Covering: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Covering

A specific allotment

a particular inheritance

whether of land or

worship’s blessings.

From new born cries to

faltering old age

a particular command

a specific task to complete.

Walk in obedience

with His strength

covering every day

Creator’s gift.

Reflection: Inheritance: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you think the whole tribe of Levi saw God’s inheritance as a blessing? Why?

2.     What would be the privileges? What would be the sacrifices?

3.     How does that compare with believers today, not only ordained clergy?

4.     Read Revelation 8:3-5. In what ways do the people mirror the Levites?

Share: What inheritance from the Lord do you joy in?

Inheritance: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 13

“To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance; the offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to them.” Joshua 13: 14

Chosen to give the offerings by fire. Chosen to be in the center of worship.

Devoted to the service of the sanctuary. Designated guardians of the tabernacle. Their tents had surrounded the tabernacle while they traveled—as a protective bridge. Among their designated cities were also cities of refuge. And then later they were ministers in the temple at Jerusalem.

One commentator says, “the Levites were scattered among the tribes to keep alive among them the knowledge and service of God.”

In their office as priests they offered up the sin sacrifices daily. They represented the people before God and they also offered up sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. They gave religious instruction and warned against the perils of idolatry and unbelief. They gave God His glory.

Peter tells all believers, “And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. …. A people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” 1 Peter 2: 5 & 9 NAS

In our allotted places we too are scattered among the people around us to serve God willingly with prayer, and praise, and witness.

Lord, only in Your strength can we fully become Your servants and live out the inheritance You have given. Help us to lean wholly upon You in daily worship and calling wherever You send us to keep alive Your words of refuge and redemption.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 133: 1-2

“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard of Aaron, running down the collar of his robes.”

Possession: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Possession

Named

numbered

each plot of ground

each allotment

by tribe

by promise

cities—kings

challenged

removed

riches taken

occupied

ownership prophesied.

Reflection: Allotment: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you think that allotments then could be compared to a gift of the Spirit today with each person receiving a portion? Why or why not?

2.     Whether yes or no what are the similarities or differences?

3.     Note that first they had to overcome enemy territory. How can this apply to a place of service for the Lord?

4.     Each tribe and each family received land. What might that look like within your field of service or congregation?

  Share: What is your allotted place of service right now? Do you feel confirmed and confident in your space?

Allotment: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 12

“The following are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the Israelites defeated on the west side of the Jordan, … (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments.”  Joshua 12:7

Already allotments had been made on the east side of the Jordan. Now came the final designations. All received land except the Levites who received their own particular allotment. Everyone received. Not all were equal.

Did some grumble or were they filled with gratitude to be alive and recipients of God’s grace?

What might our common possessions be? Time—choices—life, perhaps. God’s promises as well as His warnings. And if Christians, the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit.  Everyone receives. Not all are equal.

Maybe it is a stretch to compare our fields of service to their land divisions but the Lord does confirm our lives in whatever place we are set. There is ministry within and without church structure.

Do we grumble or avoid commitment to our surroundings?

I know once, after a move to a new city, I wanted to stay anonymous—not get involved anywhere—keep all my time to myself. And for awhile that was okay. But at some point it turned from retreat and restore time to isolation and apathy time.

We are each given the gift of a new day every morning. How will we spend it?

Lord, help us to step into Your promises with faith and confidence and fill our allotted space in Your service, as You choose for us. And if that means first defeating enemy territory in our hearts, please mold us and shape us to have the courage to overcome.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 132: 13 & 16

“For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his habitation: …

..Its priests I will clothe with salvation, and its faithful will shout for joy.”

Task: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Task

How many doubts

crowded his mind

when the task before him

demanded all his strength.

Determined to meet

with trust all words given

commands laid down

hungry for fulfillment.

Reflection: Complete: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How do you prepare for overwhelming responsibilities?

2.     Have you ever stepped into a position that you had been trained for but still felt inadequate? What immediate decisions faced you?

3.     Have you been given a task with no training? What skills did it require that you had not used before?

4.     How did you cope with each?

Share: Has God commanded a task in your life recently? How did you react?

Complete: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 11

“As the Lord had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.” Joshua 11:15

Entering new territory sometimes means accepting new responsibilities.

Joshua now faced several angry kings determined to keep their lands as well as multiple cities to overthrow. Most likely he never expected this role in his previous position as Moses’ assistant—and definitely knew it was not humanly possible on his leadership skills alone. Yet he obeyed. And he fully completed his task.

“So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allocations. And the land had rest from war.”

Jesus also gave His own disciples, and those to follow, seemingly impossible commands.

Repent—do the will of His Father in heaven—beseech the Lord to send out workers into His harvest—the last shall be first—abide in Me—forgive—love one another. All so humanly out of reach. At least where our hearts are concerned. How often do we do even desired assignments without some kind of hesitation, or grumbling, or perhaps skipping over some parts when fatigue and confusion creep in?

Like the apostle Paul, though, we really want to be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;” 2 Tim 4:7

Lord, thank you for staying with us and giving us Your Spirit, Your truth, and Your courage to keep going in all conditions until our tasks and our lives are completed in You. Thank you for Your promises of rest within our boundaries today as well as a rest into eternity. Give us courage to stand and not waver when faced with overwhelming situations.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 131: 3

“O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and forevermore.”

Stopped: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Stopped

Time stopped.

Sun did not set

day of slaughter

enemies destroyed,

that battle

scorched territory

desperate circumstances

endured struggle.

Time began.

Sun set

day of salvation

eternal promise.