Isaiah 66 contains what seems like a solid picture of the future until the mention of Levites (vs. 21). Along with a few other right-sounding predictions this one leaps off the page and can hardly be ignored because government and priesthood in Israel-Judah moves to a new neighbourhood making it necessary that Levites are not dismissed or idolized. This term is reshaped, like everything else in the Law and the Prophets, by the Messianic mission. As the essential civil or public servants of Israel’s priestly kingdom their functions disappear, and their connection to the sacred, in Mosaic terms, is off the rails, there being no fixnctioning holy place. Let it be understood that no dual kingdom citizenship exists allowing anyone to partake of the Messianic kingdom’s priesthood and at the same time be a worshiper at the levitical system. A professional unelected and unbiased class of public servants is a threat to political systems that say they respect diversity, that uses a set of mantras about being committed to justice, and continues to support the design of patriotism, discrimination, and xenophobia.
I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the Lord
Isaiah 66:21
Chaos every election cycle
If every government that gets elected wants to install officials that will replace law with political loyalty, or re- interpret or void the law then it is not the law that is permanent and paramount. The idea that western democracies, buiit on a Judeo-Christian set of principles, need less government is inconsistent with both Moses and Cbrist.
There is no apostolic model for civic government, perfect and royal priesthood of Christ with a new set of rules and procedures, will mediate release where the old order. Anyone can adopt the standards of the levitical system but only the Jewish people could hope to
Government and priesthood
The Sinai Covenant had as its goal the creation of a kingdom of priests – or a priestly government. The ancient world had local heads of clans or tribes and kings at both the city and regional level. Kingdoms were the most widespread form of government in Canaan and all around the Mediterranean. The levitical arrangement was new because it had no visible human head. The authorities that supported the king included the following.
- The prince or captain שר sar
- The elder זקן zaqen
- The counsellor יעץ yaats
- Presidents achashdarpan (in the Babylonian government)
- Princes sarek (in the Babylonian government)
A vital uniting servant-class
Levites provide services for a price paid by all without exception. There are no tax breaks. They are the ones who truly make sacrifice or offering to God. The genuine recyclers. Turning animal or grain into smoke (qatar קטר) marked the complete circle of fellowship.
Goodwill between Christians and Jews does not change the contrast
Hebrews 13:10
We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
Baby delights in Isaiah 66:11.
That you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, That you may suck and be delighted with her bountiful bosom.”
No nation has implemented the levitical system because eating from that table is exclusively Jewish.
More juvenile situations in Isaiah 66:12
For thus says the Lord, “Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees.
Just lift your hands – no gimmicks needed
Lifting one’s hand in prayer is not a gesture that can be a thoughtless action by a superstitious person. The opportunity to bypass the temple with sanction from the national prayerbook. It is incredible that no development occurred along this line and the temple built to perpetuate levitical priorities after the exile. It seems that the prayer life of Israel missed a turning point. Why should hand lifting not replace the sacrifice and offering of animal blood and body? Lifting up the hand going to be prayer the mind needs to be activated. The sign of the cross is popular among some believers
Psalms 141:2
Psalms 141:2
May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering
When I was an orthodox Christian signing oneself was accompanied by “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God Amen”. It never replaced praying. If saying one is a Christian and embracing Judaism, Buddhism, any of the versions of political pantomime is consistent with what Christ stood for one must ask “What changed?”
Did monotheism brightest show really have a home in Galilee? Would we accept it if came from Beijing? James, the brother of Yeshua, was a skeptic while his brother was with us, and we find him throwing Moses at his brother’s Church.
Christians are more confused than ever, and among faith groups they are not alone. However, if we Christians thought that having Pharisees, jealous Sadducees, angry biblical experts, and hostile siblings was hell on earth for first century believers just add the 21st century’s possiblity thinkers, law-abiding followers of Moses, scholars refusing to learn, benighted political operatives posing as lighthouses, never-sick and ageless vegetarians, public officials who change their orientation with the political wind. Few things render Christ’s followers more shepherdless than the yeast of influence peddling and selfserving theories about Christ’s kingdom. Yet none of these hazard justifies violent uprisings and creating deals with governments.
To insist that a revolution 2.0 is needed to continue the journey of our ancestors is pure madness. Have we learned so little and do we have nothing to contribute to the national discourse and national progress? Does Israel return to Sinai? Of course not. Sinai’s shot. Does Canada return to Sir John A’s template? No. Should the United States go through another revolutionary we know that it is because the original template was fatally flawed and the patriotic proponents of a civic society in North America have been manipulating laws to avoid the noble goals of the founding fathers.
Life is Fun, But Not a Joke 