But ere proceeding to examine particularly the work and service of the Levites, we must look for a moment at a scene in Exodus xxxii, in which they act a very prominent and a very remarkable part. We allude, as the reader will at once perceive, to the golden calf. During the absence of Moses, the people so completely lost sight of God and His claims as to set up a molten calf and bow down thereto. This terrible act called for summary judgment. “And when Moses saw that the people were naked, (for Aaron had made them naked to their shame among their enemies,) then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, ‘Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me.’ And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, ‘Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. For Moses had said, ‘Consecrate yourselves to-day to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that He may bestow upon you a blessing this day.’” (Ex. xxxii. 25-29.) This was a testing moment. It could not be otherwise, when this great question was pressed home upon the heart and conscience, “_Who is on the Lord’s side?_” Nothing could be more searching. The question was not, Who is willing to work? No; it was a far deeper and more searching question. It was not Who will go here or there—do this or that? There might be a vast amount of doing and going, and all the while it might be but the impulse of an unbroken will, which, acting upon religious nature, gave an appearance of devotedness and piety eminently calculated to deceive one’s self and others. But to be “on the Lord’s side” implies the surrender of one’s own will—yea, the surrender of one’s self, and this is essential to the true servant—the real workman. Saul of Tarsus was on this ground when he exclaimed, “Lord, what wilt _Thou_ have _me_ to do?” What words, from the self-willed, fierce, and cruel persecutor of the Church of God! “Who is on the Lord’s side?” Reader, art thou? Search and see. Examine thyself closely. Remember, the question is not at all What art thou doing? No; it is far deeper. If thou art on the Lord’s side, thou art ready for any thing and every thing. Thou art ready to stand still, or ready to go forward; ready to go to the right or to the left; ready to be active, and ready to be quiet; ready to stand on thy feet, and ready to lie on thy back. The grand point is this, namely, the surrender of thyself to the claims of another, and that other the Lord Christ.