Harvest offerings and tithes

The blog connection for prayer requests has locked me out and will no longer let me add or subtract from that space. So from now on, I will put them at the bottom of each chapter.

Deuteronomy Chapter 26

Moses told the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land, to put some of their first harvest into a basket and bring it to the place the Lord chooses for his name to be honored. Go to the priest and say to him, "with this gift I acknowledge that the Lord God has brought me into the land he swore to give our ancestors". The priest will take the basket and set it before the altar. You will then say "my ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live in Egypt. His family was few, but in Egypt they became a mighty nation. When the Egyptians mistreated and humiliated us by making us slaves, we cried out to the Lord and he heard us and saw our oppression. So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with amazing power, overwhelming terror, and miraculous signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey! And now Oh God, I have brought you a token of the first crops you have given me from the ground." Then place the produce before the Lord and worship him.

Afterward, go and celebrate because of all the good things the Lord has given you and your household. Remember to include the Levites and foreigners living among you in the celebration.

Every third year, said Moses, you must offer a special tithe of your crops. You must give these tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, widows, so they will have enough to eat. Then you must declare in the presence of the Lord, "I have taken the sacred gift from my house and have given it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans and widows just as you commanded me, I have not violated or forgotten any of your commands. I have not eaten any of it while in mourning, I have not touched it while I was ceremonially unclean, I have not offered any of it to the dead, I have obeyed the Lord and have done everything you commanded of me. Look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you gave us- a land flowing with milk and honey-just as you promised our ancestors."

Moses continued to say that today the Lord has commanded you to obey all laws and regulations. You must commit yourself to them without reservation. You have declared today that the Lord is your God. You have promised to obey his laws, commands, regulations by walking in his ways and doing everything he tells you. The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised and you must obey all his commands. And if you do, he will make you greater than any other nation. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the Lord, just as he promised.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW:This recitation of God's dealings with his people helped them to remember what he had done for them. The word Arameans were people of northern Syria and among the ancestors of Abraham. This reference is also used in Genesis: 29-31, where Jacob spent many years and got his two wives in Aram.

How does this Chapter relate to us in today's world? The Israelites had a history. So do we. But we often need to be reminded of our long history and renew our relationship with God. What has God done for you? Can you put it into words? Can you witness to others about your spiritual awakening? Witnessing is a great tool, because it gets us excited about our past and how far we have come. It is a great tool also because it is our opportunity to show faith and compassion to others who may not be at the same point in the path to being a Christian. We need to help others because we are all on the same journey. Praise be to God!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests For:
Health: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long's parents, Teli's family, Logan and her unborn child
Uplifting: Gail
Renewal of faith: Al, John
Support: Haiti, Chile, those aiding the gulf coast and those who lost their livelihood in the oil spills.