I got this for my brothers and sisters....I have a very dear friend that called me to tell me that she never knew until today that tithes can be given to the stranger {foreigner}, the fatherless, and the widow. As I looked at the scripture text I was encouraged because many people believe that the tithes should only be given to the Levite. This peaked my curiosity and then I knew I had to study this. I seek for you to be blessed even as I was tremendously blessed. Deuteronomy 26:12-13 says; When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, [which is] the year of tithing, and hast given [it] unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of [mine] house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten [them]: In Verse 12 the bible says “the third year, [which is] the year of tithing, and hast given [it]. Why would God command that it be given to them and what purpose was it to serve? Let’s also look at this quote from Prophets and Kings. “The wall of Jerusalem had not yet been completed when Nehemiahs attention was called to the unhappy condition of the poorer classes of the people. In the unsettled state of the country, tillage had been to some extent neglected. Furthermore, because of the selfish course pursued by some who had returned to Judea, the Lords blessing was not resting upon their land, and there was a scarcity of grain. In order to obtain food for their families, the poor were obliged to buy on credit and at exorbitant prices. They were also compelled to raise money by borrowing on interest to pay the heavy taxes imposed upon them by the kings of Persia. To add to the distress of the poor, the more wealthy among the Jews had taken advantage of their necessities, thus enriching themselves. The Lord had commanded Israel, through Moses, that every third year a tithe be raised for the benefit of the poor; and a further provision had been made in the suspension of agricultural labor every seventh year, the land lying fallow, its spontaneous products being left to those in need. Faithfulness in devoting these offerings to the relief of the poor and to other benevolent uses would have tended to keep fresh before the people the truth of Gods ownership of all, and their opportunity to be channels of blessing. It was Jehovahs purpose that the Israelites should have a training that would eradicate selfishness, and develop breadth and nobility of character.” {PK 646} To answer the first part of my question we can say that it was a command from the Lord. It was a second tithe; it was to bring relief to the poor, to show benevolence, to keep fresh before the people that God was ownership of all, then to be a channel of blessings. Selfishness was to be eradicated and it was to build character development. When we see a single mother struggling to provide we should ask ourselves the question “Have I set aside this special tithe?” What about the stranger or what I like to say our foreign brethren overseas? And lastly the poor widow that has lost their spouse? Do we have compassion to assist them or do we selfishly hold on with all our might? Still looking at verse 12 it says “according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten [them]” Have we sinned against God and forgotten about our brethren? I see God implementing these tithes to show us how to have love one for another. I would like to bring out one final point. The last paragraph says “further provision had been made in the suspension of agricultural labor every seventh year, the land lying fallow, its spontaneous products being left to those in need.” So not only should God’s people set aside this second tithe, but also every seventh year a third tithe should be given in the form of produce, this is to supply food to the poor. “That they may eat within thy gates, and be filled.” Deuteronomy 26:12 Just think if we actually did this; there would be no third world countries, our streets would not have homeless people, and our church families would not go lacking. I want to close with these final thoughts “And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 26:10 I don’t know about you brothers and sisters but I seek to fully worship the Lord my God and have love one for another. “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:40 Amen
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 08:46:00 +0000
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