September 1, 2023
Building People of Substance for Works of Power
“For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Malachi 3:6 NKJV
Malachi 3:6 NKJV
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17 NKJV
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV
When I hear someone say, “The tithe was under the Law,” I have to ask what they mean. We assume that everyone understands words the same way we do. Often, we assume too much. For most folks, “The tithe was under the law,” means it was under the Law of Moses which began with the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20. The biblical writers use the term ‘Law” to mean the Mosaic Law, the entire Pentateuch, and the written law of Deuteronomy 27. Context matters. In our post-Reformation heritage, we use the term to refer to a performance-based system leading to salvation. That’s normally our thinking when we talk about the grounds of salvation: “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith” (Galatians 3:5)?
In our general usage, the word “law” usually implies legislation by a governing body that outlines behaviors and gives penalties for failure to comply. That’s a construct of our modern, western mindset. The folks in the Bible didn’t understand it that way. The Hebrew word is “torah,” which might better be interpreted as “teaching” or “instruction.” When we read “the Law of Moses,” we might be wise to think of it as the instruction, or teaching, given through Moses. In it, God revealed Himself to His people in a brand-new way.
The law was not given to be a typical governing document, but to relate the story of God’s people, His covenants with them, and the instructions His covenant partners needed in order to live successfully as His representatives in the earth. It was in the form of Ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature, suitable for guidance and meditation. For Israel, the Torah was grounds for rejoicing. They understood it to be a great blessing not an instrument of religious bondage. Take a cruise through Psalm 119, or carefully and prayerfully read this love song to the Law:
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19:7-11
Does that sound like someone who thinks they are in bondage or who feels condemned? No, they were very happy about it!
The Torah set Israel apart from the pagan tribes around them. The gods of the nations were horrible! They were brutal and demanding, bringing catastrophes on the people for reasons unknown, keeping them always guessing and afraid of retribution if they got it wrong. The worshippers were forced to consult magicians and oracles who theorized about the requirements of their angry deities. They offered sacrifices, sometimes human ones, in the hope that a child, or maybe a virgin or two, would appease these oppressive spirit rulers.
What a relief to have a direct communication from Jehovah God making His standards clear. He told them what He wanted. Glory! No more sorcery or star-reading. Just meditate on Torah!
If we take “under the Law,” to mean all that is included as part of the Law of Moses, there are a few things we need to know about its nature and purposes:
- The Law is part of a story about God’s redeemed people learning and living out their purpose: a special people, a holy nation, a kingdom of priests, they were to represent Him to all the nations of the earth. The Law told them how to be different, or “holy.” It set them apart from the pagan nations around them. Deuteronomy 4:6-8
- Torah is a developing story. New or amended “law” is given after many of Israel’s colossal failures (See Leviticus 10:1-11). There are changes and new interpretations made to deal with new circumstances. Visit Numbers 27:1-11 to read the adjustments made for the daughters of Zelophehad, or compare the law of Sabbath in Exodus 20 to the revised version in Deuteronomy 5.
- The laws were not given to all humanity, but to ancient Israel as part of God’s covenant with them. They were principles of life that would bring Israel into the land of promise to live in God’s blessing: community, love, charity, justice. They are part of the story of how God wants to bring blessing to all nations through His people. Deuteronomy 28:9-10
- The law shows that the people are hard-hearted and incapable of keeping its requirements. It anticipates that they will fail. At the very end of the Torah, Moses tells the generation to come that they will repeat the failures of their fathers and be exiled. Deuteronomy 31:16-21 / Deuteronomy 30:6
- The Law points to the solution. We all need a sacrifice for sin and a change of heart. Jeremiah 31:31-34
We tend to think of the Bible, and particularly the Law, as sort of a handbook on how to live righteously. We all have our own favorite laws that we try to keep. Others, we believe that Jesus took care of for us. As Christians, we know that in Jesus the Law was passing away as a means of right-standing with God. The Law cannot apply to us as it did to the ancient Israelites because we were not its audience. In fact, it was in flux throughout Israel’s history. Using it as a reference book or a rule book, snatching verses out of their context, risks badly misapplying it. All the laws, taken in context, have a role in the unified story of God’s interaction with His people, revealing His nature and leading us to Jesus. We can draw wisdom from them and apply that to our lives. It’s always wrong to see any of them as a means of salvation or achieving righteousness. Romans 3:20; Psalm 130:3; 143:2
Remember: God gave Israel the Torah after He brought them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and on to Mount Sinai. He says, “…I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself” (Exodus 19:4). Deliverance came first, then came instruction in holy living, not the other way around. 1 Corinthians 10 tells us that this deliverance and all the things that followed were given to us as examples. Like Israel, we have been delivered. Now we’re learning how to live as the people of God. This time, however, the laws are inscribed on our hearts.
Malachi 3:6 tells us God doesn’t change. The grounds on which He interacts with us are subject to adjustment, but the essence of God, who He is, is immutable. He extends Himself to us through covenant. The terms of the covenant may change to reflect different purposes or seasons, but the Maker of the Covenant does not. There are things in the Law that were specific to the situation at the time. We look to what they tell us about God’s character. There are things that foreshadow the work of Jesus Christ, our sacrifice. We learn things about Him and His work. But there’s more.
There are some things that are found before the Law, included in the Law, and found again as instructions after the Law. These are things that are embedded in the unchanging nature of Jehovah. The Sabbath principle was instituted at creation. The judgment on homicide came in Genesis 4. Marriage between a man and a woman was instituted in the Garden along with the commission to spread Jehovah’s worship and dominion to all the ends of the earth. The worship of other gods was judged in Genesis 11. There are probably others. One thing that runs all the way from the Garden to the throne is the concept of the tithe. It’s part of the nature of God.
Coming next: As we look at the tithe as it is commanded and applied under the Mosaic Law, let’s answer some questions: What was the purpose as described by God? Were those purposes fulfilled or completed by the work of Christ? If not, then what do we have in place today to fulfill that purpose? What things did God see fit to include in the Bible as examples of tithing under the Law?
Pastor Virgil
3141 W. Ironwood Hill Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85741
Coming soon: “The Tithe.” An 8 hour course focused on God’s plan and purpose in the tithe. Follow us on Facebook to be notified when it’s posted.
pastorvirgil.com 