us Today • Approach worship with sober joy—God invites us near through Christ, yet He remains the same consuming fire. • Treat Scripture, baptism, and the Lord’s Table as holy trusts, not casual rituals (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). • Guard the heart from flippancy; cultivate wonder and gratitude in private devotion and corporate gatherings. • Remember that reverence is not reluctance; it is love expressed through careful obedience, the only safe way to handle what God calls sacred. |
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