Two important status were enforced by the Lord :
(1) He must be a Levite .
(2) His age must be in between 30-50 years.

📝 In Num 3:11-12 , the Lord said, ” I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites .. , the Levites are mine ” .

📌 DUTIES ASSIGNED TO LEVITES
Only the Priests the descendants of Aaron, could make offerings and serve INSIDE The Tent of Meeting . But they need the service of other Levites for ” bringing fire woods , mending the tent curtains , washing vessels , cleaning the furnishings , organise the Israelites as they bring offerings and stand guard around the tabernacle “.

📌 RECRUITMENT PROCEDURE .
✅ The age limit to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting was fixed from 30-50 years of age ( 4 :3, 23, 30 ) .
✅ The candidates must belong to the clans of Levites: Kohathites, Gershonites and Merarites ( 4 :1-2, 21-22, 29 )
✅ On that day the qualified candidates were as follows ( 4:34-49 ) :
From Kohathites : 2750
From Gershonites : 2630
From Merarites : 3200
*Total Candidates = 8580

📝 If we turn to Num 8:24 it is mentioned that 25 years or more are eligible to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting. Some Rabbinical Suggestions was that the 5 years was A PERIOD OF APPRENTICESHIPS.

📌 RETIREMENT AGE
In Num 8:25 God’s Word to Moses was very specific when he said , “.. at the age of 50 they (Levites) must retire from their regular service and WORK NO LONGER..” . It may be because of family obligations, and giving chance to the younger Levites to serve in God’s Sanctuary.

The God of the Bible is very careful for the family welfare, age factor, building up leaders and continuation of His missions.

📌 AFTER RETIREMENT WHAT❓
It is written that “the retired Levites are to ASSIST THE YOUNG CO-WORKERS in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting ” (Num 8:26)

👉🏽 The above text gives birth to the PRINCIPLE OF MENTORING , where a mentor and mentee are to develop a warm relationship to carry on the assigned works. We need to guide and share our experiences to our young leaders .

💕 Beloved Church , like Paul we need ELDERS who are always ready to admonish the young Timothys ( 1Timothy 6:11-20 ) :
🏃🏽‍♂️ FLEE from unrighteousness (v 6:11a)
👣 FOLLOW godliness ( v 11b )
🥊 FIGHT the good fight of faith (v 12)
🛐 FAITHFUL to your calling ( v 20 )

Today we all are qualified to serve and work in the WORLD EVANGELIZATION with the anointing of the Holy Spirit for ” THERE IS NO RETIREMENT IN SERVING GOD ” . 🙌

Glory to God 🙏
✍🏽 Mark Boje
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳