February 13, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Leviticus? Here’s today’s reading:
Leviticus 27 (NIV)
Redeeming What Is theLord’s
1 The Lord said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving the equivalent value, 3 set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel; 4 for a female, set her value at thirty shekels;……Continue Reading
Leviticus 27
Read along Leviticus 27 & Acts 8 today.
Leviticus 27
Leviticus 27…Pastor, can you shed some light on this chapter for us? Who is getting the money when a person has been valued and then devoted to the Lord? Verse 8 is the one that is confusing. If someone is too poor to pay the valuation, then they stand before the priest who will then value them according to what they can pay…pay who? And if the money goes to the priests or to God, then how is the person being devoted to God? Or is the valuation paid as a symbolic devotion of the person to God?
I am confusion 🙂
Giving back to God or tithing is all about our heart. So are we cheerful givers realizing we are just returning a portion of what He has given or are we giving out of obligation or with any thought of return or blessing as a result. Tithing is important to God and therefore these commandments are given. The relative value of people, animals, and things are given and allowed for people to give appropriately and within their means.
Want to know where people’s hearts are at. Take a look at check book
Leviticus 27 Tithing is still important today we should never give grudgingly or it means nothing to God we should always give with a joyful heart.
Sean et al….This chapter is about fulfilling vows to God which was an element of the Jews’ worship but not a necessity. Although it may have turned into a way to curry favor with God, it was intended as a means for praise and thanksgiving. We also know that God never accepted human sacrifice, and yet it is clear here that people of various ages could be vowed to the Lord. And because a financial value is assigned, the person themselves would not be vowed…ie go into the Lord’s service…but the money given would be given on their behalf. I presume the money would be given to the function of the temple, which would include funds for the priests but also the upkeep of the tabernacle/temple and the sacrificial practices. It would be much like the tithe given, but the added aspect of making a vow. Vows would be a special occasion, tithing would be a regular practice whenever any income was earned or product made or harvested. This too would go to the function of the temple and the priests.
Hope that helps…
It does, thank you!
Leviticus 27
We found this chapter confusing as well. Thanks for the explanation, Pastor.