Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy Chapter 26

• Deuteronomy 26:1 And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;
• 2 That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.

This was the offering of first fruits in the spring of the year the day after the Sabbath after Passover. This was an act of thanksgiving and worship to the one who brought them this far and blessed them with the fruit of the earth when giving them this new land of promise. It wasn't like the offering and sacrifice for sin but was more of a worship, time of thanks by remembering their relationship with God that brought them to this place. They were to offer Him the first fruits.

• Deuteronomy 26:3 And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us.
• 4 And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God.

Before Jesus ushered in a new priesthood for all believers they had to go to the priest with all offerings.

• Deuteronomy 26:5 And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

This passage refers back to the beginning when Abraham was called out of Syria to go into a land that was going to be given to His seed. Abraham was a Syrian. Abraham's grandson, Jacob whose name was changed to Israel by God went back to Syria to find His wife. He stayed there first seven years for his wife. He was tricked into taking the wrong sister, then he worked seven years for the one he loved, Rachael. Jacob went down to Egypt after he discovered his son, Joseph was one of the rulers there and brought all his children and grand children. He originally thought Joseph was dead but rejoiced to see him alive again. Joseph's brothers in a fit of jealousy sold him years previously to men going down to Egypt. It was great the first few years until a new king arose of Egypt who didn't know Joseph. All the original brothers had died and the rest of Israel was in extreme bondage and hardship.

• Deuteronomy 26:6 And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:
• 7 And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:

Here we see God seeing the affliction of His people, heard their cries and sent to them a deliverer. Time to leave, enough was enough. The slaves were going home. 

• Deuteronomy 26:8 And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:

It was a battle and a struggle to leave. Pharaoh resisted. He didn't want to lose his slaves. The Egyptians suffered many plagues and judgments from God the last being the firstborn of all Egypt dying. Yet in that God made a way for any who would believe the word of God to escape the death of the firstborn. By placing a lamb's blood on the doorposts and staying inside the house until the death angel passed by, all the first born would escape death. This was the first Passover representing the savior that God would send to die for the sins of mankind. His blood will cover the sin of all who believe and receive the Son of God, Jesus Christ into their lives and turn away or repent of sin.  True salvation and eternal life comes by faith in Jesus just as faith in God and following His instructions saved the first born of all who would obey. 

• Deuteronomy 26:9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.
• 10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:
• 11 And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.

How beautiful is the time of worship, a time to experience God's presence, a time to be thankful, a time of fellowship in the Lord, a time to give, and a time to rejoice. God gives us that even today and if we have found a place to worship with fellow believers it is a gift, a blessing and a time of refreshing, a rest for both soul and body. 

There is nothing wrong with singing, shouting, praising and rejoicing in the Lord. If we keep silent, the rocks may have to rejoice in our place. 

• Deuteronomy 26:12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

The Levites gave up having a land inheritance. Their inheritance was the Lord. They were to provide service to the temple, sacrifices and lead in worship. They had no way to make a living so they had to live on the tithes and offerings of the other tribes. The first fruits was an offering to them. To give to them was to give to the Lord.  Also the stranger, the orphan, and the widows were to receive these offerings of first fruits. Giving in a form of worship. This was a commandment of God to support the Levite, widows, orphans and even care for the strangers. 

• Deuteronomy 26:13 Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:
• 14 I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

They were to do all that God commanded them. There was only one way that was ordained of God and they were to do all that one way. This was pointing to the one way of salvation that was to come at the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus ushering in eternal salvation to all who would forsake their sins and believe in the savior God sent to them. Jesus the Christ. 

• Deuteronomy 26:15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
• 16 This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
• 17 Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:
• 18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;
• 19 And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.

Oh wow. To be chosen of God, given the law, called out of bondage and receive the promised land God gave them. To be God's called out people, to dwell in His presence and to be ruler over all the earth. This was given to Israel and to those who become adopted into the vine of Israel by faith in Jesus Christ. In thee (God's promise to Abraham), shall all nations be blessed. He will bless those that bless Israel and curse those that curse Israel. No nation no matter how powerful can defeat Israel as long as they abide with God and do not depart from Him and turn away from His commandments.

They lost that for a while by being disobedient and turning away from God but all Israel shall be restored in the latter days. All other nations need to take heed how they treat Israel. God does use wicked nations to punish His people when they forsake Him but then God will destroy those nations. The blessing given to Abraham is still in place. Do not divide God's land. There is a  warning to the United States and any nation not to divide the land of Israel. Leave them alone. Let God deal with Israel. We do well to take care of our own nation. -DC

Deuteronomy Chapter 27