The prophet Malachi wrote
“the LORD of host's” indictments against the nation of
Israel and it's priests. Among the charges against them was their
“robbing” of God because they held back on their tithes and
offerings. Because of this, the Lord told them they were “cursed
with a curse”, and He included the whole nation within His
accusation. In chapter three and verse ten, “the LORD of hosts”
told them what to do about their tithing and the blessings that would
come because of their obedience. We read:
Bring
all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my
house, and prove me now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will
not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that
there shall not be room enough to receive it.
The
verse begins, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, says the
LORD of hosts,...” The first word of instruction employed by
“the LORD of hosts” is “Bring” which means “to
go in, enter, come in or lead in”, and its very essence shows
activity. In opposition to their current behavior, the nation of
Israel was to “Bring all the tithes in to the storehouse”
which was “a treasure house or place where valuables are kept”.
The reason given is “that there may be meat” which
literally means “green leaf” and implies “food, prey or spoil”
“in my house” which is “a dwelling place, receptacle or
shelter”. The Lord's challenge was to “prove me now herewith”
or “examine, try or scrutinize” Him with their obedience to
tithing. In other words, “the LORD of hosts” challenged
the nation of Israel to put Him to the test by bringing their tithes
first into His house the way He instructed them to do.
The
verse continues, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven,
and pour you out a blessing,...” The first promised blessing
that would come from their obedience would be to see “if I will
not open you the windows of heaven” which means “release,
throw open or loose” the “lattice, gates or sluice” “of
heaven”. The idea is that the “channel, flume, gate or flush”
of “the abode of God” will be opened widely for those who bring
in the tithes. The second blessing would be that the Lord will “pour
you out a blessing” which means “to empty or empty out
prosperity, praise of God, a present, gift or treaty of peace” upon
them. It is as though the Lord stood ready to release His blessings
upon the nation of Israel if they would bring in the tithes to His
house first.
Finally the verse says, “that there shall not be
room enough to receive it.” As though
the windows of heaven being opened would not be sufficient, “the
LORD of hosts” added “there shall not be room” or
“sufficiency or abundant space” to handle all that He desired to
give to them. Let us remember, the Lord desired for them to prove Him
with this promise.
As we
think about this wonderful promise of the Lord to the nation of
Israel, let us consider how it applies to us. Do we bring the
“tithes” into His house – first? Do we consider that we
may be cutting off our own blessings by not doing as He commanded?
Let the Lord deal with each of our hearts as we ponder His promise to
the people of Israel, and may the conditions He set forth be applied
to our lives that we too may “prove” Him at His word.
Next
time we see more benefits of tithing to the Lord,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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