Introduction
‘When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the land the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us.” The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God. Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labour. Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, LORD, have given me.” Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him. Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household.’ Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Firstfruits
In this chapter we find Moses continuing to prepare God’s people to enter Canaan. Israel were to go in, possess Canaan, and take the first fruits of the ground for an offering unto the Lord. The offering of the first fruits and the tithes acknowledged God as the One who blessed them with all things.
With the offering of the first fruits, Numbers 18:12-13 / Deuteronomy 18:4, they were to declare that the promise of God’s covenant had been fulfilled. They also declared the great deliverances by which God brought them into the land.
Israel had grown into a powerful and numerous nation in Egypt but was cruelly treated with harsh labour and so, God delivered them by His mighty hand with signs and wonders. At this point the second promise of God to Abraham would be fulfilled, that is, they would be a mighty nation and possess the land, Genesis 12:1-3.
Jacob is described as an Aramean, or Syrian because his mother was from Aram Naharaim of Mesopotamia, Genesis 24:10 / Hosea 12:12. He also lived many years in the house of Laban in Aramea, Genesis 29-31.
The offering of the first fruits of Canaan upon entry of the land was to be considered an offering of thanksgiving for all that the Lord had done for them.
After the ceremonies of bringing in the first fruits, they were to join in a fellowship meal with the Levites and foreigners who had joined themselves to Israel. These foreigners were those who were converted to the God of Israel and subsequently lived according to His laws.
Tithes
‘When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the LORD your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything you commanded me. Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Deuteronomy 26:12-15
In the first and second years, the tithes were to be used for the feasts, Deuteronomy 14:22-27. The third tithe was to be given to the Levites and the poor, Deuteronomy 14:28-29.
The worshiper must then proclaim before the Lord at the tabernacle that they had fulfilled the duties of the tithe, Deuteronomy 14:23 / Deuteronomy 15:20.
The year of tithing would be every third year and it was during this time that Israel were to offer their tithes to the Levites, foreigners, fatherless, and widows so that they may be sustained. Tithes were for the purpose of fully supporting the priests and Levites, Numbers 18:21-32.
Since the priests and Levites functioned on behalf of the people to serve the spiritual needs of the people and to maintain their focus on God, God instituted that they are fully supported on behalf of Israel.
Israel were to dwell with God in all good conscience in relation to keeping His laws.
They should be able to say within themselves, ‘I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything you commanded me.’
Having performed the law of God the people may ask Him to ‘bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey’.
Follow The LORD’s Commands
‘The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. And the LORD has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honour high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.’ Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Here Moses concludes the conditions of the covenant that God made with Israel. By setting out the terms and conditions of the covenant before they entered Canaan, they would have no excuse for breaking any of God’s laws.
Israel were to keep and do all that God commanded ‘with all your heart and with all your soul.’ By doing this, they would demonstrate their love for God, 1 Samuel 15:22-23 / Joel 2:12-14 / Matthew 22:37-38 / John 14:15.
Since Israel accepted the promises of the covenant, then they also accepted the conditions of the covenant, Exodus 20:3 / Exodus 19:8 / Exodus 20:18-20.
Israel belonged to God because He had redeemed them from the bondage of Egypt, Deuteronomy 7:6-9. As God’s possession Israel would be exalted to be high above all nations, in praise, name, and honour, 1 Peter 5:4-6.
As Israel honoured God through their holiness, He would bless them and all nations would see their greatness with the help of the Lord.
These words, end the legal matters of the covenant and so, in the remaining chapters, Moses encourages Israel to keep the covenant.
