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DEVOTED THINGS CANNOT BE REDEEMED!
LORD’S DAY, JUNE 30 EVENING
Leviticus 27

Psalm 119:165-168

 

“These are the commandments,
which the LORD commanded Moses

for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.”

 

DEVOTED THINGS CANNOT BE REDEEMED!

 

When the LORD made Israel into a nation, He ruled Israel Himself, i.e. by theocracy. God did not need armies to fight His battles. But He appointed the tribe of Levi to care for the spiritual well-being of Israel. The priesthood came from the tribe of Levi. Their duties included administering the sacrificial system of worship, as well as studying and teaching the Word of God fulltime. They lived in forty-eight Levitical cities chosen by God, located throughout the length and breadth of the Promised Land on both sides of the River Jordan. This ensured that every tribe in Israel would not need to travel long distances to be taught God’s Word.
 
To care for the physical well-being of the Levites, the LORD declared that the firstfruits and the tithes of the twelve tribes given to the LORD would be received by the priests and Levites respectively for their food. In this way, the priests could care for the spiritual well-being of the twelve tribes and in return the twelve tribes would care for the physical well-being of the priests and Levites. These tithes and offerings and any freewill offerings that were already decided by the LORD to be devoted to Him and to support the priests and Levites, could not be redeemed. They had to be given accordingly. If a relative desired to help out another who could not pay his tithe, then a levy of a fifth part of the tithe would be added on. In the case of clean animals, a tenth would have to be added. They would all be holy unto the LORD. Anyone who tried to redeem that which had been declared to be devoted unto the LORD, would be put to death. This was a serious transgression against the LORD. Christians today must learn from this teaching. Tithes and offerings that are commanded by the LORD must be given to the LORD willingly and cheerfully. We cannot reason that since I am not cheerful and willing, therefore I ought not to give. The teaching teaches us to give cheerfully. It is not to be used as an excuse not to give of that which has been declared devoted unto the LORD.
 
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 27:28-29
PRAYER: Father, may I give of my tithes cheerfully unto Thee as an expression of giving myself totally to Thee, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

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