Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 27:32-33

Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 27:32-33

"And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.

He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed."

I found this interesting explanation of what it meant to pass under the rod, and not change it.

"Do you know what that means? I will relate the history as it has come down to us. When they came to pay their tithing the Lord told them it should not be the poorest, neither would he ask the best; therefore they put their flock or herd in a pen having an outlet just large enough for one to pass out at a time, and as the animals passed in single-file, the owner stood by with a rod in his hand that had been dipped in some sort of coloring material, counting them as they came out, and touching every tenth animal with his colored rod. He would not go in among them and pick them lest his judgment might not be right, but the flock passed out according to their own inclination, and as they passed, the owner stood with the coloring rod and marked on the back of every tenth animal, and after all had passed out to an adjoining fold, those that were marked were then picked out from the flock. “He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.” They were to take it as it came, not to pick the good nor the bad; this was the requirement, that they should give to the Lord tithes of all"

(Franklin D. Richards, "Tithes and Offerings, etc." delivered at Logan, 6 Nov 1882)

When tithing they only needed to give a tenth, and that was without judgment. When it was an offering it needed to be unblemished and the best. As I look at what I do today I realize it is the same. A tenth of my increase has no judgment. It is simply a tenth. But when I make an offering the judgment is mine to make as to how much. It should cover the cost of two meals. I could make each meal the cost of a bowl of cream of wheat, or the cost of a fine restaurant dinner. The offering is mine to make in how I value it. The Lord will judge based on where my heart is and if it is acceptable.

Day 2276