Tag: tithing
The Refiner’s Fire!
Scripture reading for October 4th: Malachi 1-4
Malachi was the final voice of a prophet in the era of the Old Covenant. After him, God was silent for 400 years until John the Baptist came on the scene. Malachi was a street preacher who went where the people were and asked hard questions. He tried to provoke God’s people to repent and do what God had required.
The priests were sacrificing blind, crippled and diseased animals. God was holy and He demanded pure sacrifices but His priests were dishonoring Him. (Malachi 1:6-14) Malachi asked if the governor would be pleased if they brought him animals like that? The answer was obvious!
God asked the priests why they were breaking their covenant vows with their wives? They were sacrificing to God on the Sabbath and then sacrificing to idol gods and having sex with the temple prostitutes. This practice would defile them and sow violence and divorce into their homes. (Malachi 2: 11-16) This dishonored God and hindered the development of godly offspring, God’s plan for covenant marriage.
God asked the people why they were stealing from Him? They were not giving God their tithes, bringing them under a curse. The devourer was eating their crops and taking away their sustenance. (Malachi 3:8-12) The remedy was simple–return to God by bringing His tithe! God told them to test Him in this. God promised to open the windows of heaven for those who honor Him with the tithe! He will also rebuke the devourer and bless their provisions.
God was going to send His messenger of the covenant to His temple. He would be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap, purifying the Levites. This process would bring about righteous obedience in the offerings and personal behavior. God was going to be quick to testify against those involved in sins of adultery, perjury, sorcery, and oppression of orphans and widows! (Malachi 3:1-8) The people needed to prepare for this messenger and the refining fire! (Malachi 4:1-3)
Malachi had a message that still rings true today for us. Jesus is coming with fire next time. Those who believe in Him will have their works tested by fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Those who oppose Him will be defeated by fire and eternally judged by fire!
A legacy to remember!
Scripture reading for May 13th: Nehemiah 11-13
“Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.” Nehemiah 13:14
It is a great honor to have God’s smile of approval for the deeds a person has done! Others have had a record of their accomplishments but God called them “evil” and wrote them down as a bad examples! Let’s look at Nehemiah’s last four prayers of petition to the Lord, see his heart, and learn why God answered his prayers with favor!
Nehemiah asked to be remembered for cleansing the temple of Tobiah the Ammonite, who Eliashib the priest had given a room in the temple. (Nehemiah 13:1-2,7-9) Nehemiah also found out that the Levites had not received their portion of the tithes and therefore had to return to secular work. He rebuked the officials who had allowed this and ordered the Levites back to work in the temple. He reminded the people to bring their tithes into the storehouse and replenish the storerooms that had gone empty. He knew that they needed to bring their tithes into the temple for their own worship and good! Faithfulness to God’s house will always be rewarded!
“Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.” Nehemiah 13:22
Nehemiah rebuked the people for doing business on the Sabbath, closed the gates, and warned those bringing goods to remove them on the Sabbath. (Nehemiah 13:12-18) He was concerned that God’s wrath would come upon the people for their disrespect of God’s commandment.
“Remember them, O my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.” Nehemiah 13:29 “Remember me with favor, O my God.” Nehemiah 13:30b
The last recorded deed of Nehemiah was his dealing with mixed marriages in Judah and the priesthood. (Nehemiah 13:25) He made them swear not to give their daughters or allow their sons to marry outside the nation of faith. Wise leaders take action! In doing so, they are “remembered with favor” by the Lord! Let Nehemiah’s example inspire your efforts today!