"23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. 25 And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. 26 They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties."
Numbers 8:23-26
The concluding paragraph of the chapter deals with the question of the age at which the Levites were to commence and conclude their service of the sanctuary. The variation in the lower age limit as compared with 4:2ff (cf also I Chronicles 23:3) has already been referred to (see Notes for March 7th and 8th). Both this passage and the earlier one are indicative of the divine concern for His servants' welfare. There is always a special love and care that God ex- pends on the faithful to Him in His service. It would seem that He was intent upon seeing that they were not overburdened, and that He set limits to their service, as if to say, 'I do not expect you to go on beyond your strength'. Them that honour Me, He says, I will honour and care for too. This may be taken as part of the 'hundredfold in this life' that our Lord promises to those who are faithful to Him in discipleship. We need have no fear or misgiving in serving Him. He is a generous and faithful Master. Is this a word of encouragement and assurance to some over-burdened and hard-pressed and discouraged servant of God today that the future is in His hands, and that He will provide?