A Bible Study in Outline.

    The Levites:----Their Names and Service----Numbers ii.

Levi means----Joined, 1 Cor. vi. 17; Eph. v. 31.
Gershon means----Stranger Here, Heb. xi. 13; 1 Peter ii. 11.
Libni means----Whiteness, Isa. i. 18; Eccles. ix. 8.
Shimei means----Obedience, 1 Peter i. 14.
Kohath means----Assembly, Heb. x. 15.
Amram means----Exalted People, Eph. ii. 6.
Izohar means----Covering, Isaiah lxi. 10.
Hebron means----Fellowship, 1 Cor. i. 9; 1 John i. 3.
Uzziel means ----Strength of God, Col. i. 11.
Merari means----Sorrowful Man in Midst of Work, 2 Cor. vi. 10.
Mahli means----Rejoicing, Rom. xii. 12; 1 Thess. v. 16.
Mushi means----Taken Away, 1 Thess. iv. 17.
The Levities in their service represent the Church in its aspect towards men in the world (though not of it) as servants of Christ by virtue of their being joined with "Aaron" (whose name signifies "Very High") within the vail and waiting on him for service----Num. iv. 19. 27; 1 Chron. xxiii. 28.
I.  The Levites were the Lord's, taken by Him according to His own purpose, instead of the first born from among the children of Israel----Num. iii. I2-13; John xvii. 16.
II. They were to be cleansed and separated to the service before the whole assembly----Num. viii 6. 14; 1 Cor. vi. 11.
III.  The Lord gives the Levites to Aaron as a gift from amongst the Israelites----Num. viii. 19; John xvii. 6.
IV.  Aaron gives them back to the Lord as an offering when cleansed----Num. viii. 21; John xvii. 10-11.
V.  They were then to enter into the tabernacle to do the service----Num. viii. 22.
VI.  They were to be joined to Aaron and brought near to minister and wait on him----Num. xviii. 2-4; Rom. xii. 1-2.
VII.  They were not to be numbered with the other tribes----Num. i. 47; John xvii. 16.
VIII.  They were the fewest in number of all the tribes----Num. iii. 39; Matt. vii. 14. Thus, although not numbered with the others, the Lord knew them every one.
IX.  Their rod had Aaron's name written upon it, as the man's rod whom the Lord had chosen----Num. xvii. 3-5.  There was life connected with this union. The Rod of Aaron budded and brought forth fruit on their behalf----Num. xvii. 4; John xv. 3-5; Phil. i. 11.
X.  They were to have nothing earthly, and to be classed with the Fatherless, Stranger, and Widow, yet not to be forsaken----Deut. xii. 9, xiv. 29, xviii. 1-2; Josh. xviii. 7;.1 Peter ii. 11; Heb. xiii. 5; 2 Cor. iv. 14; 2 Cor. iii. 21-23; Phil. iii. 20.
XI.  Their food.  The offerings of the Lord made by fire----Deut. xviii. 1, 3-8; John vi. 56-57.
XII.  The Cities of Refuge were appointed for their habitation----Josh. xxi. 2-42,;1 John ii. 28.
XIII.  They were to bear the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord until they came to their rest, and to bless in the name of the Lord----Deut. x. 8-9; 1 Tim. vi. 20; 1 Peter iii. 9; John xix. 17; Gal. vi. 2; 1 Thess. v. 4.
XIV.  They were to wait on Aaron and his sons for their service, each one in his place, according to the Commandment----Num. iv. 5, 15, 19, 27; 1 Cor. xii. 4 to end.  The nature of the Levites Service in the wilderness was the burden of the tabernacle to carry through the wilderness----Num. iv. 17-49.  To keep the charge of it under Aaron and his sons, to war the warfare----Num. iv. 23; 2 Cor. x. 4, margin.  But when they came to the rest this ceased----1 Chr. 23-26.  No more to carry the tabernacle, then praise was their service----I Chron. xxiii. 21-30; 1 Chron. ix. 10-34. The service of the sons of Aaron was with their father to minister within the vail in the priest's office----Ex. xxix.: this presents the Church in all its priestly character----I Peter ii. 5; Rev. 1-6; Heb. x. 19, xiii. 15; Eph. ii. 5-6. The service was not as a burden, but as a service of Gift----Num. xviii. 7.  To keep the charge of the tabernacle and the altar----Deut. x. 8.  Everything within the vail; the peace offerings; all the hallowed things; the oil for the light; sweet incense, &c.; to blow with the trumpets for the journeyings of the camp; calling the assembly; sounding the alarm----Num. x. 1-8.  Aaron and his sons were washed together----Ex. xxix. 4.  Consecrated together----Ex. xxix. 4-9; Col. ii. 10. Anointed together----Ex. xxx. 30; 2 Cor. i. 21.  Sanctified together----Ex. xxviii. 41; John xiii. 7.  Clothed together----Ex. xxix. 5-8.  Accepted together----Lev. viii. 27; Eph. 1-6.  To eat together----Lev. viii. 31.  Their garments hallowed together----Ex. xxix. 21.  To bless the people together----Num. vi. 22; 1 Peter iii. 9; 1 John iv. 17.  So with the royal priesthood of all believers by virtue of their union with their Great High Priest.  Everything springs from this. Complete in Him----Col. ii. 10.  Perfected in Him----Heb. x. 14.  Sons of God in Him----Col. 1-13.  Loved by the Father in Him----John xvii. 23.  Priests unto God in Him----Rev. i. 6.  All effected by the precious blood of Christ, proved, and secured to them by His resurrection and ascension.
"Feed My Sheep"