Deep Apostolic Teachers?

[KeptByTheWord]

I had posted this some time ago on the other tithing thread, and thought I would post it again here to continue the discussion.


I have been reading in Deuteronomy. A great book to read about the many things that God wanted the Israelites to understand in how to live, and love your neighbor. I came across this passage on tithing:

Duet. 14:22-29
22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
23 And 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.
24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee:
25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose:
26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for 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,
27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.


I would like to point out some things in this passage for discussion:

1. The Israelite in vs. 23 was instructed to "eat of the tithe" himself, and his family before the lord, rejoicing, him and his household while he ate, including the Levite in their celebration.

2. The tithe was brought once every three years. Vs. 28

3. Every three years when the tithe was brought, the Israelite would eat of his own tithe, sharing with the Levite, the stranger, fatherless, and widow, so that the Lord would bless him.

4. In verses 24-26... Please note an interesting thing. If the Israelite could not travel with his abundance of his third year tithe, he could sell his tithe, take the money, and buy "whatever his soul lusteth for" ... Even wine or strong drink (!!!), eat or drink it before the Lord, both he and his household, and the Levite.

I would like comments on this as to how this tithing commandment could possibly be in any way similar to how tithing is taught today.

I can just imagine the shock and horror of most preachers today if one was to really fulfill the tithing commandment as taught in the OT... to wait three years to pay their tithe, and then because they felt they couldn't carry it to the storehouse, to just sell their tithe, and have a feast, calling in the fatherless, widows and orphans, and even using the money to buy wine, if his soul desired, and praising God for the wonderful benefit of the tithe!