Today I read Deuteronomy 14, where the Israelites are instructed on animals they can and cannot eat and how to tithe. The Israelites ate the tithe before God but gave it away in the third year. Today I considered it very interesting that tithing is about spending time with and rejoicing before God.
Eating and Tithing
The Israelites were told they are holy, what to eat, and how to tithe (Deuteronomy 14:1-29). The Israelites are told not to cut themselves or shave their head when someone dies because they are God’s holy people. They are instructed on what clean animals they can eat and the unclean animals they cannot eat. The Israelites are to tithe their crops, bring them to God’s location and eat them there. If the location is too far to bring the tithe, they are to turn the tithe into money. The Israelite is to take the money to God’s location and exchange it for food to eat, drink, and rejoice before the Lord. They were not to forget to take care of the Levites. The third year the tithe was to be given completely to the Levite that have no inheritance, widows, orphans, and strangers.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
Until reading Deuteronomy 14, I never looked at the tithe in the correct way. I always thought of it as a sacrifice or offering to the Lord. God actually wants us to take the 10 percent and sit before God and commune with Him. The tithe was used to eat, drink, and rejoice before the Lord, except the third year’s tithe was fully given to the Levites and those in need. This makes since because a father wants to spend time with his children. A father wants to see his children happy and rejoicing over their blessings. This is what God really wants our time, showing our love, and rejoicing with God.
What have you recently done to give God your time, show God your love, or rejoice with God?