Holy Things Carried on the Shoulder

Daily Reading: Numbers 7-8

Scripture Focus: But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder. (Numbers 7.9)

Devotional Thought: Are you familiar with the story of Nehemiah? He was given the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Over and over again the enemy threatened him, distracted him, or flattered him, trying to get him to stop the work. Nehemiah stood firm in his conviction that his work was too precious, too holy to do anything else. So, Nehemiah "sent messengers to them, saying, 'I am doing a great work and I cannot come down'" (Nehemiah 6.3) Do you have any great works like that in your life?

The sons of Kohath did. In Numbers 7, God provided for carts to transport the tabernacle and other items of worship. There were some things so precious, however, that they were not to be placed on carts but were to be carried on the shoulders of the priests.

Do you have any holy things like that in your life? Are you laying them down to do lesser things? Don't fall prey to the lies of the enemy when he tells you that you don't have time to pray or that going to church isn't important or that your children can learn about God from others who are 'experts.' Those are holy tasks given to you.

Because the sons of Kohath bore the holy things on their shoulders, "when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat..." (7.89). Because we carry the burden of the Lord, God will speak in our day!

Prayer: Oh, Lord, thank you for the awesome privilege of carrying the holy things of the Lord. Help me to be strong, to be faithful, and to not come down to do something else. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! 11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! 12 They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! 13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. (Psalms 118:10-13)