Over-familiarity with The Sublime
The sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things. (Numbers 4:15)
Num. 4:4-15 and 3:14-20; Gen. 46:8-11; Ex. 6:10-16; John 17:5; Rev. 1:10-18 and 5:12
What Is God Saying?
The logistics that faced the Israelites in their wilderness march were staggering. This was not a few people going on a camping trip; it was a great multitude going on an incredible journey. At the foot of Mt. Smai a census was taken, showing the number of each of the twelve tribes and the places they would occupy when there was an encampment. There were 603,550 males over the age of twenty. This meant that between two and three million people had to set up and break camp with each move.
In the center was the Tabernacle, Moses and Aaron on its east side, and the sons of Levi were stationed on the other three sides. Care of the sacred vessels of the Sanctuary was their responsibility. The Kohathites camped on the south side of the Tabernacle and continued their service through the reign of King David and beyond. Still, familiar as they were with the sacred articles, and having the privilege of carrying them, they were given a stern warning. They must not touch the furnishings which Aaron and his sons covered. To do so would cost them their lives.
How Does This Apply To Us?
This whole scene is foreign to us. To us, the symbols of our faith just point the way and are not objects of worship. Still what they represent does have importance and awesome meaning. We can easily become too casual about holy things. We are in danger of becoming overly familiar with the sublime. The Cross becomes to some a pretty, but pretty meaningless bit of ornamentation.
Let us never handle holy things carelessly. Things are not holy per se, but what they represent is holy. The cross is a piece of wood; it tells of God's saving grace and forgiveness. The Bible is paper and ink but it shows the heart of God and deserves our respect. In praise to God, a hymn ushers us into His Presence. Being overly familiar with the sublime may not cost our lives but it could cost the joy of communion with our loving God.
Pray With Me
Lord, let Your holy angels stand guard over my spirit. Let me feel their restraining hand when I might otherwise become over-familiar with the sublime. With Isaiah, I would see You, high and lifted up. I would hear the voice of angels singing, ‘Holy, holy, holy.’ The only boldness I can claim in the presence of holy things is that Jesus Christ has consecrated for us all a new and living way in the holiest of all. In my communion with You, made bold by the love of Christ, I would always bow before Your holiness in humility and reverence. I never want to handle holy things carelessly. I never want the wonder of Your grace to become commonplace. I never want the glory to fade from my soul. It is both wonderful and perilous to live close to the holy things of God. Wonderful, because You have and You do come near to me—searching, finding, lifting, loving. Perilous, because human frailty is prone to accept Your Presence as something common, merited, expected.
Let the love of God never become something I can take in without missing a heartbeat or catching a breath. I would not dread to have You near for it is nearness, O God, which transforms and ennobles life. I am poor without it. Yet I never want to be so used to You that I cease to marvel at the holy love that sought me out and brought me in.
In His name in whose righteousness alone I deserve to come and to stay near to the heart of God. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Don't hesitate to talk with God for fear of becoming too familiar. It is not the closeness of our approach to God against which we should guard. It is a lack of humility and reverence. ‘Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let thy glory be over all the earth’ (Ps. 57:5).
