The Ages and Stages of a Levite

From my S.O.A.P. Journal

Scripture

The Lord said to Moses, “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”
Numbers 8:23-26 (NIV)

Observation

The Levites were the priests who were charged with guiding the people in the worship of Yahweh. Many of the chapters in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy spill ink describing the important work this one of twelve tribes did on behalf of Yahweh’s called people. The details mattered mostly because the worship of God was the whole purpose of the exodus from Egypt. Deliverance was the means to this worship of Yahweh end. On Moses’ first encounter with Pharoah, he was clear about why God wanted his people released. Exodus 5:1 (NIV) reads: Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’” It was worship! In giving Moses instruction before the first plague of blood, the Bible records: Then say to him (Pharoah), “The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened.” (Exodus 7:16 NIV) It was worship! This theme of deliverance for worship is repeated throughout all of the plagues. The emancipation of God’s people to worship Yahweh was central to the whole deliverance from Egypt saga. This helps explain why the Torah spends so much material focused on the assignment of the Levites. They led the people in worship. I find it interesting that stuck away in these obscure verses in Numbers 8:23-26 is God’s instruction about age requirements for the worship leaders. Levite men ages 25 to 50 are charged with doing their priestly duty, but at 50, they can only assist. Is there a deeper, more profound principle behind this apparent ageism on Yahweh’s part? I mean, my work from 50 to 60 was some of my best work. What’s up God? I wonder if it’s a simple acknowledgement of the necessity for living life sensitive to developmental realities. The Bible consistently describes faith as a sacred developmental journey. Being “born again” implies stages of growth from infancy to maturity to death. Even the Levites had a shelf life and expiration date.

Application

In my old denominational universe, it was pretty obvious that a pastors age and his or her appointment to a church tended to work together. For the most part, the younger you were, the smaller your assignment and the older you were the larger your assignment. There were exceptions, but this seemed to be the overall pattern and it’s not a bad strategy. Passion needs wisdom and usually people get wisdom as they age. Again, these are generalities. But here’s what I often wondered. Why would we give a pastor their largest assignment when they have the least amount of energy? Jane gets appointed to a large church at 60 and Fred goes his biggest assignment at 62. My life transitions from 20 to 30, 30 to 40, 40 to 50 and 50 to 60 were marginal. But from 60 on, it was crazy. Age caught up with me especially physically. Arthritis, weight gain, energy loss, apnea, and knee replacement all came knocking at my door in my 60’s. Richard Rohr’s observations that in the first half of life you build the cup and fill and if you are listening to your soul, you spend the second half (I think it’s more like the last third) of your life emptying it out. It’s the listening to your soul part that is the heavy lifting. The competing voices of building and expansion are real within the Levite. “Build a bigger cup and keep filling it up!” Hearing Gordon MacDonald more than a decade ago say that most clergy do not retire well was a clarion call for me. He used the word “sage” to describe the last third stage. Coupled with Robert Lewis’ wise caution that ministry gives you the illusion of friendship, God seemed to have preveniently prepare me for letting go of Grace Church and becoming one who assists …their brothers (and sisters) in performing their duties…(Numbers 8:26) as a coach. I’m not implying that every pastor should leave their church at 63. I am wondering if the wisdom of Numbers 8:23-26 should stir in us listening to the ages and stages of being a Levite. Just as people are diverse, their journey will be also. What we share in common is that we diminish in some capacities as we age and we excel in new ones. We move from strength to strength as Psalm 84:7 (and Arthur Brooks) say. I’d also add that this is not exclusively a Levite thing. I think it’s a human thing. This is for my wife Cheryl, my coach Craig, my pastor Wes and for me.

Prayer

What a simple reminder that my life is but a vapor, God. You have made me with feet of clay and I have limits. Thank you that my clicking left knee and arthritic right knee constantly remind me of my humanity and the number of my journey’s around the sun I have made as well as the limited number left to make. You are the God of the Spring, the Summer, the Fall and the Winter of life. Thank you that I can trust you in each season of my life. Help me by your Spirit to live this season well, honoring and increasing the fame of your name. Amen.

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