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The Scriptorium

The Regular Tithe

We need to be regular at it. Deuteronomy 14.22-27

Guarding Purity: Deuteronomy 13, 14 (5)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 111.1, 2
Praise the LORD!
I will praise the LORD with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.
The works of the LORD are great,
Studied by all who have pleasure in them.

Psalm 111.1, 2

(Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
Praise the Lord! O let my heart give praise here amid His chosen race!
Your works are great, O Lord, and sought by all who know their grace.

Today’s Text: Read Deuteronomy 14.22-27

Preparation
1. What did God’s people demonstrate by giving the tithe?

2. What was to be their attitude in tithing?

Meditation
The tithe mentioned here was an annual gift, given at the place designated, amounting to some ten percent of the flocks, herds, and harvests of the people. Offerings were made locally, and administered by priests and Levites in every town and district. But this tithe was given annually, and was stored up as calves and lambs were born, or olives and grain harvested, so that it could all be brought in one trip. We see Paul emulating this practice in 1 Corinthians 16.1-3.

Thus, the total giving of the people of Israel would have been considerably more than the annual tithe. That was the starting-point; but the people gave as they and their local clergy required.

It’s important to see that fulfilling this tithe – and by implication, all the other offerings the Lord required in His Law – the people would learn to fear God (v. 23). Fearing God is the first step in loving Him, as we saw in Deuteronomy 10.12ff. Tithing can help us grow in the fear of God, and the fear of God helps us to grow in wisdom (Ps. 111.10).

We remember that, for a time at least, the tabernacle moved around a bit. And even when it finally became stationary in Jerusalem, that could be a long trek for some folks, too far to be driving animals and carrying large bundles. So they were allowed to cash in their tithe, come to the tabernacle, and purchase appropriate offerings there (vv. 24-26). This is where the practice described in John 2 has its origin. It’s not hard to imagine that this became corrupted rather quickly – as often happens when money changes hands.

The people were to give faithfully, so that those who served them in offerings, teaching, and judging could be provided for amply. The Levites had no permanent inheritance in Israel; they were dependent on the tithes and offerings of the people (v. 27). Paul applied that principle to himself and to all those who minister the Word of God as their calling life (cf. 1 Cor. 9.3-14; Gal. 6.6).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Truly tithe.” Obey. Why? Because especially when things don’t make sense to us, we need to just do it and do it God’s way. And by doing it God’s way, we learn to fear the LORD our God always. And when we obey, even when it doesn’t make sense, God brings joy into our hearts. This is something we can do, which in the doing of it, makes us rejoice. Simply by keeping the regular tithe. It belongs to Him anyway, so we get credit for not stealing too! “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings” (Mal. 3.8). It is a win win situation!

Reflection

1. How would you counsel a new believer to practice giving tithes and offerings?

2. What benefits come from faithfully tithing and offering to the Lord?

3. How does tithing promote the fear of God?

the tithes of the neighboring country, as convenience offered, were carried to Jerusalem; whilst those which were collected in more distant places were set aside there; but that they were accounted for at Jerusalem, so that upon a calculation of the number of their families, an equal distribution might be made to the Levites. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Deuteronomy 14.22

Lord, You require my tithes and offerings, and I will give them joyfully and faithfully so that…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 111.3-10
Thank God for all His great and generous works; commit yourself to tithing from what He gives you, so that you will grow in fearing Him and in wisdom.

Psalm 111.3-10
(Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
For Your work is full of splendor, Lord, and of majesty most pure;
Your righteousness, O glorious God, forever will endure!

You have caused Your many wondrous works to remain before our face.
For You are full of mercy, Lord, and abounding all in grace.

For all who fear You, You provide; Your covenant endures.
Your pow’r You show Your people, Lord, and make the nations theirs.

The works of Your all-sovereign hands are faithful, Lord, and just.
Your precepts ever more are true and worthy of our trust.

You have sent redemption, to us, Lord, in Christ of cov’nant fame,
and we in wonder, grace, and awe adore Your holy Name.

All they who would true wisdom know must learn to fear You, Lord,
and in that wisdom daily live and praise You evermore.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Listen to our summary of last week’s study in Deuteronomy by clicking here. You can download all the studies in the series by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: Ancient Christian Commentary Series III, Joseph T. Lienhard, S. J. ed. in collaboration with Ronnie J. Rombs, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001). All quotations from John Calvin from John Calvin, Commentaries on The Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Order of A Harmony, Rev. Charles William Bingham M. A., tr. and ed. (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1863. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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