Levites and Work (Numbers 8)

In Numbers 8:11:

When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the LORD. (ESV)

Aaron presented the Levites as a wave offering to God before the people of Israel so that the Levites can do the "work" or "service" of the Lord. In Leviticus 23:7, the wave offering is defined as what is done with the first sheaf of wheat of the harvest and how it is to be presented to the Lord.

I have to think about how this relates to work and the Lord's work.

Luther on Work

Alister McGrath in First Things.
"In this view, Christians were called to be priests to the world, purifying and sanctifying its everyday life from within. Luther stated this point succinctly when commenting on Genesis 13:13: "What seem to be secular works are actually the praise of God and represent an obedience which is well-pleasing to him." (http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=3175)

Hannah and Work

In I Samuel 2:7-8
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
and on them he has set the world.

This is part of the prayer that Hannah prayed after she gave birth to Samuel and brought him to the temple for him to serve there. One's economic status is totally dependent on God.