"But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household." vv.24-26
Read chapter 14
Moses repeats the tithe commandment in this chapter after he just mentioned tithing in chapter 12. Giving is sometimes a thing that people need to be reminded of more than other commands, apparently and obviously. The Israelites were to tithe a tenth of their produce for the Levites and every year by bringing it to Jerusalem and a second offering every three years for Levites, orphans, widows, strangers. If the yearly offering of going to Jerusalem was too difficult a journey the Lord allowed them to sell it for money and spend it on whatever their heart desires for feasting before the Lord, as a thanksgiving feast that would be reminded to fear the Lord always (v.23). To spend the money on their heart's desires wasn't for material things, or a vacation, but for provision of food to celebrate in a place more suitable for them if they couldn't make it all the way to Jerusalem. The could get what was pleasing to their appetite and possibly treats that they normally didn't eat. Carrying money was obviously a lighter load than a tenth of all produce of the land. How great does this show that the Lord's commands are not to be burdensome, but provision is shown for those that cannot meet the command that the still may offer and celebrate.
Do you need to be reminded often to give freely? Do you treat yourself occasionally as a rejoicing and reminder to fear the Lord?
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