Priorities?

“This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, and they must retire at the age of fifty. [Numbers 8.24-25]

Is there meaning to this beyond the service of the Levites?

Twenty-five years is not a long career.

Perhaps a way to look at this is to consider the significance of the starting and ending ages...

The age twenty-five, as a starting age, would certainly indicate a level of maturity. In fact today, the age twenty-five can be associated with a certain level of maturity in most adults. By this time, most adults have settled into some knowledge of what they are doing, and will be doing, for years to come. Many, by age twenty-five have become married. Still others, have begun having children. For most twenty-five-year-old's, overall stability has begun to materialize in their lives.

What about the age fifty? Why would God determine the age fifty as the cut-off time for serving in the Tabernacle?

First, we must try to distinguish whether the age of fifty is the significant factor or the service of twenty-five years is significant. I can see how it could be either one, but if I had to choose one as having more meaning than the other, I would say the cumulation twenty-five years of service would be my choice as the determinate factor. However, unless there is a major difference in human ability then and now, the age of fifty also seems to be a tipping point where human strength begins to wane. So, considering this, perhaps the age is the factor as much or more than the length of service.

Depending on which factor we consider to be the reason for the age-fifty retirement, we see that fifty is the cut-off.

Some would argue that fifty is just too young still. And, that argument certainly holds true in today's world. However, what are we saying fifty is too young to do? Generally, we are speaking in terms of work. And, with this said, perhaps God is saying life is not about the work. Perhaps God is saying twenty-five years is enough to dedicate to a career. Perhaps God is saying, considering life usually spans more than twenty-five years, that there is more to life than just a career.

It is worth at least considering that we may not have it right in our modern society. What is our current priority based on? A standard of living promoted by television or media? Maybe we should re-consider!

Father, help us to understand from Your Word what You are saying to us, directly or indirectly, about our own priorities in life...