I am ashamed to admit that I have once again fallen behind in my studies.... but last night I was reading in Leviticus and had a rather interesting thought. Before I get on to the thought, I need to explain my Bible through the year plan so that you will understand why the last post was on numbers and this one is on Leviticus.... I am reading from the Daily Bible which reorganizes the text of the Bible into chronological order. In this case, it reorganized all of the Torah's laws into one reading and placed it at the end of the Isrealites time in the wilderness.
Now back to the regularly scheduled rambling... The section I read last night covered the bringing of the tithe to Jerusalem and it covered the feasts & celebrations which God prescribed for his people. The mixing of these two in my head was interesting.
THE TITHE: The instructions for tithing was to bring 1/10th fo the best of the produce of their crops and to bring the firstborn of the animals in their herds. It didn't say to give these to the temple, but instead it said to eat them at the place to be chosen for His Name ..... that would be Jerusalem. So their "tithe" was to supply food for a feast! For those who lived so far that the transportation of the crops and animals would prove burdensome, they were allowed to sale the crops and animals, go to the "chosen place" (Jerusalem) and buy "whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice." (Deut 14:26 from New International Version)
So they brought a feast to Jerusalem and shared it together - in God's presence....
FEASTS: They were told to celebrate three feasts. The feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks (Harvest or First-Fruits) and the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) So, I am wondering if they brought the tithe to Jerusalem when they celbrated one or more of the feasts. If so, it seems like the Feast of Tabernacles would be the one. In this feast they are ordered to come to Jerusalem and stay for 8 days living in booths (tents) They were commanded to "BE JOYFUL" as they celebrated this feast! They were told to gather fronds from Palm Branches and to wave them! This was the celebration happening when Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. To me it sounds like fun! Almost like a week long tailgate party, except rather than being crazy about football, they people were supposed to be crazy about God.
I guess the closest thing we have now, to these feasts of old is big worship events, like Promise Keepers and Women of Faith.So participation in these would be in line with the celebration God desires - He must approve. When is the next one?
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The oldest texts on tithing mention every three years and it was always a sacrifice burnt to the Lord and the rest was eaten with family and the poor! God loves parties especially when they include the poor, outcasts, abused, rejected (like homosexuals and lesbians are by the Christian community), tax-collectors, sinners--that's all of us!
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