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Deuteronomy 26:12-15 – Praying through the Bible #61 – A Prayer of Religion Done Right
True religion always puts God first, and when we put God first, we help others. God commands His people to use His blessings as blessings. The blessed are not fortunate because they are blessed, but because they give blessing to others. Religion has never been about God only, or sacrifices for the sake of sacrificing, of “doing church” for the sake of pleasing or appeasing God. Once we see the truth, we then see the true God; and then we see our true worship, and we practice pure religion (Jms 1.27).
The most amazing and meaningful realization to me about the Old Testament sacrifices was discovering how God used them to care for others. The priests and Levites got fed by God’s sacrifices. When God demanded the very best, the religious practice benefited those living off the sacrifices. When selfishness interjected itself, the sacrificers held back, thinking God Himself is selfish. They didn’t understand God nor did they hurt God; they hurt those God intended to help. They hurt those depending on their faithfulness, even their kindness. The sacrifices and tithing were acts of faithfulness to God, and of kindness to people.
In Deuteronomy 26.12-15, Moses instructs the Israelites concerning tithes. In Jewish circles, this is called the Viddui Ma-aser, the “confession of tithing.” The recipient of tithing is God, but not only God. Yahweh commands, “When you have finished paying all the tenth” then “you are to give it to the Levite, the foreign resident, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied” (26.13). Notice this intriguingly incongruent list. The Levite was an Israelite worker for God. The foreign resident was a Gentile. The fatherless and widow were helpless Israelites, destitute through no fault of their own. They were the pious poor.
Following the giving, comes the praying (26.13-15). The prayer is one of confession, not of wrong, but of right, of religion done right. The prayer confesses the giving to help the needy. The prayer confesses “I have done all You have commanded me.” The prayer is also one of petition, “Look down from Your holy dwelling, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land You have given us as You swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey” (26.15).
The praying person recognizes God as the giver of all good things and these good things were given to bless others. Therefore he asks God to bless him based upon how he is blessing others. Is that a frightening prayer? Could we pray that prayer? Do we want God to bless us financially based upon how we financially bless others? If we are putting God first, then that prayer is itself a blessing, and not a burden. As Jesus said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20.35).
Prayer Challenge: Look at our blessings, look at our giving, look at our heart. Can we pray that God will bless us as we bless others? If not, start blessing so we can confess.
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