During the Israelites' trek through the wilderness, The LORD commanded the them to organize and be numbered into an army. Each tribe was given a specific territory to guard and protect. For all but one tribe, the commission was to protect that land from external enemies. The Levites, however, were given a special duty:
The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies; but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.
-- Numbers 1:52-53 [NKJV]
The Levites were given no land - no physical territory - to live on, to claim or to protect. Rather, they were given charge over the Tabernacle of God. The Holy Place needed to be protected.
But protected from whom?
Since the Tabernacle is located at the center of the camp, the only potential attackers would come from within. And this presents us with a peculiar perspective.
You see, the Lord knows that His church is most vulnerable to those from inside His camp. We, His people, are warned again and again to watch out for false teachers. And it's highly unlikely that any mature believer would be swayed by the teachings of someone who does not profess to be a Christian.
This means, brothers and sisters, that we must carefully guard our heart from any false teaching, even if that teacher is a world-famous preacher, best-selling author or the pastor of some hyper-super-mega-church. We must know the word and submit all we learn to the Lord, regardless of the credentials or reputation of the speaker. By His Word and Spirit, He dispels all confusion.
Be encouraged, Jose
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