The part that fascinated me most today was the description of what a tithe was to be used for.
In Deuteronomy, God commands through Moses that the Israelites are to tithe of all their increase; animal, vegetable, and mineral. Of that which was planted and of the animals, the tithe was to be eaten wherever the Lord said to. This included corn, wine, oil, herds and flocks. If it was impossible to take all that stuff where God said to, then this set-aside portion was to be sold and converted into money.
Here’s where the idea of tithing gets interesting…
With the money, everyone was supposed to go to the location where God had told them to go. Once there, they were to spend the money on whatever “their soul lusteth after.” Think that might be a mistake, read further. Again, God specified the money was to be spent on “whatsoever thy soul desireth.”
What a beautiful concept! Out of the blessing God provides, we are to take that tithe (notice this does not include free-will offerings) and enjoy it with gladness. Whether for “oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household…”
Certainly puts a new perspective on the whole give-10%-religiously-to-the-church aspect, doesn’t it?
