Doing God's Work
W. Clarkson Numbers 3:1-32 These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spoke with Moses in mount Sinai.… Under Nehemiah's direction, and inspired with his own earnestness, the children of Israel gave themselves to the good work of encircling the city of God with walls. The account of their building in this chapter reminds us - I. THAT ALL WORK WE DO FOR GOD IS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT AND IS RECORDED BY HIM. We should hardly have expected, judging antecedently, that all these names would have appeared in the sacred Scriptures with the posts assigned them. We should have thought that the space thus taken would have been better occupied with more of the miracles or parables of our Lord, or of the acts of the apostles. The fact that these names are inserted in this book, which is to go over all the world and down all the ages, is evidence that God counts of importance all work done for him, and that he records it. Other books of remembrance he has (Malachi 3:16. Cf. Psalm 40:7; Psalm 56:8; Psalm 139:16; Revelation 20:12) in which the endurances and the actions of his people are written. All is recorded there - the work in building the city wall, the offering the cup of cold water, the kind word of encouragement or sympathy. Our record is on high. The notable and famous deeds of wickedness will be forgotten when humblest actions of devout usefulness are immortalised in one or other of the books of God. II. THAT IF DONE RAPIDLY, GOD'S WORK SHOULD BE DONE REGULARLY AND DISCERNINGLY. They proceeded with all speed, losing no time, but everything was done in order. There was no hurry. Every man had his proper post, and took it without interrupting his neighbour. The priests "builded the sheep gate" (ver. 1). "Next came the men of Jericho" (ver. 2);... "but the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build" (ver. 3), etc. Certain priests and other individual workmen had assigned to them the wall "over against their house" (vers. 10, 23, 28-30), where they would least interfere with others, and in which they would naturally take the greatest interest. So also the Levites had for their share the part nearest the temple (ver. 17), where they would work with the greatest zeal. III. THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE RELIGIOUSLY. It is only too possible and too common to do religious work in an unreligious, if not positively irreligious, spirit - mechanically and thoughtlessly, if not sullenly and selfishly. Three things in this record point to religious earnestness. (a) The ministers of God took the lead. "The high priest rose up with his brethren the priests" (ver. 1). When the leaders of religion take the front posts of danger, difficulty, and toil, there is a guarantee of some spiritual zest in the work. (b) They stopped to dedicate the work they had done. "They sanctified it" (ver. 1). (c) Of one of them we read, that "Baruch earnestly repaired," etc. He was conspicuous for the zest with which he laboured, outstripping and inciting the others. Workmen in the vineyard of Christ should often remind themselves why it is they labour, what it is they aim to do, for whom they are employed. IV. THAT THE CO-OPERATION OF ALL WHO WILL HEARTILY HELP SHOULD BE CHEERFULLY ACCEPTED. Here we have in united labour - (1) priests (vers. 1, 22), (2) Levites (ver. 17), (3) Nethinims (ver. 26), (4) outsiders (vers. 2, 5, 7), (5) rulers (vers. 16, 17, 19), (6) tradesmen (vers. 31, 32), (7) women - "he and his daughters" (ver. 12). All can lend service; what one cannot do another may. No sincere helper is to be despised. In crises, especially such as this, when great things depend on the success of a few days' labour, all distinctions should be laid aside. By those who have the kingdom of Christ at heart they will be laid aside, and all will join hands, not only consentingly, but enthusiastically. V. THAT NEGLIGENCE IS NOTED AND RECORDED BY THE DIVINE MASTER. "Their nobles (of Tekoah) put not their necks to the work of their Lord." Whether it was from indolence or pride, whether they were unwilling to task themselves with unusual labour, or whether they shrank from associating with their social inferiors, we cannot tell. We know, however, that both indolence and pride do keep many from the work of the Lord, and we know that such refusal of help is both unwise and guilty. It is to withhold the hand from that which is worthiest and most enduring; it is to stand outside the blessing of those whom God most honours. It is to invite the curse of Meroz (Judges 5:23), the condemnation of the Son of man at the day of judgment (Matthew 5:45). - C. Parallel Verses KJV: These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai. WEB: Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Yahweh spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai.