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Written by Tim Harris

Published: 29 May 2023

Principle

Under the Law of Moses, God gave Israel instructions regarding various sabbaths.

Explanation

A sabbath is a special day of rest. We have previously established that GOD implemented the sabbath rest for Israel during the exodus journey and that He included keeping the sabbath holy in the ten commandments He spoke directly to all the Israelites at Sinai.

In the Law, GOD expounded upon the previous sabbath instructions.

Weekly Sabbath

12 ‘Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your works, 14 but the seventh day is the Sabbath to the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work—you, your son and your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your ox, your donkey, and all of your cattle, and your resident alien dwelling among you; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 Remember, you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore, the Lord your God ordered you to guard the Sabbath day and to sanctify it.
(Deuteronomy 5:12-15 OSB)

Symbol of Covenant

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Written by Tim Harris

Published: 22 May 2023

Principle

Under the Law of Moses, God told Israel to offer its first and best to God.

Explanation

In the Law of Moses, GOD gave several instructions about "first's." Israelites were instructed to give or redeem these firsts:

28 You shall not delay to offer the first of your threshing floor and fruit press. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 29 Likewise you shall do with your calf, sheep, and donkey. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.
(Exodus 22:28b-29 OSB)

19 All that open the womb are Mine: every male firstborn among your livestock, of oxen or sheep. 20 But the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a sheep, and if you will not redeem it, you shall pay a price. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem, and none shall appear before Me empty-handed.
(Exodus 34:19-20 OSB)

19 The first of the first fruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.
(Exodus 23:19a OSB)

19 “All the firstborn males that come from your oxen and sheep you shall sanctify to the Lord your God; you shall do no work with the firstborn young bull, nor shear the firstborn of your sheep. 20 You and your household shall eat it before the Lord year by year in the place the Lord your God chooses. 21 But if there is a defect in it, if it is lame or blind or has any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God. 22 You may eat it within your cities; the unclean and the clean person alike may eat it, as if it were a gazelle or a deer. 23 Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it on the ground like water.
(Deuteronomy 15:19-23 OSB)

There were multiple reasons for these instructions. One was to provide for the priests who were serving (and therefore could not farm or supply for their own needs).

Another reason was that these actions reminded Israel that their blessings came from GOD. GOD had told Israel that Israel would be blessed as long as they followed and served Him, and that they would be cursed and poor when they deserted Him. In this manner, these firstfruit offerings served as a means of mental accounting of the volume of blessings the individual had received. When there was much received, there was much to offer to GOD. And vice versa.

Biblical Principles List

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Written by Tim Harris

Published: 22 May 2023

Principle

Under the Law of Moses, God told Israel to tithe for certain specific things.

Explanation

GOD instructed Israel under the Law of Moses to tithe. However, certain details are often overlooked about tithing under the Law. For example:

1. Tithing was for specific categories of blessings received, not a blanket ten percent on everything, as is commonly believed.
2. The tithes had a practical purpose, such as providing for the priests and the needy.
3. Tithes were collected at varying frequencies depending upon their purpose.

Here is what the Scripture says about tithing under the Law of Moses:

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Written by Tim Harris

Published: 08 May 2023

Principle

Under the Law of Moses, testimony from at least two witnesses was required to put someone to death.

Explanation

An Israelite could not be put to death simply on the testimony of one witness. Two or more were required:

6 Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 7 The hand of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people.
(Deuteronomy 17:6-7a OSB)

We should note that the broader context of these instructions was an Israelite committing idolatry:

1 “You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God a young bull or sheep having any blemish or defect, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.

2 “If there is found among you, within any of your cities the Lord your God gives you, a man or a woman who does evil before the Lord your God in transgressing His covenant, 3 and who went and served and worshiped different gods, either the sun, moon, or any ornamentation of heaven, which He did not command, 4 and it is told you, then you shall inquire diligently; and if it is indeed true that such an abomination happened in Israel, 5 then you shall bring out that man or woman; and you shall stone to death that man or woman with stones. 6 Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 7 The hand of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall put away their evil from among you.
(Deuteronomy 17:1-7 OSB)

Biblical Principles List

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