Giving in a Shoebox

O. T. #397  "Giving in a Shoebox"
October 30, 2014
Deuteronomy 14-Part 2
...that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
Deuteronomy 14:29

LET IT GLOW

Several people in our church are stuffing shoeboxes with gifts for needy children so they will have gifts at Christmastime. Tomorrow, my sister in law and I are going shopping for the items we want to give. Did you know that God told Israel to give?

In our key verse, we see that God would bless Israel when they blessed others. It is a matter of the heart. Love gives.

Jesus told us in Luke 6:38, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. for with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Are we giving whenever we see a need? Or are we worried that we won't have enough for us if we give it away? God will repay the giver. He wants our hearts to be givers as He is.

LET IT GROW

The rest of this chapter deals with the commands concerning the tithes of the Israelites. God gave the Israelites a tithing system in seven year intervals, beginning with verse 22:

1. Levitical tithe-The first tithe was given to the Levites, out of which they paid a tenth to the priests (Num. 18:24-28; Neh. 10:37-38). (Levites did not own land.)
2. Agricultural tithe-Of which the land provided and that which remained, the owners separated a second tithe, which they ate before the Lord the first and second year. It was used for the celebration of worship convocation at the sanctuary.
3. Welfare tithe-In the third year, the tithe was given to the Levites and the poor,(stranger, fatherless, widows) (Deut. 14:28-29)
4. & 5. These years the offering was eaten again by the owners.

     6.  The offering was given to the poor.
     7.  Sabbath to the land-It rested and was not planted for crops. All things were common, which
          allowed the poor and the beasts to eat from it. (Ex. 23:11) Every seventh day was a Sabbath
          day, so every seventh year was a Sabbath year. This showed Israel's submission to God and
          their trust in His provisions.

The tithe was to be taken to the central sanctuary where the worshipers were allowed to eat a portion in fellowship with the Lord. Some Israelites may have lived too far from the sanctuary, so they were allowed to exchange their agriculture tithe locally for silver, then convert the money back into substance upon arrival at the sanctuary. It was their choice as to what cattle, sheep, or grain, which appealed to their eye, was purchased.

You may recall the story of the moneychangers that Jesus threw out of the Temple. They should have conducted business in the city streets. (John 2:14-16)


[Resources: Clarke's Commentary, The MacArthur Bible Commentary, Liberty Bible Commentary]

LET IT GO

Open my hand and purse and give.

Share and care, live and give, love.

Trust God to meet my needs.