peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and

acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour' (1 Tim. 2:1 -3).

It is evident that intercessory prayer covers a much wider sphere than

that occupied by the Church.  'All men', 'kings', 'all in authority' come

within its scope.  Wide, however, as is the scope of intercession, its

purpose is limited.  Kings and those in authority may be beneficient or

tyrannical.  Our prayer must not be debased into something political; it is

to be directed to one end: 'That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in

all godliness and honesty'.  This twofold ministry of mediation permitted to

the believer, brings him very near to the Lord Himself, the one Mediator, the

great Interpreter and Intercessor.  It is a ministry that calls for no

outstanding gifts; it makes no parade, and can go on in silence.  It is a

ministry, however, that is vital, and blessed are they who can, with

unfeigned thanks, realize that in this respect they are following in the

footsteps of the Son of God.

It is written of the Good Samaritan that 'he came where he (the injured

man) was'.  There is need for us to remember that all true service is blended

with sympathy.  Because this sympathy has, alas, sometimes been missing from

charitable schemes, we find that the word 'charity', which in the days of the

Authorized Version could stand for love in its fullest sense, has now been

set apart and is often viewed with suspicion.  We even have the common phrase

'as cold as charity'!  We therefore feel no hesitation in giving prominence

to that aspect of service that is likened to a 'joint' in the human body, a

figure that demands unity as a first necessity.

Of all the tribes of Israel, one, namely Levi, was chosen to serve the

Tabernacle.  The name Levi means 'Joined'.  The origin of the name, speaking

humanly, is pathetic.  Leah, who was married to Jacob by an act of deception,

must have felt her position badly.  The Lord saw that Leah was hated, and to

compensate, He granted to Leah that she should have several children, while

Rachel, the beloved wife, remained barren.  Leah's first child she called

Reuben: 'See, a son', for she said, 'Surely the Lord hath looked upon my

affliction; now therefore my husband will love me'.  Again she had another

son, and called his name Simeon (that is, 'Hearing') 'Because', said she,

'the Lord hath heard that I was hated'.  Again she had another son and called

his name Levi, that is 'Joined', saying, 'Now this time will my husband be

joined unto me'.  Her hopes do not appear to have materialized, for upon the

birth of her fourth son, Leah said, 'Now will I praise the Lord', and called

his name Judah, meaning 'Praise', and ceased bearing children (Gen. 29:31 -

35).  It is not our purpose to pursue this theme; we have considered it only

in so far as it throws light upon the name Levi.  The tribe whose name means

'Joined' is the tribe that stands for the service of God and man.  That we

are not drawing upon our imagination a reference to Numbers 18 will show:

'Thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring

thou with thee, that they may be joined (Heb. lavah as in Gen. 29:34)

unto thee, and minister unto thee ... before the tabernacle of witness

... and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you' (Num. 18:2 -4).

Here we not only see that the two phrases 'joined unto thee' and

'minister unto thee' are used together, but that the reverse is true, 'a

stranger' shall not come nigh.  The word 'stranger' is in the Hebrew zar,

from zarah, 'to sow, to scatter, to disperse'; so that it is just the reverse