按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins。〃 Before there could be
any permanent reformation the people must be led to feel their utter
inability in themselves to render obedience to God。 They had broken His law；
it condemned them as transgressors； and it provided no way of escape。 While
they trusted in their own strength and righteousness； it was impossible for
them to secure the pardon of their sins； they could not meet the claims of
God's perfect law； and it was in vain that they pledged themselves to serve
God。 It was only by faith in Christ that they could secure pardon of sin and
receive strength to obey God's law。 They must cease to rely upon their own
efforts for salvation； they must trust wholly in the merits of the promised
Saviour； if they would be accepted of God。
Joshua endeavored to lead his hearers to weigh well their words； and refrain
from vows which they would be unprepared to fulfill。 With deep earnestness
they repeated the declaration： 〃Nay； but we will serve the Lord。〃 Solemnly
consenting to the witness against themselves that they had chosen Jehovah；
they once more reiterated their pledge of loyalty： 〃The Lord our God will we
serve； and His voice will we obey。
〃So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day； and set them a statute
and an ordinance in Shechem。〃 Having written an account of this solemn
transaction； he placed it； with the book of the law； in the side of the ark。
And he set up a pillar as a memorial； saying； 〃Behold； this stone shall be a
witness unto us； for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which He spake
unto us； it shall be therefore a witness unto you； lest ye deny your God。 So
Joshua let the people depart； every man unto his inheritance。〃
Joshua's work for Israel was done。 He had 〃wholly followed the Lord；〃 and in
the book of God he is written； 〃The servant of Jehovah。〃 The noblest
testimony to his character as a public leader is the history of the
generation that had enjoyed his labors： 〃Israel served the Lord all the days
of Joshua； and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua。〃
（525）
Chapter 50
Tithes and Offerings
In the Hebrew economy one tenth of the income of the people was set apart to
support the public worship of God。 Thus Moses declared to Israel： 〃All the
tithe of the land； whether of the seed of the land； or of the fruit of the
tree； is the Lord's： it is holy unto the Lord。〃 〃And concerning the tithe of
the herd； or of the flock； 。 。 。 the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord。〃
Leviticus 27：30； 32。
But the tithing system did not originate with the Hebrews。 From the earliest
times the Lord claimed a tithe as His； and this claim was recognized and
honored。 Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek； the priest of the most high
God。 Genesis 14：20。 Jacob； when at Bethel； an exile and a wanderer； promised
the Lord； 〃Of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto
Thee。〃 Genesis 28：22。 As the Israelites were about to be established as a
nation； the law of tithing was reaffirmed as one of the divinely ordained
statutes upon obedience to which their prosperity depended。
The system of tithes and offerings was intended to impress the minds of men
with a great truththat God is the source of every blessing to His
creatures； and that to Him man's gratitude is due for the good gifts of His
providence。
〃He giveth to all life； and breath； and all things。〃 Acts 17：25。 The Lord
declares； 〃Every beast of the forest is Mine； and the cattle upon a thousand
hills。〃 Psalm 50：10。 〃The silver is Mine； and the gold is Mine。〃 Haggai 2：8。
And it is God who gives men power to get wealth。 Deuteronomy 8：18。 As an
acknowledgment that all things came from Him； the Lord directed that a
portion of His bounty should be returned to Him in gifts and offerings to
sustain His worship。
〃The tithe 。 。 。 is the Lord's。〃 Here the same form of expression is
employed as in the law of the Sabbath。 〃The seventh day is the Sabbath of
the Lord thy God。〃 Exodus 20：10。 God reserved
526
to Himself a specified portion of man's time and of his means； and no man
could； without guilt； appropriate either for his own interests。
The tithe was to be exclusively devoted to the use of the Levites； the tribe
that had been set apart for the service of the sanctuary。 But this was by no
means the limit of the contributions for religious purposes。 The tabernacle；
as afterward the temple； was erected wholly by freewill offerings； and to
provide for necessary repairs and other expenses； Moses directed that as
often as the people were numbered； each should contribute a half shekel for
〃the service of the tabernacle。〃 In the time of Nehemiah a contribution was
made yearly for this purpose。 See Exodus 30：12…16； 2 Kings 12：4； 5； 2
Chronicles 24：4…13； Nehemiah 10：32； 33。 From time to time sin offerings and
thank offerings were brought to God。 These were presented in great numbers
at the annual feasts。 And the most liberal provision was made for the poor。
Even before the tithe could be reserved there had been an acknowledgment of
the claims of God。 The first that ripened of every product of the land was
consecrated to Him。 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。 The first fruits were to
be presented before the Lord at the sanctuary； and were then devoted to the
use of the priests。
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。
As the men of Israel； laden with the first fruits of field and orchard and
vineyard； gathered at the tabernacle； there was made a public acknowledgment
of God's goodness。 When the priest accepted the gift； the offerer； speaking
as in the presence of Jehovah； said； 〃A Syrian ready to perish was my
father；〃 and he described the sojourn in Egypt and the affliction from which
God had delivered Israel 〃with an outstretched arm； and with great
terribleness； and with signs； and with wonders。〃 And he said； 〃He hath
brought us into this place； and hath given us this
527
land； even a land that floweth with milk and honey。 And now； behold； I have
brought the first fruits of the land； which Thou； Jehovah； hast given me。〃
Deuteronomy 26：5； 8…11。
The contributions required of the Hebrews for religious and charitable
purposes amounted to fully one fourth of their income。 So heavy a tax upon
the resources of the people might be expected to reduce them to poverty；
but； on the contrary； the faithful observance of these regulations was one
of the conditions of their prosperity。 On condition of their obedience God
made them this p