patriarchs and prophets-第136章
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of Joshua； and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua。〃
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Chapter 50
Tithes and Offerings
In the Hebrew economy one tenth of the income of the people was set apart to
support the public worship of God。 Thus Moses declared to Israel： 〃All the
tithe of the land； whether of the seed of the land； or of the fruit of the
tree； is the Lord's： it is holy unto the Lord。〃 〃And concerning the tithe of
the herd； or of the flock； 。 。 。 the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord。〃
Leviticus 27：30； 32。
But the tithing system did not originate with the Hebrews。 From the earliest
times the Lord claimed a tithe as His； and this claim was recognized and
honored。 Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek； the priest of the most high
God。 Genesis 14：20。 Jacob； when at Bethel； an exile and a wanderer； promised
the Lord； 〃Of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto
Thee。〃 Genesis 28：22。 As the Israelites were about to be established as a
nation； the law of tithing was reaffirmed as one of the divinely ordained
statutes upon obedience to which their prosperity depended。
The system of tithes and offerings was intended to impress the minds of men
with a great truththat God is the source of every blessing to His
creatures； and that to Him man's gratitude is due for the good gifts of His
providence。
〃He giveth to all life； and breath； and all things。〃 Acts 17：25。 The Lord
declares； 〃Every beast of the forest is Mine； and the cattle upon a thousand
hills。〃 Psalm 50：10。 〃The silver is Mine； and the gold is Mine。〃 Haggai 2：8。
And it is God who gives men power to get wealth。 Deuteronomy 8：18。 As an
acknowledgment that all things came from Him； the Lord directed that a
portion of His bounty should be returned to Him in gifts and offerings to
sustain His worship。
〃The tithe 。 。 。 is the Lord's。〃 Here the same form of expression is
employed as in the law of the Sabbath。 〃The seventh day is the Sabbath of
the Lord thy God。〃 Exodus 20：10。 God reserved
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to Himself a specified portion of man's time and of his means； and no man
could； without guilt； appropriate either for his own interests。
The tithe was to be exclusively devoted to the use of the Levites； the tribe
that had been set apart for the service of the sanctuary。 But this was by no
means the limit of the contributions for religious purposes。 The tabernacle；
as afterward the temple； was erected wholly by freewill offerings； and to
provide for necessary repairs and other expenses； Moses directed that as
often as the people were numbered； each should contribute a half shekel for
〃the service of the tabernacle。〃 In the time of Nehemiah a contribution was
made yearly for this purpose。 See Exodus 30：12…16； 2 Kings 12：4； 5； 2
Chronicles 24：4…13； Nehemiah 10：32； 33。 From time to time sin offerings and
thank offerings were brought to God。 These were presented in great numbers
at the annual feasts。 And the most liberal provision was made for the poor。
Even before the tithe could be reserved there had been an acknowledgment of
the claims of God。 The first that ripened of every product of the land was
consecrated to Him。 The first of the wool when the sheep were shorn； of the
grain when the wheat was threshed； the first of the oil and the wine； was
set apart for God。 So also were the first…born of all animals； and a
redemption price was paid for the first…born son。 The first fruits were to
be presented before the Lord at the sanctuary； and were then devoted to the
use of the priests。
Thus the people were constantly reminded that God was the true proprietor of
their fields； their flocks； and their herds； that He sent them sunshine and
rain for their seedtime and harvest； and that everything they possessed was
of His creation； and He had made them stewards of His goods。
As the men of Israel； laden with the first fruits of field and orchard and
vineyard； gathered at the tabernacle； there was made a public acknowledgment
of God's goodness。 When the priest accepted the gift； the offerer； speaking
as in the presence of Jehovah； said； 〃A Syrian ready to perish was my
father；〃 and he described the sojourn in Egypt and the affliction from which
God had delivered Israel 〃with an outstretched arm； and with great
terribleness； and with signs； and with wonders。〃 And he said； 〃He hath
brought us into this place； and hath given us this
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land； even a land that floweth with milk and honey。 And now； behold； I have
brought the first fruits of the land； which Thou； Jehovah； hast given me。〃
Deuteronomy 26：5； 8…11。
The contributions required of the Hebrews for religious and charitable
purposes amounted to fully one fourth of their income。 So heavy a tax upon
the resources of the people might be expected to reduce them to poverty；
but； on the contrary； the faithful observance of these regulations was one
of the conditions of their prosperity。 On condition of their obedience God
made them this promise： 〃I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes； and he
shall not destroy the fruits of your ground； neither shall your vine cast
her fruit before the time in the field。 。 。 。 And all nations shall call you
blessed： for ye shall be a delightsome land； saith the Lord of hosts。〃
Malachi 3：11。
A striking illustration of the results of selfishly withholding even
freewill offerings from the cause of God was given in the days of the
prophet Haggai。 After their return from the captivity in Babylon； the Jews
undertook to rebuild the temple of the Lord； but meeting determined
opposition from their enemies； they discontinued the work； and a severe
drought； by which they were reduced to actual want； convinced them that it
was impossible to complete the building of the temple。 〃The time is not
come；〃 they said； 〃the time that the Lord's house should be built。〃 But a
message was sent them by the Lord's prophet： 〃Is it time for you； O ye； to
dwell in your ceiled houses； and this house lie waste？ Now therefore thus
saith the Lord of hosts； Consider your ways。 Ye have sown much； and bring in
little； ye eat； but ye have not enough； ye drink； but ye are not filled with
drink； ye clothe you； but there is none warm； and he that earneth wages；
earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes。〃 Haggai 1：2…6。 And then the
reason is given： 〃Ye looked for much； and； lo； it came to little； and when
ye brought it home； I did blow upon it。 Why？ saith the Lord of hosts。
Because of Mine house that is waste； and ye run every man unto his own
house。 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew； and the earth is
stayed from her fruit。 And I called for a drought upon the land； and upon
the mountains； and upon the corn； and upon the new wine； and upon the oil；
and upon that which the ground bringeth forth； and upon men； and upon
cattle； and upon all the labor of the hands。〃 Verses 9…12。 〃When one came to
a heap of twenty measures；
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there were but ten： when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty
vessels out of the press； there were but twenty。 I smote you with blasting
and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands。〃 Haggai 2：16；
19。
Roused by these warnings； the people set themselves to build the house of
God。 Then the word of the Lord came to them： 〃Consider now from this day and
upward； from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month； even from the
day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid； 。 。 。 from this day
will I bless you。〃 Verses 18； 19。
Says the wise man； 〃There is that scattereth； and yet increaseth； and there
is that withholdeth more than is meet； but it tendeth to poverty。〃 Proverbs
11：24。 And the same lesson is taught in the New Testament by the apostle
Paul： 〃He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly； and he which
soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully。〃 〃God is able to make all
grace abound toward you； that ye； always having all sufficiency in all
things； may abound to every good work。〃 2 Corinthians 9：6； 8。
God intended
