The Levites assisted Aaron and his sons in a wide range of ministry responsibilities during the shadowy age of Old Testament worship. From transporting the tabernacle and all it’s heavy furnishings to preparing endless sacrifices, playing instruments, singing psalms, and making sure that nothing 'unclean' came through the doors, their work was hard and demanding. That explains the interesting provision we find in Numbers 8:25-26: "And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. They shall minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard, but they shall do no service."
In reflecting on this provision for aging Levites two things caught my attention. First, God honors his aging servants. By the age of fifty the faithful Levite had put in 25 years of 'burden bearing." In this very sensible and gracious provision God dismisses them from certain work that would naturally become more difficult and potentially dangerous with age. We might call their new status "Levite Emeritus." It didn't mean that they were going to die. Even Moses acknowledges that the years of our life are seventy or even by reason of strength eighty (Ps. 90:10). After 400 years of heavy 'burden bearing' as slaves of all ages in Egypt, I can only imagine how the Israelites welcomed God's provision and how it shaped attitudes about the elderly far beyond tabernacle ministry.
Second, God honors his aging servants with new work. At fifty years old the Levites were not permitted to go home and sit on their hands. This wasn't really retirement, but new work it seems. "They shall minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard." This new work would have included advising, counseling, praying for, and mentoring their younger Levite brothers to insure that a faithful transmission of service from one generation to the next was occurring. Their ministry also would have included the lighter work of making sure that no unclean person or 'outsider' entered the Tabernacle.
Though this provision is part of the shadowy age that has now disappeared with the coming of Jesus, it seems that at least the principle should be reflected in the church today. I was so thankful today to be reminded of an old friend and 'elder emeritus' in the church where I serve. This faithful man of God carried our church on his back while in his fifties and through some very turbulent years. He took me under his wings when I was wet behind the ears and showed me what it means to faithfully shepherd. Even after suffering a serious stoke, he persevered in every way that he could. I still remember the meeting I had with him over lunch when it became clear to me that his years of 'burden bearing' had come to an end. With grace and dignity he listened to a young pastor, still in his 20's, tell him that he had 'new work' to do. For the past 14 years I have found this old saint in my office every Sunday morning as I arrive early for church, sometimes with his Bible open and sometimes gazing out the window making astute observations about creation. He always comes prepared with an inspiring devotional thought from his weekly meditations and asks for an update on me and the church before praying for our worship that morning.
