A NEW ORDER OF PRIESTS AND LEVITES – Charles Spurgeon
A New Order of Priests and Levites
Introduction: The Meaning of God’s Promise
“And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, says the Lord.” — Isaiah 66:21.
This chapter is surrounded with critical difficulties, yet it is filled with spiritual instruction. Some interpret this verse as referring to the Gentiles, suggesting that the Lord promises to take people from the heathen nations to make them priests and Levites. Others believe it refers to the Jews, who, after being rejected for their unbelief and scattered in judgment, will eventually be restored. When their Messiah came, they responded with a profane imprecation: “His blood be on us and on our children.” The curse they invoked came upon them, and it has been fulfilled in their history, with their children scattered across all lands, having found no rest for the soles of their feet. Yet they are to be restored. In the latter days, when they return to their land, they will worship God on His Holy Mountain, and God will take from them priests and Levites.
The Broader Implication of God’s Promise
It matters little whether the verse refers to Gentiles or Jews, for in Christ Jesus there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision. This promise seems to stand for the entire human race in its fallen state. “I will take of them for priests and for Levites,” says the Lord. Under the Gospel dispensation, God will choose both Jews and Gentiles to be His people, just as the priests and Levites stood before God in the Old Testament as a type of the service He now calls all His people to.
Consider the depth of this great promise. It signifies both a high honor and a great privilege. The privilege bestowed upon those whom God chooses is that they shall become priests and Levites. In the Old Testament, priests and Levites were people set apart to be God’s peculiar property. When the firstborn of Israel were spared in Egypt, God claimed the firstborn as His own and took the tribe of Levi to represent them. While all of Israel belonged to God, the tribe of Levi was particularly chosen to serve in the Tabernacle, and within this tribe, the house of Aaron was appointed to be priests, ministering in the sanctuary.
A People Set Apart for God’s Service
Now, in Christ, God calls a people from all nations to be His own. They are His by election, by redemption, and through the sanctifying and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. As the Lord says, “They shall be Mine in that day when I make up My jewels.” This people is set apart as God’s property, and like the priests and Levites of old, they are to live for divine service. While others are engaged in daily tasks such as farming or trade, the priests and Levites were dedicated to the service of God, standing before Him and attending to the holy duties of worship.
The privilege of being set apart to serve God is a precious one. Every person who is called into God’s service takes on His easy yoke and light burden, dedicating their life to His glory. Serving God in this way becomes not only a duty but a desire, as it becomes the very purpose of life. How happy is the person who is set apart for God’s service, as a priest or a Levite!
Drawing Near to God
Furthermore, the priests and Levites had the privilege of drawing nearer to God than the rest of the people. While the general people stood outside, the Levites were engaged in sacred tasks within the Tabernacle and Temple. The chief among them, the High Priest, was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place, symbolizing the intimate relationship with God.
This nearness to God, which the priests and Levites enjoyed, finds its fulfillment in the New Testament through Christ. Through His blood, those who were once far off are brought near to God. This is a privilege that those who are chosen to be priests and Levites have: they are brought near to God, made partakers of divine grace, and allowed to enter His presence.
Serving God for Men and Serving Men for God
The duties of the priests and Levites in the Old Testament were twofold. They served God by offering sacrifices on behalf of the people, and they also served the people by teaching them the ways of God. Spiritually, they interceded on behalf of Israel, offering prayers for the people. Similarly, today, there are those who are called to offer prayer and praise on behalf of others, and in answer to their prayers, blessings are poured out upon the people. Those who intercede with God for others are fulfilling their role as priests, just as the priests of old did.
Another part of their office was teaching the people God’s Word. The Levites were not just administrators; they were also the teachers of Israel, the scribes who wrote and explained the Law. Today, many people are called to teach God’s revealed truth to others, whether by preaching or in smaller, informal settings. Teachers in the church today, like the priests and Levites, help to instruct others in the ways of God.
God’s Sovereign Selection
The promise in this verse shows us that God calls people to be priests and Levites not according to human standards or qualifications but by His sovereign choice. As the verse says, “I will also take of them for priests and for Levites,” indicating that God Himself chooses whom He will use in His service. This election is not based on human merit but on God’s will. The priesthood and service of God are not of man’s choosing but of God’s alone.
We see this throughout Scripture, as God chooses people whom others might deem unfit for His service. From the apostles to many of the great figures in Christian history, God has often chosen the unlikely to serve Him in powerful ways. This should humble us and encourage us to realize that if God has called us, He will also equip us to serve Him.
The Grace of Transformation
The transformation that God brings about in those He calls is a work of His grace. Many of those whom God chooses to be His priests and Levites are far from naturally fit for the task. They may have been involved in sinful lifestyles, uneducated, or far from righteous in their former lives. Yet God, in His mercy, takes these unworthy vessels and transforms them, enabling them to serve Him with excellence.
We can think of figures like John Newton, once a blasphemer and a slave trader, who became a preacher of the Gospel and the author of the famous hymn “Amazing Grace.” John Bunyan, once a drunken and profane man, became the author of “Pilgrim’s Progress,” a work that has influenced millions for Christ. The Apostle Paul, once a violent persecutor of Christians, became one of the most powerful apostles of the early church. These men, by God’s grace, were transformed and made into mighty servants of God.
God’s Glory in Choosing the Unlikely
God’s choice of the unworthy serves to magnify His glory. It is not the power of the individual that qualifies them, but the power of God’s transforming grace. This shows the greatness of God’s mercy, the power of His love, and the sovereignty of His will. He takes those who seem most unlikely and equips them to accomplish His work.
God does this to display His mercy, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” God shows His great mercy by taking sinners, transforming them, and entrusting them with the Gospel to proclaim.
Conclusion: The Privilege of Being Called
Finally, we must recognize that being chosen by God to serve as His priests and Levites is a great privilege. It is a humbling and awe-inspiring calling. We should never take for granted the grace and mercy of God in calling us to serve Him. Whether in prayer, teaching, or living out the Gospel, all Christians are called to be part of God’s royal priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices to Him, and to intercede on behalf of others.
May we, like the priests and Levites of old, be faithful in fulfilling our calling, serving God with all our hearts, and drawing near to Him in worship. Let us also remember that the unlikeliest among us can be chosen by God, transformed by His grace, and used for His glory.
May God bless us as we seek to fulfill the high calling He has placed on our lives.
The Reason for God’s Sovereign Choice
As we consider this great privilege, we must also remember that God’s choice of the unworthy is an expression of His mercy, His love, and His power. In taking the most unlikely people and making them His servants, God reveals His greatness and the unsearchable riches of His grace.
Divine Grace: The Call to Serve as Priests and Levites
Introduction to Divine Grace and Sovereignty
Divine grace, while it comes freely to us, is dispensed according to the good pleasure of God’s will. I would love to hear that powerful text echoed throughout Christendom: “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” No man has any right to the mercy of God! We have all sinned and rebelled. The only rights we have are those to be condemned and cast into Hell; all the rights of man, when he appeals to God, are submerged in the wrongs for which he is responsible. If the Lord shows mercy, it is by His sovereign will. He can withhold it if it pleases Him. And yet, He selects the most degraded—those who have gone the furthest from Him—and He draws them into His Church. Not only that, but He advances them into prominent positions of service in His Church. This display of God’s mercy makes it clear that He rules the heavens and the earth. No one can question His actions or stand in His way.
The Elevation of the Lowly by God’s Mercy
God’s mercy, power, and sovereignty are fully revealed when He chooses those from the depths of sin and raises them to serve Him as priests and Levites. This mercy secures the most loving and devoted service from those whom He calls. I have sometimes wondered, though not harshly, at the superficiality in much of the ministry today. There seems to be little focus on the depth of the heart’s depravity, little emphasis on the struggles the child of God faces under the law, and far too little about the glory of grace that transforms us from the lowest of sinners to one with Christ.
Perhaps, those preachers who have not wandered deeply into sin, who have never felt the full weight of their rebellion, are unable to speak about these profound spiritual experiences. They may not have had a deep awakening of conscience or tasted the bitterness of despair before finding peace through God’s grace. They may have received their religion with ease and, as a result, are unable to speak from the depths of the soul.
But those whom the Lord calls from the depths of sin know exactly what it means to be rescued. They have tasted grace in the most profound way. They understand the anguish of their sins, the despair of hopelessness, and the joy of forgiveness. When such a person preaches, it is not with flowery words but with a living, heartfelt testimony of the power of God to save. John Newton, a former blasphemer and slave trader, could not help but preach with passion, because his own salvation was a living testimony to God’s grace. Similarly, John Bunyan, once a drunkard and a profane man, preached Jesus Christ in the fullness of His saving grace because he had lived the transformation himself.
The Power of Transformation and Triumph Over Satan
Another reason why God chooses the most unlikely candidates for His service is to triumph openly over Satan. How Satan must feel defeated when someone like Saul, once a persecutor of Christians, is transformed into Paul, one of the greatest apostles! This must cause the devil to gnash his teeth in anger as he watches God’s power to change hearts and transform lives.
No one does more damage to Satan’s kingdom than those who once served him. These men know his tactics and weaknesses well, and when they are converted, they become powerful adversaries to the devil. Heaven rejoices when a great sinner is saved, and Hell trembles when one of its greatest servants is taken and transformed by God’s grace.
Encouraging Sinners and Strengthening the Church
God’s choice of such men to serve Him encourages other sinners to seek the Lord. When a sinner sees a former rebel who has been saved and is now serving God, it stirs hope in his heart. “If God could save someone like that, perhaps He will save me too,” he thinks. The testimony of those who have been rescued from the depths of sin and brought into God’s service serves as a powerful example for those seeking redemption. When sinners see a man who was once like them but is now living near to God, it encourages them to follow the same path. The servant of God who has been forgiven much can empathize deeply with those who are still trapped in sin.
God’s Ongoing Work in His Church
Furthermore, the salvation of sinners and their transformation into His servants is an encouragement to the entire Church of God. As members of the Church, we are often reminded of God’s great mercy when we see how He can take the most unlikely individuals and make them powerful servants. It brings joy to the Church when it witnesses sinners being transformed and saved. There is a renewed sense of hope and excitement when great sinners are saved, as it invigorates the Church and strengthens its mission.
Some may say that the Church is in a decline, that the ministers will become silent, and that the light of the Gospel will fade. But this is not the case! If churches begin to fail, God will raise up a new generation of ministers from unexpected places. He can take fishermen, the poor, the humble, and even those who once served sin, and turn them into mighty instruments for His glory. There is no obstacle to God’s power. His sovereign will will always accomplish His purposes, and He will always have servants to carry out His work.
God’s Ability to Find and Equip His Servants
God can find His servants in the most unexpected places. Whether it is in the slums, the boardrooms, or the most debased parts of society, God’s omnipotence ensures that He can raise up workers for His cause from any background. Even if some in the Church are unworthy, God can always raise up new workers from unexpected places. The work of His Church will continue, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.
Lessons for Those Chosen by God
Now, let us consider the lesson from this. I speak especially to those of you who have been called by God to be His priests and Levites. You have been set apart to serve Him. What effect should this have on you? First, remember the state you were in before God’s grace took hold of you. Reflect on what you were, and what you would become if His grace were to depart from you. Without His grace, you would return to your former state, and it would be far worse than before.
Therefore, watch! Watch constantly, for only by God’s grace can you remain faithful. If you are called to be a priest and Levite, set apart to serve God, recognize that without His grace, you would fall back into sin. This awareness should humble you and keep you vigilant. Remember from where God has lifted you and serve Him with a deep sense of gratitude and humility.
Humility in Service
The calling to serve as a priest or Levite should foster humility. Even though you may have been elevated to a position of honor, remember that this honor comes from God alone. You were once a blasphemer, a sinner, and an enemy of God, but by His grace, you have been called to serve in His courts. This should fill you with awe and humility. How can you not be humble when you remember where you came from?
As you serve God, let that humility guide your actions. Whether in prayer, ministry, or service to others, let it be done with sincerity and reverence. Those who have been forgiven much must love much. You cannot serve God coldly when you have experienced such extraordinary grace. The gratitude that flows from a deep awareness of God’s mercy should pour forth in your service to Him.
A Call to Glorify God in Extraordinary Service
Finally, let us remember that the extraordinary service we give to God should reflect the extraordinary grace we have received. Those who have been deeply forgiven must give their whole hearts to God’s work. Just as a man who once swore loudly for the devil now cannot help but pray loudly for Christ, we too should serve with all our might. The more we understand the depth of our sin and the greatness of God’s grace, the more passionately we should serve Him.
Conclusion: Trusting God to Complete His Work
In closing, let us serve God with great confidence. If He has made us priests and Levites, we can trust Him to continue His work in us. He who spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all will surely provide for us in every way. Having saved us from sin, He will not abandon us now. No, He will continue His work, and He will see it through to completion. We can rest in His promises, trusting that He will complete what He has started.
As we serve God, let us do so with joy, thankfulness, and an unwavering trust in His faithfulness. He who called us will equip us, and He will never forsake us. Let us continue to serve Him faithfully, glorifying His name and proclaiming His grace to the world.
Charles Spurgeon