For Acceptable Worship

This chapter contains the account of a census of the twelve tribes for the purpose of establishing the number of able-bodied males to fight in the army of Israel. Members of the family of Levi were excluded because God had called them to special service, that is, to administer the affairs of the tabernacle and all its furnishings. Several terms are used in the Old Testament for the tabernacle. The term “tabernacle of the testimony” (1:50) is used when attention is drawn to the presence of the ark of the testimony (Ex. 31:7) which contained the two tablets of the testimony, the Ten Commandments. This name for the tabernacle reminded Israel of the inseparable link between worship and obedience. One of the tasks of the Levites was to guard the tabernacle against being profaned by unlawful access which brought the wrath of God upon the congregation (Num. 8:19; 18:5; 22).

God sets His own terms for worship. While the ceremonial restrictions for worship in the Old Covenant are done away in Christ (John 4:21), the moral requirements for acceptable worship remain. Jesus tells His followers that the Father seeks worship which is in spirit (from the heart) and according to truth (as He has revealed Himself).

Taken from The Devotional Daily Bible