Corona Devo 1089

Is it me?

As I was reading in the Old Testament Book of 2 Chronicles, it gives an account of King Josiah implementing a Passover celebration for the first time in a long time with the people of Israel.  

Josiah had the idea, but as I read through the verses...do you know who did so much of the work?  The Levites.  

See if you (like me) notice a (workhorse) pattern here, heavy on the Levite-responsibility side:  

(1) Then Josiah announced that the Passover of the Lord would be celebrated in Jerusalem... (3) He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord: “Put the holy Ark in the Temple... (4) Report for duty according to the family divisions of your ancestors...

(5) “Then stand in the sanctuary at the place appointed for your family division and help the families assigned to you as they bring their offerings to the Temple. 

(6) Slaughter the Passover lambs, purify yourselves, and prepare to help those who come...”  

(7) Then Josiah provided...for the people’s Passover offerings...all from the king’s own flocks and herds... 

(9) The Levite leaders—...gave 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 cattle to the Levites for their Passover offerings.  

(10) When everything was ready for the Passover celebration, the priests and the Levites took their places...as the king had commanded. 

(11) The Levites then slaughtered the Passover lambs and presented the blood to the priests, who sprinkled the blood on the altar while the Levites prepared the animals. 

(12) They divided the burnt offerings among the people by their family groups...

(13) Then they roasted the Passover lambs as prescribed; and they boiled the holy offerings in pots, kettles, and pans, and brought them out quickly so the people could eat them.  

(14) Afterward the Levites prepared Passover offerings for themselves and for the priests...because the priests had been busy from morning till night offering the burnt offerings and the fat portions. The Levites took responsibility for all these preparations. 

(15) ...The gatekeepers guarded the gates and did not need to leave their posts of duty, for their Passover offerings were prepared for them by their fellow Levites.    

(16) The entire ceremony for the Lord’s Passover was completed that day....

(17) All the Israelites present in Jerusalem celebrated Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. (18) Never since the time of the prophet Samuel had there been such a Passover.  ~2 Chronicles 35:1, 3-7, 9-18

Sooo, is it me, or did it seem to you also that the Levites were the Cinderella's of the Passover "ball"?  They did everything.

Is it me?  

Yes...It is me, I must shamefully admit.  

It is me that viewed their efforts, offerings, and requirements in serving the Lord as unfair, exhausting, lop-sided.

That was my opinion, but it wasn't the opinion, reaction, or heart of the Levites.

Nowhere in these verses is there any indication that the Levites were not fully immersed (and blessed) in their calling to work hard in serving the Lord and in serving others for Him.  

They didn't feel resentment/entitlement/bitterness/cynicism in serving God.  Why do we (at times)?

The Levites prepared Passover offerings for their families, themselves, the priests, the gatekeepers...and (to sum it up): All the Israelites present in Jerusalem (~2 Chronicles 35:17).

That is a lot of preparing for many people, but there is no indication of Levite complaining or even discontent.  

The Levites worked willingly in serving God and in serving others to connect them with God.

As servants of the Lord, are we willingly serving Him? Are we willingly serving others in order to connect them with God?

Or is it us?  Are we sick of serving because we have made it about us?  
Are we feeling bitter or entitled about the assignments God has given us?  Shame on us.

As I read about the Levites, I couldn't help but notice how much work one group was doing.  But the verses never indicate that the Levites noticed that.

Did we catch what the verses did indicate?  
What was produced because the Levites were workhorses for the Holy One?  And because the Levites busted it in serving God and serving others to connect with Him?

Never since the time of the prophet Samuel had there been such a Passover.  ~2 Chronicles 35:18

What if we were to live and serve our Father in Heaven today without "Why me's?", without entitlement, without resentment?  

What if people could say of our attitudes/marriages/families/neighborhoods/churches/schools/cities/ Nation....  "Never since...had there been such...people who were to teach...and who had been set apart to serve the Lord" (2 Chronicles 35:18, 3).

Heavenly Father, please forgive us when we get tired and entitled.  Refresh our spirits today and we praise You for the discipline of Your Word.  May we be fully immersed and blessed in our callings to to work hard in serving You and in connecting others to You.  Amen. 

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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