Proving and Strife

Reading:   Deuteronomy 33

Here comes another reference to the Urim and Thummim and, interestingly enough, it is used in connection with a person and office whereas it was typically used to define the actual interpreters or, on occasion, a place (see Lights and Perfections).  

DEUTERONOMY 33:8

8    And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; 

Understanding that the Urim and Thummim can also be interpreted as "Lights and Perfections," we can then see that Moses, in his blessing to the house of Levi, extolled these virtues on the office of high priest to Israel.  Moses then went on to clarify that the office he spoke of, thy holy one, was that very same position that the people questioned at Massah - requiring proof.  

The phrase, "at the waters of Meribah" directs Israel, specifically the Levites, to recall the instance at Massah where Moses brought forth water from a stone (Number 20:7-13).  These terms, Massah and Meribah, are often used in conjunction with one another and have come to note (or possibly always meant), "Proving and strife." 

The office of high priest dealt with great strife and intense proving at Massah (see Water from Stone); and Moses wanted to make a point of referring to this instance as he bestowed the blessing of light and perfection upon it.  Moses had not been perfect in his action at Massah and had not proved the light of God in his bringing forth the water from stone because he did so with somewhat of an attitude and with unwarranted frustration and a lack of acknowledgement toward God.  Moses learned his lesson at Massah and prayed the Levites would understand the proving and strife that took place there for him, the people, and also the holy office of high priest.

By attributing "light and perfection" to the office of high priest, Moses blessed those who were called and those who would be called, as direct interpreters of God's voice, His light, and His perfection in all things.  

~Kipling