I have thrown all these verses together, because one general remark will be found applicable to all. And the observation that seems to meet us, in the perusal of what is here said concerning the provision made by GOD for the priests and Levites in his service, will, by a parity of reasoning, be found applicable in all ages of the church to the LORD'S servants. As they are not their own, but his whom they serve, so they are supposed to have neither time nor ability to provide for themselves in the common wants of life, and therefore the LORD himself appoints what their supplies should be. All their ministrations, their knowledge, time, gifts, graces, talents, were to be dedicated for the benefit of the people: yea, their very souls, (as the apostle Paul says), faithful servants in the ministry are willing to impart for JESUS'S sake, and the gospel's. 1 Thessalonians 2:8. Hence, therefore, the LORD himself undertakes by this appointment to provide for them. "Thou shalt have none inheritance among thy brethren, I am thy part and thine inheritance, saith the LORD." See 1 Corinthians 9:13-14. Reader! detach this idea from the mere temporal provision of things, and apply it to the gospel ministry, as it concerns spirituals; and what an animated thought is it to every faithful servant of JESUS! Were I speaking to one of this description I would say, Remember the LORD is your portion. Your springs are all in JESUS. Your life is hid with CHRIST in GOD. Like your master you have meat to eat, which the world knoweth not of. What if all streams fail, if JESUS be your fountain! Oh! the ravishing thought when JEHOVAH saith to the soul, Fear not I am thy shield, and thine exceeding great reward! Genesis 15:1.
Numbers 18:8-24
8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.
9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.
10 In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.
11 And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.
12 All the besta of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.
13 And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.
14 Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine.
15 Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
16 And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.
17 But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
18 And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine.
19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.b
23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.