…But the tribe of Levi also kept guard over the people. Meaning, they watched for intruders, those who disregarded the Lord’s commands and tried to get to close to the tent of meeting, and they put those intruders to death. Not only as a punishment against the wicked, but as a protection for the righteous, because if one disregarded the Lord’s commands in the community, the Lord’s anger was kindled on the whole.
This might seem unjust, but sin always has communal consequences, even if we don’t recognize it immediately. So, God charged the Levites with keeping guard over Aaron and the priests, over the tent of meeting and its furnishings, and over the entire congregation.
Now, in the new covenant, we don’t need that kind of guard. All people can come near to God through Christ, praise the Lord! We don’t need to protect people from coming near to God, or coming near to the furnishings in a church building, because what is holy now is not the objects made by man, but the people. So we still have charge to protect one another. But from what?
Hebrews 10:24-27 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
We stand guard over one another, not by putting intruders to death, but by encouraging one another on to love and good works, and good participation in the assembly of God’s people. Reason being, if we receive the knowledge of the truth, of Christ and his saving work, and then go on deliberately sinning, then that consuming fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu awaits us. Therefore, we are to encourage one another toward love and good works and participation in the assembly, so that we don’t go on sinning deliberately.
In this way, we are “our brother’s keeper.” I took that line from Genesis 4:9 after Cain killed his brother Abel. And God came to Cain and asked him about Abel’s whereabouts. And Cain said, “how should I know, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’” Yes, yes, he was, or should have been. And yes, we are “our brother’s keeper.” God has given us each the charge of the Levites, to guard over the congregation.
And this is because, now in the new covenant, we all are priests…
