#334 4-Apr-12 1:44 p.m.
Reading #334
The first fruits
It is the Son of God's purpose to show through His people on earth the principles of His heavenly kingdom. He desires to separate us from the customs, habits, and practices of the world so that in our life and character we may reveal these principles. To do this, He seeks to bring us near to Himself, that He may make known to us His will and way.
This was also His purpose in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. At the burning bush Moses received from Him the message for the king of Egypt: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” Exodus 7:16. Then with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm He brought out the Hebrew host from the land of bondage as He has brought us out of the bondage of sin. Now the Son of God desires to take us apart from the world and prepare us to receive His word in its fullness. From the “Egypt of sin” He wants to lead us to a modern “Mount Sinai,” where He can reveal to us the glory of His Father’s character.
Of this time it is written:
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Hebrews 12:
25 See that you refuse not Him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven. 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He has promised, saying, “Yet [only] once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.”
27 And this word, “Yet once more,” signifies [means] the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are [man] made, that [only] those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
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There is nothing at this holy place to distract our senses or divert our minds from Him; and as we look at the lofty “mountains” towering above us, we will realize our own nothingness in the sight of God. From these “rocks of Sinai,” immovable except by the power of the divine will, the Son of God will communicate with us. And that His word might ever be clear and distinct in our minds, He will again proclaim with great conviction the law which He gave in Eden and which is the transcript of His character. Then His Spirit will write the words on the tables of our hearts so that we may live as He does. Thus the will of the infinite God will be revealed to us who are called to make known to every nation, kindred, and tongue the principles of His government in heaven and in earth. See Revelation 10:11.
At that time unregenerate men and women may set their will against the will of God, but they cannot silence His word of command. The human mind can never fully comprehend its obligation to the higher power, but it cannot evade the obligation. Profound theories and speculations may abound, men may try to set science in opposition to revelation, and thus do away with the law of God; but stronger and still stronger will the Holy Spirit bring before them the command: “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only shall you serve.” Matthew 4:10.
This week we are shown one way in which to do this.
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Deuteronomy 26:
1 And it shall be, when you are come in to the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, and possess it, and dwell therein; 2 that you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which you shall bring of your land that the LORD your God gives you, and shall put it in a basket, and shall go to the place which the LORD your God shall choose to place His name there [where the sanctuary had been erected].
3 And you shall go to the [high] priest that shall be in those days [he was the representative of Jesus], and say to him, “I profess this day to the LORD your God, that I am come to [I live in] the country which the LORD swore to our fathers for to give us.” 4 And the priest shall take the basket out of your hand, and set it down before the [brass] altar of the LORD your God [in the courtyard].
5 And you shall speak and say before the LORD your God, “A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt [this was literally Jacob, but includes Abraham and Isaac], and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous: 6 and the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage: 7 and when we cried to the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression: 8 and the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: 9 and He has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, even a land that flows with milk and honey.
10 “And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which You, O LORD, have given me [as proof of that].”
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From time to time sin offerings and thank offerings were brought to God as required. These were presented in great numbers at the three annual feasts. But the offerings mentioned here, the first fruits, are the first pickings of the year and were presented at the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread in the springtime. Thus a liberal provision was made for the priests and the poor even before the first and second tithes could be reserved.
The first that ripened of every product of the land was consecrated to Him, so there was a continual stream of offerings being made as the year progressed. 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. After the first fruits were presented before the LORD at the sanctuary, they were then devoted to the use of the priests and the poor. 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.
So, as the men of Israel, laden with the first fruits of field and orchard and vineyard, gathered at the tabernacle, they made an acknowledgment of God's goodness in the public prayer that they offered. In this they were to recognise that the LORD had brought up His people from their long servitude in Egypt in a striking manner, giving the Egyptians an opportunity to exhibit the feeble wisdom of their mighty men, and array the power of their gods in opposition to the God of heaven. Then He had shown them by His servant Moses that the Maker of the heavens and the earth is the living and all-powerful God, above all gods; that His strength was mightier than the strongest; that OMNIPOTENCE could bring forth His people with a high hand and with an out-stretched arm, yet without the use of force.
The signs and miracles performed in the presence of Pharaoh were not given for his benefit alone, but also for the advantage of God's people, to give them clearer and more exalted views of God, that all Israel should love Him, and be willing and anxious to leave Egypt, and choose the service of the true and merciful God. Had it not been for these wonderful manifestations, many would have been satisfied to remain in Egypt rather than to journey through the wilderness, as happened when the call came to leave Babylon. And so it is today.
However, if we would fulfil our covenant with God there must be no withholding on our part, of our service or our means. The purpose of all God's commandments is not only to reveal man's duty to God, but also to his fellow man and we must show this. In this late age of the world's history, we are not, because of the selfishness of our hearts, to question or dispute the right of God to make these requirements, or we will deceive ourselves and rob ourselves of the richest blessings of the grace of God. Heart and mind and soul are to be merged in the will of God. Then the covenant, framed by infinite wisdom, and made binding by the power and authority of the King of kings and LORD of lords, will be our pleasure. God need have no discussion with us in regard to these binding precepts, for it is enough for us that He has said that obedience to His statutes and laws is our life and prosperity.
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Deuteronomy 26:
11 And you shall set it [the firstfruits] before the LORD your God, and worship [sing praises] before the LORD your God: 11 and you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you, and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.
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If the word of the LORD were now as strictly carried out as it was when first spoken to ancient Israel, fathers and mothers would give to their children an example which would be of the highest value. Every earthly blessing would be received with gratitude, and every spiritual blessing become doubly precious because the perception of each member of the household would be sanctified by the Word of truth. The LORD Jesus is very near to those who thus appreciate His gracious gifts, tracing all their good things back to the benevolent, loving, care-taking God, and recognizing Him as the great Fountain of all comfort and consolation, the inexhaustible Source of grace. “A merry [rejoicing] heart does good like a medicine.” Proverbs 17:22. Gratitude, rejoicing, benevolence, trust in God's love and care – these are health's greatest safeguard. To the Israelites (and us) they were to be the very keynote of life.
The first fruits were needed because it was only after the harvests that the tithes could be calculated, and this was based on a three-year cycle. Now the LORD moves on to show us the spirit in which He expected this to happen.
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Deuteronomy 26:
12 When you have made an end of tithing all the [first and second] tithes of your increase the third year, which is the [end] year of tithing, and have given it [the first] to the Levite, [and the second to] the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow [to use it all up], that they may eat within your gates, and be filled; 13 then you shall say before the LORD your God,
“I have brought away the hallowed things out of my house [during the last three years], and also have given them to the Levite, and to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me: I have not transgressed Your commandments, neither have I forgotten them.
(1) 14 “I have not eaten thereof in my mourning [in sorrow, or hesitatingly],
(2) “neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean [sinful] use,
(3) “nor given ought thereof for the dead [used it in Satan’s kingdom]:
“but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me. 15 Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless [not me, but] Your people Israel, and the land which You have given us, as You swore to our fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey.”
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During this time of universal rejoicing, there were three important principles which the LORD wanted made very clear. They were:-
(1) That every thing offered to Him must come from a willing heart. This would be shown by the speed and quantity in which the first fruits were brought, as well as how the tithes were calculated.
(2) That the remainder of anything used or produced in a sinful way should not be brought to Him as an offering.
(3) That we should not support the things of this world with that which belongs to God.
If we follow these simple rules then the Son of God will be able to bless us above all others on earth.
Moses continued:
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Deuteronomy 26:
16 This day the LORD your God has commanded you to do these statutes and judgments: you shall therefore keep and do them with all your heart, and with all your soul.
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Every spiritual advantage is given us. He withholds from us nothing favourable to the formation of character that would make us representatives of Himself. Our obedience to the laws of God will make us marvels of prosperity before the nations of the world. He who gave Israel wisdom and skill in all the intricate work during the building of the sanctuary will continue to be our teacher and will ennoble and elevate us through obedience to His laws. If obedient, we will be preserved from the diseases that afflict other nations and will be blessed with bright minds. The glory of God, His majesty and power, will be revealed in all our prosperity. We are to be a kingdom of priests and princes, for the Son of God has furnished us with every facility for becoming the greatest group on the earth in order to draw others into it.
God said to ancient Israel, “Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure to Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:5-6.
And He repeated it to the Christians, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10.
Then He confirmed it with His last message in the Bible, where it is written. “Grace be to you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. To Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:4-6.
Then the Spirit continues:
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Deuteronomy 26:
17 You have avouched [publicly witnessed] the LORD this day to be your God, and [promised] to walk in His ways, and to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and to hearken to His voice.
18 And the LORD has avouched you this day to be His peculiar [representative] people, as He has promised you, and that you should [be able to] keep all His commandments; 19 and to make you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, as He has spoken.
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The blessings of God's covenant are mutual. We promise and so does He.
It was by our baptismal pledge that we affirmed and solemnly confessed the LORD as our Ruler. We virtually took a solemn oath, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that from then on our lives would be merged into the life of these three great Agencies, that the life we would live in the flesh would be lived in faithful obedience to God's sacred law. (It is by helping others that we will be made “high above all nations.”) We declared ourselves “dead” to the old ways, and our new life hid with Christ in God, that henceforth we would walk with Him in newness of life, as men and women who have experienced the new birth. We acknowledged God's covenant with us, and pledged ourselves to seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. At that time, by our profession of faith we acknowledged the LORD as our God, and yielded ourselves to obey His commandments. Today, by obedience to God's Word we testify before angels and men that we live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
In those days the people of God were expected to publicly reaffirm that promise at least once each year, or whenever they brought the first fruits. Should we be doing anything less? Where can we find in the New Testament the equivalent of this open vow? The only place I can see is in the LORD’s command to wash one another’s feet before entering into His house for His supper. It is by this ritual that we prove again that we are willing to do anything to help others.