Text:
Joshua 13:14,23, 18:7:
- Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.
- But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
18:7 But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance:
Theme:
I Got A Rock
Introduction:
- The Book of Joshua contains a history of the Israelites from the death of Moses to that of Joshua.
- This book stands first in the second of the three sections, (1) the Law, (2) the Prophets, (3) the “other writings” = Hagiographa, into which the Jewish Church divided the Old Testament.
- They assign the authorship of the book to Joshua, all except the concluding section; the last verses (24:29-33) were added by some other hand.
- It consists of three parts:
- The history of the conquest of the land (1-12).
- The allotment of the land to the different tribes, with the appointment of cities of refuge, the provision for the Levites (13-22),
- The dismissal of the eastern tribes to their homes, the farewell addresses of Joshua, with an account of his death (23,24).
- References are made to the “Tribes” of Israel
- These are often referred to as the “Twelve Tribes of Israel”
- Jacob having twelve sons, who were heads of so many families, which together formed a great nation, each of these families was called a tribe.
- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher
- There were actually 13 tribes
- But Jacob patriarch on his death-bed adopted Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph to constitute two tribes in Israel to split the tribe of Joseph into two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
- These are often referred to as the “Twelve Tribes of Israel”
- In our text, Joshua expounds upon the second section, or the allotment of the land of Canaan to the tribes of Israel.
- God recognized that Joshua had gotten old.
- There was still land in Canaan that needed to be “taken” and Joshua was getting too old to lead everyone.
- God basically took the “divide and conquer” approach. Divide it up and let the individual tribes “take” the land
- Moses had already taken this approach with some of the people:
- Tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh had already received their possession on the other side of Jordan, east.
- Another nine tribes and the other half of the tribe of Manasseh received their inheritance on the west side, “this side”, of Jordan.
- Joshua 13:7, “Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,”
- God recognized that Joshua had gotten old.
- The Republic of the Tribes of Israel
- Each tribe had its own leaders and tribunals; and the whole twelve, in their early history, constituted a republic somewhat resembling the United States.
- The twelve tribes continued united as one state, one people, and one monarchy
- Till after the death of Solomon, when ten of the tribes revolted from the house of David, and formed the kingdom of Israel.
- This was the result of the Solomon’s punishment for building idol temples to please his womenJ
- This adds up to twelve tribes and there were 13. WHO WAS LEFT OUT? è The Tribe of Levi
- In the distribution of lands by Joshua under the order of God, they reckoned but twelve tribes and made but twelve lots; of the tribe of Levi had no share in the distribution of the land
- The Tribe of Levi was given the responsibility of being the Priesthood of the children of God and instead received
- certain cities to dwell in from the land of the other tribes
- the responsibility of being the Priesthood of the children of God
- Joshua 18:7, “But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance:”
- the first-fruits, tithes, and oblations of the people
- Numbers 18:21, “And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.”
Body:
- How would we have reacted if we were the Tribe of Levi
- Envious of others possessing what they can only borrow
- You know how we can’t be satisfied with just renting…we want to OWN
- Jealous of the vast land and possession that the other tribes got
- You know how we want what others have
- Resentful that they were not treated like the other tribes
- You know how we don’t want to be left out
- Mad that they were not made rich like the other tribes
- You know how we get when somebody ELSE hits the lottery for millions of dollars
- Envious of others possessing what they can only borrow
- It reminds me of a Charlie Brown special that came on television annually when I was younger à “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!”
- It was Halloween and the Charlie Brown and his “posse” were trick or treating in their neighborhood. After having approached and received from each home, the children would assess their gains. One said that they got a candy bar. Another said that they got a piece of chocolate. Another said that they got a lollipop. But then, Charlie Brown would always chime in with the same disheartening words, “I Got A Rock!”.
- Although the other children got goodies, Charlie Brown always got a rockL. Poor, Charlie Brown!
- We often feel just like Charlie Brown.
- Treated unfairly – He was one of the children and should have been given the same.
- Looked down upon by others – He felt that he was not as good as the other kids.
- Picked on – He would say, “WHY ME?”
- Psalms 44:22 (and Romans 8:36), “Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.”
- The Tribe of Levi did not have to feel like Charlie Brown
- Although they did not get the material possessions like the other tribes, they were made the priestly tribe of the children of God — They maintained the Temple of God
- Received the tithes and oblations of the people
- Ran the rituals and services of God
- Hebrews 5:1, “For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:”
- Were the only ones who could go into the Holiest of Holies, beyond the veil, into the Presence of God
- Deuteronomy 10:9, “Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.”
- The Tribe of Levi “got a rock” alright, but the rock that they got was GOD Himself!!
- The other tribes were “chosen”,
- Exodus 29:45, “And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.”
- But the Tribe of Levi was the Chosen of the Chosen People to intercede on behalf of God’s people and be allowed to enter into the PRESENCE OF GOD!
- The other tribes were “chosen”,
- Although they did not get the material possessions like the other tribes, they were made the priestly tribe of the children of God — They maintained the Temple of God
Conclusion:
- We can now exclaim like the Tribe of Levi to say, “I Got A Rock!”
- Matthew 27:50-51, “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”
- We can go “Beyond the Veil” to the presence of God ourselves
- Jesus CAME, LIVED, SUFFERED, HUNG, BLED, DIED, and ROSE with all power in His Hand!
- Now I GOT A ROCK!!!!
- “Jesus Is a Rock in a weary land. He’s a shelter in a time of a storm.”
I’m leaning on the Rock – I’m building on the ROCK
- “Rock of Ages cleft for me. Let me hide my self in Thee.”
While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.
- I Got A ROCK!!!!
#237
