patriarchs and prophets-第137章
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things； may abound to every good work。〃 2 Corinthians 9：6； 8。
God intended that His people Israel should be light bearers to all the
inhabitants of the earth。 In maintaining His public worship they were
bearing a testimony to the existence and sovereignty of the living God。 And
this worship it was their privilege to sustain； as an expression of their
loyalty and their love to Him。 The Lord has ordained that the diffusion of
light and truth in the earth shall be dependent upon the efforts and
offerings of those who are partakers of the heavenly gift。 He might have
made angels the ambassadors of His truth； He might have made known His will；
as He proclaimed the law from Sinai； with His own voice； but in His infinite
love and wisdom He called men to become colaborers with Himself； by choosing
them to do this work。
In the days of Israel the tithe and freewill offerings were needed to
maintain the ordinances of divine service。 Should the people of God give
less in this age？ The principle laid down by Christ is that our offerings to
God should be in proportion to the light and privileges enjoyed。 〃Unto
whomsoever much is given； of him shall be much required。〃 Luke 12：48。 Said
the Saviour to His disciples as He sent them forth； 〃Freely ye have
received； freely give。〃 Matthew 10：8。 As our blessings and privileges are
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increasedabove all； as we have before us the unparalleled sacrifice of the
glorious Son of Godshould not our gratitude find expression in more
abundant gifts to extend to others the message of salvation？ The work of the
gospel； as it widens； requires greater provision to sustain it than was
called for anciently； and this makes the law of tithes and offerings of even
more urgent necessity now than under the Hebrew economy。 If His people were
liberally to sustain His cause by their voluntary gifts； instead of
resorting to unchristian and unhallowed methods to fill the treasury； God
would be honored； and many more souls would be won to Christ。
The plan of Moses to raise means for the building of the tabernacle was
highly successful。 No urging was necessary。 Nor did he employ any of the
devices to which churches in our day so often resort。 He made no grand
feast。 He did not invite the people to scenes of gaiety； dancing； and
general amusement； neither did he institute lotteries； nor anything of this
profane order； to obtain means to erect the tabernacle for God。 The Lord
directed Moses to invite the children of Israel to bring their offerings。 He
was to accept gifts from everyone that gave willingly； from his heart。 And
the offerings came in so great abundance that Moses bade the people cease
bringing； for they had supplied more than could be used。
God has made men His stewards。 The property which He has placed in their
hands is the means that He has provided for the spread of the gospel。 To
those who prove themselves faithful stewards He will commit greater trusts；
Saith the Lord； 〃Them that honor Me I will honor。〃 1 Samuel 2：30。 〃God
loveth a cheerful giver；〃 and when His people； with grateful hearts； bring
their gifts and offerings to Him； 〃not grudgingly； or of necessity；〃 His
blessing will attend them； as He has promised。 〃Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse； that there may be meat in Mine house； and prove Me now
herewith； saith the Lord of hosts； if I will not open you the windows of
heaven； and pour you out a blessing； that there shall not be room enough to
receive it。〃 Malachi 3：10。
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Chapter 51
God's Care for the Poor
To promote the assembling of the people for religious service； as well as to
provide for the poor； a second tithe of all the increase was required。
Concerning the first tithe； the Lord had declared； 〃I have given the
children of Levi all the tenth in Israel。〃 Numbers 18：21。 But in regard to
the second He commanded； 〃Thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God； in the
place which He shall choose to place His name there； the tithe of thy corn；
of thy wine； and of thine oil； and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy
flocks； that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always。〃 Deuteronomy
14：23； 29； 16：11…14。 This tithe； or its equivalent in money； they were for
two years to bring to the place where the sanctuary was established。 After
presenting a thank offering to God； and a specified portion to the priest；
the offerers were to use the remainder for a religious feast； in which the
Levite； the stranger； the fatherless； and the widow should participate。 Thus
provision was made for the thank offerings and feasts at the yearly
festivals； and the people were drawn to the society of the priests and
Levites； that they might receive instruction and encouragement in the
service of God。
Every third year； however； this second tithe was to be used at home； in
entertaining the Levite and the poor； as Moses said； 〃That they may eat
within thy gates； and be filled。〃 Deuteronomy 26：12。 This tithe would
provide a fund for the uses of charity and hospitality。
And further provision was made for the poor。 There is nothing； after their
recognition of the claims of God； that more distinguishes the laws given by
Moses than the liberal； tender； and hospitable spirit enjoined toward the
poor。 Although God had promised greatly to bless His people； it was not His
design that poverty should be wholly unknown among them。 He declared that
the poor should never cease out of the land。 There would ever be those among
His people who would call into exercise
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their sympathy； tenderness； and benevolence。 Then； as now； persons were
subject to misfortune； sickness； and loss of property； yet so long as they
followed the instruction given by God； there were no beggars among them；
neither any who suffered for food。
The law of God gave the poor a right to a certain portion of the produce of
the soil。 When hungry； a man was at liberty to go to his neighbor's field or
orchard or vineyard； and eat of the grain or fruit to satisfy his hunger。 It
was in accordance with this permission that the disciples of Jesus plucked
and ate of the standing grain as they passed through a field upon the
Sabbath day。
All the gleanings of harvest field； orchard； and vineyard； belonged to the
poor。 〃When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field；〃 said Moses； 〃and
hast forgot a sheaf in the field； thou shalt not go again to fetch it。 。 。 。
When thou beatest thine olive tree； thou shalt not go over the boughs again。
。 。 。 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard； thou shalt not glean
it afterward： it shall be for the stranger； for the fatherless； and for the
widow。 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of
Egypt。〃 Deuteronomy 24：19…22； Leviticus 19：9； 10。
Every seventh year special provision was made for the poor。 The sabbatical
year； as it was called； began at the end of the harvest。 At the seedtime；
which followed the ingathering； the people were not to sow； they should not
dress the vineyard in the spring； and they must expect neither harvest nor
vintage。 Of that which the land produced spontaneously they might eat while
fresh； but they were not to lay up any portion of it in their storehouses。
The yield of this year was to be free for the stranger； the fatherless； and
the widow； and even for the creatures of the field。 Exodus 23：10； 11；
Leviticus 25：5。
But if the land ordinarily produced only enough to supply the wants of the
people； how were they to subsist during the year when no crops were
gathered？ For this the promise of God made ample provision。 〃I will command
My blessing upon you in the sixth year；〃 He said； 〃and it shall bring forth
fruit for three years。 And ye shall sow the eighth year； and eat yet of old
fruit until the ninth year； until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old
store。〃 Leviticus 25：21；22。
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The observance of the sabbatical year was to be a benefit to both the land
and the people。 The soil； lying untilled for one season； would af
