Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Deuteronomy 26:4-10Moses retells the great events of salvation
history.
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under the provisions of the Fair Use Clause of the National
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materials for educational and religious use when no financial
charge is made for viewing. Catholic Lectionary. (2009).
Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
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4 The priest shall then receive the basket from you and shall
set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God.5 Then you shall
declare before the LORD, your God, My father was a wandering
Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived
there as an alien. But there he became a nation great, strong and
numerous.6 When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us, imposing
hard labor upon us,7 we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers,
and he heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil and our
oppression.
8 He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and
outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders;9
and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing
with milk and honey.10 Therefore, I have now brought you the first
fruits of the products of the soil which you, O LORD, have given
me. And having set them before the LORD, your God, you shall bow
down in his presence.
The first fruits of the land or labor should be considered the
Tithe or one tenth of the earnings.The emphasis in this reading
falls on the form of the religious service which must accompany the
offering. Even today a gardener takes a special pleasure, special
pride, in the first crop of the season, but perhaps in this
scientific age, we have forgotten that it is God who brought forth
the crop.This section of Deuteronomy insists on three things: that
the worship must be directed to the true God;
(2) that the worship must be conducted properly, and set them,
the gifts, before the LORD is a reference to Jerusalems Temple.
(3) that the Israelites should be gratefulnot just feeling a
sense of awe at the first fruits produced, but recognizing exactly
what Gods blessings amounted to.Moses is reminding the Israelites
how God had always provided for their needs.It is now the peoples
opportunity, through the tithing process, to return to God a
portion of what He has given to them.Those who are unable to give
money, should give their time and talents if they are able to do so
without stress to the family.
(148)