Today I read Deuteronomy 26. I was struck by the ritual the Israelites did while presenting the first fruits of their labor. They would go before the altar and say,
“I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us... My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,with great terror and with signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you,Lord, have given me.”
And or the third year tithe they would say,
“I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God; I have done everything you commanded me. Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
I am taken by the ritual. There is something powerful about the declarations that they made. The declaration does brings a centerness on God that a passed bucket or an electronic transfer cannot compare with. Through the declaration the Israelites gave verbal praise to God as redeemer, provider, and creator. It recollects the history of God's goodness. They remembered who he was and why he is deserving of the sacrifice.
Through declaration, the Israelites recognize that their offering is not really a gift, but it is already owned by God to be packaged to be given to spiritual leaders and the poor.
Also, the declaration says that our offering cannot make up for a lack of righteousness, but is deeply related to our obedience in other areas as well.
Lastly, giving is a sign of God's promise that he will care for our needs.
In offering my tithe to the Lord, I need to learn to do it less out of habit or duty, but more out of praise.
