Overall Question: What do you notice about the worship and dedication of the ancient Israelites as shown in this lesson?

Memory Text: 2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Sunday – Altar Dedication
Numbers 7 NLT “1 ¶ On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy, along with all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had organized the census—came and brought their offerings. 3 Together they brought six carts and twelve oxen. There was a cart for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. They presented these to the LORD in front of the Tabernacle. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, 5 "Receive their gifts and use these oxen and carts for the work of the Tabernacle. Distribute them among the Levites according to the work they have to do." 6 So Moses presented the carts and oxen to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonite division for their work, 8 and four carts and eight oxen to the Merarite division for their work. All their work was done under the leadership of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 9 But he gave none of the carts or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders. 10 ¶ The leaders also presented dedication gifts for the altar at the time it was anointed. They each placed their gifts before the altar. 11 The LORD said to Moses, "Let each leader bring his gift on a different day for the dedication of the altar." 12 On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab, leader of the tribe of Judah, presented his offering. 13 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 14 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 15 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 16 a male goat for a sin offering; 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Nahshon son of Amminadab. 18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of the tribe of Issachar, presented his offering. 19 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 20 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 21 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 22 a male goat for a sin offering; 23 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Nethanel son of Zuar. 24 On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the tribe of Zebulun, presented his offering. 25 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 26 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 27 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 28 a male goat for a sin offering; 29 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Eliab son of Helon. 30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the tribe of Reuben, presented his offering. 31 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 32 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 33 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 34 a male goat for a sin offering; 35 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Elizur son of Shedeur. 36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the tribe of Simeon, presented his offering. 37 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 38 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 39 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 40 a male goat for a sin offering; 41 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. 42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the tribe of Gad, presented his offering. 43 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 44 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 45 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 46 a male goat for a sin offering; 47 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Eliasaph son of Deuel. 48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the tribe of Ephraim, presented his offering. 49 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 50 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 51 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 52 a male goat for a sin offering; 53 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Elishama son of Ammihud. 54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the tribe of Manasseh, presented his offering. 55 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 56 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 57 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 58 a male goat for a sin offering; 59 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the tribe of Benjamin, presented his offering. 61 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 62 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 63 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 64 a male goat for a sin offering; 65 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Abidan son of Gideoni. 66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the tribe of Dan, presented his offering. 67 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 68 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 69 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 70 a male goat for a sin offering; 71 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, leader of the tribe of Asher, presented his offering. 73 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 74 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 75 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 76 a male goat for a sin offering; 77 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Pagiel son of Ocran. 78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the tribe of Naphtali, presented his offering. 79 The offering consisted of a silver platter weighing about 3 1/4 pounds and a silver basin of about 1 3/4 pounds. These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour mixed with olive oil. 80 He also brought a gold container weighing about four ounces, which was filled with incense. 81 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 82 a male goat for a sin offering; 83 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by Ahira son of Enan. 84 So this was the dedication offering for the altar, brought by the leaders of Israel at the time it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver basins, and twelve gold incense containers. 85 In all, the silver objects weighed about 60 pounds, about 3 1/4 pounds for each platter and 1 3/4 pounds for each basin. 86 The weight of the donated gold came to about three pounds, about four ounces for each of the gold containers that were filled with incense. 87 Twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve one-year-old male lambs were donated for the burnt offerings, along with their prescribed grain offerings. Twelve male goats were brought for the sin offerings. 88 Twenty-four young bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty one-year-old male lambs were donated for the peace offerings. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed. 89 Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The LORD spoke to him from there.”

Monday - Communion With God
Exodus 25:22 God’s Word to the Nations “I will be above the throne of mercy between the angels whenever I meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.”
Numbers 7:89 God’s Word to the Nations “Whenever Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the throne of mercy on the ark containing the words of God’s promise, from between the two angels. This is how the LORD spoke with Moses.”
Exodus 20:19 God’s Word to the Nations “Then they said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we’ll listen. But don’t let God speak to us, or we’ll die!"”
Hebrews 4:14-16 God’s Word to the Nations “14 We need to hold on to our declaration of faith: We have a superior chief priest who has gone through the heavens. That person is Jesus, the Son of God. 15 We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin. 16 So we can go confidently to the throne of God’s kindness to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time.”

Tuesday – Light in the Sanctuary
Zechariah 4:1-6 CEV “1 ¶ The angel who explained the visions woke me from what seemed like sleep. 2 Then he asked, "What do you see?" "A solid gold lampstand with an oil container above it," I answered. "On the stand are seven lamps, each with seven flames. 3 One olive tree is on the right side and another on the left of the oil container. 4 But, sir, what do these mean?" 5 Then he asked, "Don’t you know?" "No sir," I replied. 6 So the angel explained that it was the following message of the LORD to Zerubbabel: I am the LORD All-Powerful. So don’t depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit.”
Zechariah 4:11-14 CEV “11 ¶ Then I asked the angel, "What about the olive trees on each side of the lampstand? What do they represent? 12 And what is the meaning of the two branches from which golden olive oil flows through the two gold pipes?" 13 "Don’t you know?" he asked. "No sir, I don’t," was my answer. 14 Then he told me, "These branches are the two chosen leaders who stand beside the Lord of all the earth."”
Revelation 4:2 CEV “Right then the Spirit took control of me, and there in heaven I saw a throne and someone sitting on it.”
Revelation 4:5 CEV “Flashes of lightning and roars of thunder came out from the throne in the center of the circle. Seven torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne.”
Revelation 11:4 CEV “These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in the presence of the Lord who rules the earth.”

Wednesday – Dedication of the Levites
Numbers 8:6-26 Holman “6 “Take the Levites from among the Israelites and ceremonially cleanse them. 7 This is what you must do to them for their purification: Sprinkle them with the purification water. Have them shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves. 8 “They are to take a young bull and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering. 9 Bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the entire Israelite community. 10 Then present the Levites before the LORD, and have the Israelites lay their hands on them. 11 Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a presentation offering from the Israelites, so that they may perform the LORD’s work. 12 Next the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls. Sacrifice one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites. 13 “You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and you are to present them before the LORD as a presentation offering. 14 In this way you are to separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites so that the Levites will belong to Me. 15 After that the Levites may come to serve /at/ the tent of meeting, once you have ceremonially cleansed them and presented them as a presentation offering. 16 For they have been exclusively assigned to Me from the Israelites. I have taken them for Myself in place of all who come first from the womb, every Israelite firstborn. 17 For every firstborn among the Israelites is Mine, both man and animal. I consecrated them to Myself on the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt. 18 But I have taken the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites. 19 From the Israelites, I have given the Levites exclusively to Aaron and his sons to perform the work for the Israelites at the tent of meeting and to make atonement on their behalf, so that no plague will come against the Israelites when they approach the sanctuary.” 20 Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community did /this/ to the Levites. The Israelites did everything to them the LORD commanded Moses regarding the Levites. 21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them before the LORD as a presentation offering. Aaron also made atonement for them to ceremonially cleanse them. 22 After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting in the presence of Aaron and his sons. So they did to them as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites. 23 The LORD spoke to Moses: 24 “In regard to the Levites: From 25 years old or more, a man enters the service in the work at the tent of meeting. 25 But at 50 years old he is to retire from his service in the work and no longer serve. 26 He may assist his brothers to fulfill responsibilities at the tent of meeting, but he must not do the work. This is how you are to deal with the Levites regarding their duties.””
Romans 12:1 ESV “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Thursday – Dedication of the Levites
Numbers 8:16 ESV “For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself.”
Numbers 8:19 KJ21 “And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation and to make an atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary."”
Numbers 3:9 SDA COMMENTARY The Levites were “wholly given” to Aaron as high priest, that is, they were under his full control. The fully surrendered Christian, completely in Christ’s hands, controlled and energized by the Holy Spirit, is of the “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). The Levites were to give all of their time and strength to cooperating with Aaron in the ministry of the sanctuary. The believer today is to cooperate with Christ for the spiritual health and growth of the church. A price was paid to redeem the first-born. Christ paid the price of His blood to redeem sinners. Those that enter into the church, and live by faith, are enrolled in the books of heaven.
Romans 5:11 KJ21 “And not only that, but we shall also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Hebrews 9:25-28 KJ21 “25 Nor yet should He offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place with blood of others every year; 26 for then would He have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once, in the end of the world, hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment, 28 so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto those who look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin, unto salvation.”

James, what comparison would you use?