Chapter 51—God’s Care for the Poor
To promote the assembling of the people for religious service, as
well as to provide for the poor, a second tithe of all the increase was
required. Concerning the first tithe, the Lord had declared, “I have
given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel.”
Numbers 18:21
.
But in regard to the second He commanded, “Thou shalt eat before
the Lord thy God, in the place which He shall choose to place His
name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and
the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn
to fear the Lord thy God always.”
Deuteronomy 14:23, 29
;
16:11-14
.
This tithe, or its equivalent in money, they were for two years to bring
to the place where the sanctuary was established. After presenting a
thank offering to God, and a specified portion to the priest, the offerers
were to use the remainder for a religious feast, in which the Levite,
the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow should participate. Thus
provision was made for the thank offerings and feasts at the yearly
festivals, and the people were drawn to the society of the priests and
Levites, that they might receive instruction and encouragement in the
service of God.
Every third year, however, this second tithe was to be used at home,
in entertaining the Levite and the poor, as Moses said, “That they may
eat within thy gates, and be filled.”
Deuteronomy 26:12
. This tithe
would provide a fund for the uses of charity and hospitality.
And further provision was made for the poor. There is nothing,
after their recognition of the claims of God, that more distinguishes
the laws given by Moses than the liberal, tender, and hospitable spirit
enjoined toward the poor. Although God had promised greatly to
bless His people, it was not His design that poverty should be wholly
unknown among them. He declared that the poor should never cease
out of the land. There would ever be those among His people who
would call into exercise their sympathy, tenderness, and benevolence.
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Then, as now, persons were subject to misfortune, sickness, and loss
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