Numbers 8
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto Aaron and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
3And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.
4And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.
5And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
6Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
7And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
8Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering.
9And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:
10And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:
11And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.
12And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.
13And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.
14Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
15And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.
16For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.
17For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
18And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
19And 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.
20And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.
21And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.
22And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.
23And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:
25And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:
26But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.
The POFW Daily Bible Reading 
As we see here this was just for the purifcation of the golden candlestick. One of many pieces of furniture in the tabrenacle.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
2 Speak unto Aaron and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
3 And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.
God holds the ministry accountable to bring light to HIS Tabernacle. Seven candlesticks or lamps.
It seems in our society it is customary to dumb it down, tell some stories and mention a few scriptures and everybody will be happy. However if we consider the principal of 7 candlesticks being 7 scriptures; how enlightening that would be.
Light reveals – Darkness hides.
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The WORD of GOD in me brings LIGHT to the WORLD.
iPray
v 3 And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the
LORD commanded Moses .
GOD’S people.have always had something to show them the way…Turn to The Lord and you will never lose your way.
” I am the light of the world” Jn.8:12
JESUS also said,”ye are the light of
the world” Matt.5:14
The window of service for Levites was from 25 to 50 years old, a mere 25 years per lifetime. Yes, there were things of ministry they could do afterwards, but the core service was limited to what might have been considered a very prime time of life.
Starting at age 25, they have had time for growing and maturing into adulthood naturally, intellectually, and spiritually. Ending at age 50, they have had time to mentor and train the younger ones and chances are they still could have good health and strength, though any genetic health problems may start cropping up soon as the body’s ability to compensate and recover naturally wanes around that time. Another thought on ending at age 50, even though it seems typical for wives to be younger than the husbands, a man of 50 could very possibly have had a wife who had reached the time when she could no longer bear children (another signal of maturing to a different station in life as far as the natural is concerned.)
God called the Levites to be His in place of all the firstborn of Israel; it seems only fitting that He would call them to give the season of their best natural years to service for Him (I imagine it to be a type of firstfruits.)
21And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.
We should daily desire to be washed in the blood of the Lamb and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. We are vessels of the Lord and everything we do should be in the name of Jesus.
2 “Give Aaron the following instructions: When you set up the seven lamps in the lampstand, place them so their light shines forward in front of the lampstand.”
3 So Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (NLT)
In reading these verses I see that we must shine for God as He commands. But in this NLT it also gives the direction of forward. So we must not just shine but shine ‘forward’ , moving forward with God.
The process of cleansing for the service was great. The Lord was very serious and still is about keeping the tabernacle pure. We should fallow this example before we enter the house of the Lord. Cleansing ourselves daily before the Lord and sacrificing ourselves as the Levites were called is a great privilege. The “come as you are ” mantality is really challanged here.
14Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
The responsibilities that we find given to the Levites over the past few chapters provides examples that the higher you go in leadership the more is required. Addiitonally there are special blessings that go along with the responsibilites, but to who much is given, much is required.
This chapter illustrates being chosen. Just as the Levites were chosen so are all that have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. One should never believe it was anything accomplished by one’s self, for none are worthy save Christ. All that have been chosen are obligated to seek God through prayer and fasting so that others (all) can also be chosen. May the good Lord Bless you all in Jesus name, Amen
24This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:
25And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:
26But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.
From 25 to 50 years of age the men were to serve. Over 50 were to teach and mentor. Many today reguardless of their age think that they are at church only to be served and be preached to, and therefore miss out on wonderful blessing. Church isn’t only about getting ministered to, but its also lots of work.
25 – 50
The primetime of a Levites life was dedicate to the service of the Lord… Sometimes it seems that we get it backwards. Thank God for a pastor that believes in a YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY!
WOW
14Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
To be hand chosen by God for his work! The Levites being hand chosen still did not immediately go to work at the Tent of Meeting, not until they were purified. And still then they were supervised by the man of God to make sure that they were following the directions God had given. Following your leader is so important because they have been directed by God.