Mark O’Grady - Class 4: Will a Man Rob God?

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:00

   I ask for your promptness to return to your seats, and I now ask for your quiet attention. We'll call upon our brother Mark O'Grady of Tawawa, New Zealand Ecclesia. The theme for brother Mark's classes this week is, All the Tithe is Holy. And today's class is entitled, Will a Man Rob God? Brother Mark.

2. 0:30

   Good morning, brothers and sisters. As I said to the brothers meeting yesterday, that's something that's taken me a few days, I'm sorry, to get used to. Because the idea of saying good morning and getting a good morning back is not something we do at home, so I'm a slow learner, I'm sorry. But we'll get there yet.

3. 0:49

   Well, in our studies so far, we've looked at the positive aspects of the principles of the tithe. We've seen that the tithe represents our contribution to the work of ecclesial life and also to caring for our brothers and sisters. And we've seen the happy picture of a committed and industrious Israel, with each person faithfully bringing along their tithe to support the work of the truth.

4. 1:14

   Today's study is different. Today's study asks the question, what happens if I don't bring my tithe? What happens if a man or a woman steals from God?

5. 1:30

   You see, if we lose sight of our indebtedness to God, if we don't have an appreciation for the wonderful things that God's given us, then we won't want to give things back to God. And when that happens, we steal from God. And so this morning's study is about soul searching. Actually, to use the analogy of scripture, it's about searching for the thief.

6. 1:57

   It's about looking at the subject and ourselves and asking the question, Lord, is it I? Now, the first reference to this aspect of tithing is actually found in the book of Leviticus. Let's go back now to Leviticus chapter 27. In fact, there's only one reference to the subject of tithing in the whole book of Leviticus.

7. 2:18

   And it's significant that we find it right at the end. The book of Levi actually finishes with a section on the tithe. It's the summation, as it were, of all the principles of holiness under the law. And it is significant that after going through all the detailed establishments of the principles of Levitical law, it wraps the whole lot together with the statement of holiness of the tithe and its association with God.

8. 2:45

   So in Leviticus 27, the last few verses, verse 30. And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is Yahweh's. It is holy unto Yahweh. It's hallowed. And if a man will at all redeem aught of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part.

9. 3:06

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

10. 3:23

    It shall not be redeemed. And the book finishes these are the commandments which Yahweh commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mount Sinai. So the book of Leviticus wraps to a conclusion with this fascinating little section on the principles of the tithe. Now this little section we've just read actually highlights two specific things, two different features or events.

11. 3:47

    The first in verse 31 is the subject of redemption. The second in verses 32 and 33 is the subject of substitution. So let's first of all look at this theme in verse 31, the theme of redemption. What happens to the tithe of the fruits of the land if the Israelite desperately needed the produce that had been supplied by the land that year?

12. 4:16

    I mean, for example, what happened if the grape harvest failed? Very few grapes harvested that year. Insufficient grapes to be able to make wine to last for the forthcoming year. And it's wonderful to note that in such circumstances the law was actually flexible. The rule of law here is not harsh. And if there was a pressing need to hold back a particular form of the tithe, God was merciful and reasonable.

13. 4:45

    And he actually allowed the tithe to be redeemed. But if you had a pressing need and you decided to redeem a portion of the tithe, there were, however, two very important provisos that were attached to it. The first is that the basic principle of tithing still stands absolute. The tithe still must be given.

14. 5:07

    The tithe still belongs to God. It doesn't avoid the tithe. It merely converts it into a different form. So if you needed to redeem the tithe, it wasn't that you didn't have to give the tithe. It just needed to be converted into a different form. And then secondly, and very interesting to note, is that if because of some human need, we do have to redeem the tithe and offer in its place some other thing, there's a cost.

15. 5:39

    So we read there in verse 31, So the tithe he finally paid was actually 120%. It was 20% higher or a fifth part higher than it had been previously. Now what are the principles that we can glean out of that for us personally in life today? Simply this. Number one, we have a fixed, unavoidable obligation to pay the tithe.

16. 6:10

    It must always be paid. But sometimes, due to pressing commitments or necessities in life, we're unable to give it in a certain form. So let's talk about Ecclesia Life. It may not have been possible for us to attend the pamphlet delivery on Saturday because we were unwell or perhaps away or out of town.

17. 6:36

    It might not have been possible for us to extend a generous financial hand in support of a brother or sister because we're in severe financial hardship ourselves. It may not have been possible for us to go out to Bible class as a whole family because we've got a little child and it's the middle of winter and the child is not well.

18. 6:56

    Now all of those, of course, are very genuine reasons. And sometimes we are unable to deliver the tithe in terms of our personal contribution to Ecclesia Life for very genuine reasons. And in those circumstances, brothers and sisters, our Heavenly Father is merciful and he understands. He's reasonable. He's merciful. He knows our frame, as the psalmist says.

19. 7:19

    And he knows and understands our limitations. He knows that sometimes we simply cannot give a tithe in a certain form. And in such cases, it can be redeemed. But before we relax and then say, ha, that's fine then. Hey, I can give my tithe in whatever form I like. We need to stop and remember that something else must be offered in its place.

20. 7:43

    That's a very important principle of life. You know, it's just so easy for us, isn't it? If there's something that we can't do in the truth to say, well, we couldn't be expected to do it for this reason. And we think no more about it. It's as if it's irrelevant for us. It doesn't exist.

21. 8:00

    There's no way I could be expected to do it. And there we let the matter drop. The principle here in this little idea of redemption is that if we can't contribute in some way, then we find some other way in which we can. And what we do, brothers and sisters, is redeem our tithe.

22. 8:20

    Effectively contribute something else in its place. So if we are blocked for unavoidable reasons, for supporting any aspect of ecclesial life that we know we really should, then let's diligently look for other ways in which we can make it up. And when we do, let's remember to add the fifth part to it as well.

23. 8:43

    To put in extra effort, if we can, to support ecclesial life. Now to understand that an Israelite really understood the principles that were involved here, the divine pen then turns its attention to something called, which we're just using a phrase, substitution. Now substitution here on the surface seems to be very similar. But in actual fact, we're going to find that it's quite, quite different.

24. 9:08

    In fact, it was expressly forbidden. Substitution, brothers and sisters, is when we know what's due to God, but for some reason we don't want to give it. We know what's due to God, but we don't like the cost. So in some rather sneaky way, we substitute for it something of inferior quality. We swap it over.

25. 9:35

    We do something that's less valuable instead. So substitution is when we know what's required for God, but we decide that we don't want to give it. Now in verse 32 and 33, there's a wonderful little section here. It's very interesting in the way it's put. And particularly it comes up in reference to animals.

26. 9:52

    Because this idea of substitution was much more significant with animals than it was with crops. Now there's a logical reason for that. Each animal is actually very valuable, isn't it, in its own right. You can take an animal and you assess an individual animal. You say that's actually a very good lamb or a very poorly lamb.

27. 10:11

    And each individual unit is assessed in its own right. When it comes to giving a tithe of the grain, well simply it's a matter of getting the shovel and taking so many shovelfuls. It's just 10%. And there's no point in substituting one shovelful for another. But when it comes to looking at an animal, something from your flock, each animal is a unit in its own right.

28. 10:33

    And we look at it and we can assess its value. Now the same basic principle applies with the flocks. As he says there, the tithe or the tenth is holy unto Yahweh. So the same absolute standard applies. So he says, verse 32, concerning the tithe or the tenth of the herder of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth or tithe shall be holy unto Yahweh.

29. 11:01

    Now this little phrase, whatsoever passeth under the rod, is an interesting one. It's actually a description of how they counted the sheep. So that in the morning, we understand how they keep the sheep in a sheepfold at night to keep them safe from wild animals. And in the morning, as the sheep left, the shepherd would stand there with his rod and he actually counted them as they came through the door.

30. 11:21

    One, two, three. And he'd actually tap them or move his rod down upon them. Five, six, seven, eight. And he would count them as they actually left. So as he's taking his tithe, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. That's God's. Now the point is, that process was entirely random.

31. 11:50

    It's impossible to control which sheep it might be that decides to bolt through the opening of the doorway next. It's God's appointed way of ensuring that the tithe is a genuine representation. Because the tithe, of course, represents the whole. And the tithing had to be done in a selected way, according to God's appointment, just right.

32. 12:14

    Now can't you imagine the temptation? Seven, eight, nine. Oh no, that's my best breeding ram. So you go seven, eight, nine, eleven, ten, twelve. You can imagine the temptation, can't you, brothers and sisters, to be rather selective in how the rod fell. And so the record says that they were not to, see the words there in verse 33?

33. 12:42

    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. And that would be a real test, wouldn't it, of the integrity of the Israelite. So we have a contrast here, brothers and sisters, between a thankful and generous spirit, which is willing to give everything to God, and rejoices in whatever it is that's selected by that numbering process, or a grudging mean spirit which resents having to give something good to God.

34. 13:22

    Do we ever begrudge the time that we spend working in the truth? Do we ever hold back some of the tithe in our lives? Let's consider our own lives objectively. Let's take our tithe and hold it up to the light, as it were, and ask ourselves, what have we been giving to God?

35. 13:45

    In our life, do we really give to God what belongs to him? Or do we offer him some shriveled, inferior thing in its place? Has the tithe been delivered? Or have I kept it back in my barn? Have I failed to deliver the tithe? Have I stolen from God? So Leviticus 27 here establishes these very basic principles as far as the tithe is concerned.

36. 14:16

    But now we're going to take our attention away from the law, and we're going to divert it to a story that happened hundreds of years later. Because, brothers and sisters, it's a story that picks up these principles here of the tithe, and it applies them in an exceedingly powerful way. Because it takes these principles and it shows their effect on ecclesial life.

37. 14:34

    Let's turn over to the book of Nehemiah. You know, the days of Nehemiah, brothers and sisters, had one of the most stirring spiritual revivals in Scripture. It's one of the most stirring times of spiritual revival that's actually recorded in the divine word for us. We know that Israel had gone through the tragedy of exile from their own land.

38. 14:55

    The people had suffered beyond imagination. They'd been taken away into captivity. For 70 years they had languished in captivity until the promise of God was fulfilled at the end of the 70 years, and he brought them back to the land. We're going to be looking at Nehemiah chapter 8. The first wave of Jews returned back to the land under the days of Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, and Nehemiah.

39. 15:22

    And through the faithful work of those prophets, they settled in the land. And first of all, they established the sacrifices. Then they built the temple of God. And then there was a, through the driving leadership of Nehemiah, there was a rebuilding of the walls of the city itself. So by the time that process finished, the structure again was intact.

40. 15:44

    There were Jews back in the city of Jerusalem. There were walls around the city. There was a temple re-established, and the structure was there. Now in Nehemiah chapter 8, brothers and sisters, we have a time when the people are gathered together in the city there in front of Ezra, the prophet. Nehemiah chapter 8.

41. 16:05

    And we find in Nehemiah 8 in verse 5 that Ezra opens the book in the sight of all the people. And this then starts the process of a wonderful spiritual revival that took place at that time. And it's the turning of the hearts of the people back to their God, back to the book of the law.

42. 16:26

    And we read in the rest of the chapter and over the page that they then keep a feast of tabernacles. And there's wonderful joy and gladness as this people rejoice in the goodness that God's given them, observing a feast of tabernacles back in the city which God has restored to them again. Having kept the feast of tabernacles in chapter 9, the people gather together again.

43. 16:50

    This time, they gather in fasting and sackcloth to seek their God. And brothers and sisters, we want to travel back in time and join them there. Join that company. Join that solemn assembly. And as we do, I'd like you to look around and observe the brothers and sisters in that scene in those days.

44. 17:10

    See what they're wearing. Look at their disposition. See what's written on their face. Feel the anguish and the pain in their hearts. Understand the intensity of the words and the longing that's expressed in them. Chapter 9, verse 1. Now, in the twenty and fourth day of this month, the children of Israel were assembled with fasting and with sackcloths and earth upon them.

45. 17:35

    And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place. And they read in the book of the law of Yahweh their God one fourth part of the day. And another fourth part of the day they confessed and worshipped Yahweh their God.

46. 18:00

    In verse 3 it says, brothers and sisters, that they read in the book of the law for a fourth part of the day. That's three solid hours. Have you ever sat down and spent three hours in one go reading from God's word? Then it says that for the fourth part of the day they confessed and worshipped Yahweh their God.

47. 18:25

    That's another three hours. Have we ever spent three hours praying and worshipping and confessing to God? There's a very deep and intense, a very personal commitment that's being conveyed by these words. And then, after six hours of preparation, the priests rise to their feet in verse 4, on behalf of the nation.

48. 18:57

    And in the sight of Israel they stand upon the stairs and they pray a wonderful prayer to Almighty God. Pleading on behalf of their brothers and sisters. And through this process the hearts of the people are stirred up. And they finish their prayer with a deep and earnest promise. They make a covenant.

49. 19:22

    And collectively they enter into a personal oath or a promise to God. And that's contained for us in Nehemiah chapter 10. Now in Nehemiah chapter 10 they give this commitment. In verses 29 to 31 it's a commitment to walk in God's law. A commitment to observe to do all his commandments. A commitment not to intermarry with the nations around.

50. 19:47

    A commitment to keep the Sabbath day. Then in verses 32 to 39 they give a wholehearted commitment to support the worship. To come and personally contribute to the work of the tabernacle. And to the work of worship. And so they commit to bring a whole list of things. Verse 32 they commit to bring the shekel.

51. 20:07

    Verse 34 the wood. Verse 35 the first fruits. Verse 37 that we should bring the first fruits of our dough. And our offerings and the fruit of all manner of trees. Of wine, of oil. Unto the priests. To the chambers of the house of our God. And the tithes of our ground. Unto the Levites.

52. 20:26

    That the same Levites. Might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. And so stirred to their heart brothers and sisters. They give a vow. They make a vow. They give a binding commitment. That they will bring the tithe. And contribute it to the Levites. And every aspect of the worship of the truth in those days.

53. 20:48

    Needs their support. And they vow to give it. You know in fact in this wonderful scene brothers and sisters. Their dedication goes much further. Than just giving the vow of the tithe. The 10% of the grain and the wine and the oil. They understood that that tithe represented themselves. It wasn't just some mechanical transaction with some produce.

54. 21:07

    And a wonderful reflection of that. Is the fact that in chapter 11. They decide that a 10th of the people. Will go and live in the city of Jerusalem. To support the city. And that's one of the most wonderful examples in scripture. Of the way in which the tithe transcends. A bit of wheat or grapes.

55. 21:28

    And they understand that it represents. The giving of themselves personally. And so a 10th of the people. Willingly give themselves. To go and dwell in the city. Of Jerusalem. It is a glorious example. Of the spirit of the tithe. At work in the hearts and minds of these people. In fact brothers and sisters.

56. 21:45

    The response is so great. That when we get to chapter 12. A whole new layer of officials. Had to be appointed. Specifically for the work of coping. With all the influx of tithes. That came flowing into the temple. So chapter 12. Verse 44. We have a wonderful picture. We read. And at that time.

57. 22:04

    Were some appointed over the chambers. For the treasury. For the offerings. For the first fruits. And for the tithes. To gather into them. Out of the fields of the cities. The portions of the law. For the priests and the Levites. For Judah rejoiced. For the priests. And for the Levites. That waited. It's a wonderful example.

58. 22:22

    For us here in ecclesial life. Heartfelt appreciation. In fact. There was so much. Came flying through. They had to appoint these men. To actually help carry it. As it says. From the fields. Into the chamber. Of the storehouse. So there were many men. Involved in the work. Of bringing this willing offering. Of the tithes.

59. 22:39

    From their brothers. And sisters. Why was it so spontaneous? Why was it so generous? Why was there such a wonderful influx? Well we have those glorious little words there. At the end of verse 44. For Judah rejoiced. For the priests. And for the Levites. That waited. They were so appreciative. They were thrilled.

60. 23:00

    With the work that was being done. That they responded. With all their hearts. But the message of the tithe. Brothers and sisters. Is not about one off heights. Of spirituality. It's about consistency. It's not the size. Of the tithe that matters. It's reliability. Faithfully. Consistently. Bringing the tithe. Year by year. Person by person.

61. 23:34

    Each doing. Their own bit. And the question was. Would this spirit. Of fervor. Actually last. Nehemiah. Nehemiah. The driving force. Behind this scene. Had to return. Back to the city. In Persia. We're not sure. How long he was gone. But there's a very large gap. Between the beginning. And the end part. Of Nehemiah.

62. 23:58

    Chapter 13. We believe. We believe the gap. Is somewhere. Between 12. And 20 years. It would also appear. That sometime. Early in that time period. Ezra passed off the scene. Because he was. A very old man. So the truth's been established. The house of God. Has been built. The walls of the city.

63. 24:20

    Have been completed. Worship has been established. Again. And then. Their leader. Had to go off. Into a far country. To visit the king. In his absence. Would the work. Continue on. How reliable. Was it going to be. Would that process. Of growth. And restoration. Be maintained. Now you know. Brothers and sisters. That's the issue.

64. 24:46

    For us today. Isn't it. It's not the building. Of the temple. It's not the building. Of the wall. It's not the decision. To make that mighty vow. Although all those things. Are absolutely essential. The real test. For you and me. Brothers and sisters. Is our consistency. In life. Our consistency. In our work of the truth.

65. 25:10

    The consistency. Of our commitment. To the things of God. And it's in that area. That the battle. For our ecclesias. Is being fought today. In many countries. In a way. There has been. To some extent. Hasn't there. A revival of the truth. In the last 30 or 40 years. Through the work of things.

66. 25:31

    Like Bible schools. The encouragement. Of Bible study. The development. Of Bible students. And all sorts. Of different centers. And countries. Around the world. And whereas. And this is particularly. The case in our country. Whereas 30 years ago. Many of the young people. Left the truth. Today. Many. Not all. But many of the young people.

67. 25:48

    Come into the truth. We have many blessings. The fact that we're sitting here. In such a wonderful. Atmosphere of fellowship. Is a proof of that. We have many blessings. But what happens next?

68. 26:03

    And the question for each of us. Really brothers and sisters. Is the same as it was. In the period after. Nehemiah left Jerusalem. And returned to Persia. Our Lord Jesus Christ. Has gone into a far country. Are we personally. Each of us. As an individual. Motivated to continue. The work of the truth.

69. 26:25

    Or do we go along. For the ride. Just as strong. As the environment. Which we rejoice in together. Perhaps we're happy enough. To benefit from a strong environment. Whilst it's there. But do we have the zeal. And the commitment. In our own home ecclesias. To maintain that. And to keep the light. Of the truth burning.

70. 26:45

    In our master's absence. And there are some very challenging. Questions for each of us. In the continuing sections. Of the story of Nehemiah. Now in the absence of Nehemiah. Brothers and sisters. We pick up the threads of the story. In chapter 13. With the story of Eliashim. Now Eliashim. Was the high priest.

71. 27:06

    He had originally. Participated in the building. Of the wall. But it's significant to note. That he is not listed. Amongst those who sealed. The covenant. He's not one of those. Who was named. As being involved. In the reading out. Of the law. He's not named. In the triumphal procession. Around the top of the wall.

72. 27:26

    At the dedication. Of the wall. Eliashim. Brothers and sisters. Appears to be one of those people. Who often stand aside. In ecclesial work. When there's work to be done. Perhaps the scorn. Who criticizes. The efforts. Of the ecclesia. Who doesn't put his back. To the work. Sometimes. In ecclesial life. There are people.

73. 27:46

    Who sneer. At the work. And who lose. No opportunity. To criticize. Those. Who are trying. To uphold. The principles. Of truth. Now this man. Eliashim. Was unable. To stand. In the way. When Nehemiah. Was in full flight. But he was not. Personally. Committed. To the principles. That Nehemiah. Upheld. He saw no personal need.

74. 28:13

    To maintain those standards. Once Nehemiah was gone. And in ecclesial life. It is possible. To come across those. Who do want to relax. The standards of the truth. Rather than improve them. Very happy. To see the standards. And principles of the truth. Relaxed. Whenever it's possible. You see. The key issue. Brothers and sisters.

75. 28:33

    Was. Eliashim. The high priest. Didn't. Believe. In the need. To be separated. From the things of the world. But the problem. With this story. Is that Eliashim. Ended up. In a position. Of influence.

76. 28:52

    God helped. The ecclesial environment. Brothers and sisters. Where people rise. To influence. Who don't understand. The need. For separation. From the world. In verse 4. We're told. That Eliashim. Had the oversight. Of the chambers. Of the house of God. High priest. He was the man. In charge. Now in ecclesial life. In those days.

77. 29:16

    The role of looking after. Chambers. Was very important. It is today. The chambers. Into which brothers and sisters. Faithfully. Contribute. Their tithe. Earlier in the book. In Nehemiah. Chapter 10. In verse 28. We read. That the people. Actually. Separated. Themselves. To make the vow. Interesting phrase. So here's a whole community. Brothers and sisters.

78. 29:40

    Who separate themselves. To make a vow. Yet here was a man. In a position of authority. Who didn't appreciate. The need. To be separate. From the world. He didn't agree with that. As a principle of life. And he was happy. To go out. And take elements. Of the world. And bring it. Into the household.

79. 30:04

    Of God. What an irony. In this story. Nehemiah. Built a wall. Brothers and sisters. To keep people. Like Sanballat. And Tobiah. Out of the house. And here. We have a record. Of a man. Who brought Tobiah. Into the house. Eliashib. Saw a man. Such as Tobiah. As having. Good qualities. I don't know.

80. 30:30

    Perhaps Eliashib. Saw himself. As being more balanced. More reasonable. More approachable. Than the distasteful. Extremism. Of Nehemiah. He obviously. Thought Tobiah. Was a good chap. You know. After all. Tobiah's name. Does mean. Yeah. Is good. Tobiah. Is a nice fellow. He's obviously. A good man. Obviously. Tobiah. Is no threat. He's described. In chapter 2.

81. 30:52

    As being a servant. Tobiah. Is subservient. He's meek. He's friendly. Tobiah. He's my friend. And so. In verse 4. It says. Before this. Eliashib. The high priest. Having the oversight. Of the chamber. Of the house. Of our God. Was allied. Unto Tobiah. And the word. Allied. There means. A close friendship. Or a kinship.

82. 31:14

    He married. Into the family. Warm. Friendly. With Tobiah. Now. Brothers and sisters. What happens. What happens. In ecclesial life. When we start to compromise. That principle. Of separation. From the world. And we bring its ways. Into ecclesial life. Will the entire process. Of life. And the truth. Begins to unravel. You know. It's interesting.

83. 31:38

    The temple. The temple roof. Doesn't suddenly blow off. The walls. Don't suddenly collapse. In an instance. And all of their own accord. But it's much more subtle. Than that. If we start. To compromise. Our separation. From the world. What happens. Well. It becomes apparent. In our tithe. It becomes apparent. In our zeal.

84. 31:59

    And commitment. And contributions. To God's work. Now to make the point. Really stark. Just so obvious. Brothers and sisters. That we can't help. Falling over it. As we read through the record. The record tells us. In that verse. That we just read. That Eliashib. Prepared a chamber. In the house. Of God. For his friend.

85. 32:18

    Brothers and sisters. Tobiah. Was an Ammonite. Remember the law. An Ammonite. A Moabite. Shall not enter. Into. The house of God. To the tenth. Generation. And this high priest. Didn't just bring. The Ammonites. In he set up a place. For the man to live. In the house of God. In a chamber. But it wasn't.

86. 32:41

    Any place. Brothers and sisters. It wasn't. Any chamber. It's described. As being. A great. Chamber. To be precise. It was the chamber. Where they stored. The tithes. Look at verse five. And he had prepared. For him. A great. Chamber. Where aforetime. They laid. The meat. Offerings. The frankincense. And the vessels. And the tithes.

87. 33:06

    Of the corn. The new wine. And the oil. Which was commanded. To be given. To the Levites. The singers. The porters. And the offerings. Of the priests.

88. 33:18

    Brothers and sisters. This. Was evil. Nehemiah. Describes it. In verse seven. As being this evil. Which Eliashib did. The amazing thing is. Eliashib obviously. Didn't believe. It was evil. He saw it as being reasonable. Being friendly. Tobiah's my friend. Tobiah's interested in the truth. His name means. Yeah. He's good. Nehemiah. You're the sort of chap.

89. 33:43

    That makes it hard. For thoroughly decent people. Like Tobiah. To be associated with the tabernacle. Can't you see. That Tobiah's interested in the tabernacle. Well. He's interested. All right. It was free real estate.

90. 33:58

    And the ability of the house of God. Brothers and sisters. To receive the tithes. The capacity to receive the tithes. And store them up. And then distribute them. To the contributions. For the work of the truth. Is then filled. As it describes it. With the household stuff. Of Tobiah. So the tithes dried up.

91. 34:19

    The contribution for the Levites. Is clearly no longer seen. As being important. So no portions. Were available for the Levites. So the Levites. Had to flee. To their fields. So the work of the truth. Stopped. And the entire. Religious worship. Then structure. Of worship in Israel. Collapsed. It just. Was completely. Destroyed. Why?

92. 34:44

    Simply because. The spiritual leader. Brought the influence. Of the world. Inside the chamber. Of the house of God. But if you stood on the outside. Brothers and sisters. You'd see the walls. Still standing there. The roof was still on. The building was still there. In its pristine beauty. But it was an empty shell.

93. 35:02

    Because the individual tithe. Had dried up. And all the work. Of restoration. All the building. All the efforts. All the tears. All the prayers. All the vows. The work of. Two generations. Came to an end. Why? Because the world. Was allowed. Into the ecclesia. And the contribution. Of the tithe. Dried up. Now brothers and sisters.

94. 35:31

    It was into that. Desperate scene. That Malachi. The prophet. Came marching. Let's turn over. To Malachi. Chapter 3. Girded as a prophet. He strides in. And he stands there. Looking at Israel. He gazes upon. All of Judah. Who's gathered together. Around them. And he rebukes them. And he pleads with them. On God's behalf.

95. 35:48

    Malachi 3. Verse 8. We read. Will a man rob God? Yet you've robbed me. But you say. Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. You're cursed with a curse. For you've robbed me. Even this whole nation. As Rotherham puts it. Will a man of earth. And Adam. Rob God. Almighty God.

96. 36:09

    And when the prophet. Comes in and asks this question. The people are offended. They look at him. In hurt. In disbelief. How have we robbed God? They ask. And he says. In tithes and offerings. Thunders the prophet. Remember those words. Brothers and sisters. Of Leviticus 27. He said. All the tithe. Is Yahweh's.

97. 36:29

    It is holy to Yahweh. And it belongs to him. Whether it's delivered or not. If we hold back. Our contributions. From the work of the truth. And we keep them. In our own personal lives. Understand brothers and sisters. They still belong to God. They're still his. They are Yahweh's. It is holy. Or separate.

98. 36:48

    Says these principles of the law. It simply means. That we've robbed from God. And the prophet. Sees to them. Very strong words. He said. Therefore you are cursed. With a curse. Because you've robbed God. But then the spirit of his words. Changes. Verse 10. And you can see. A pleading element. Come in.

99. 37:06

    And he turns. And he pleads with these people. On behalf of almighty God. He says to his brothers and sisters. Bring the tithes. Bring ye all the tithes. Into the storehouse. That there may be meat. In mine house. Or food in my house. Prove me. Go on. Says God. Test me. Try me.

100. 37:25

     Bring those tithes. And see if I will not open to you. The windows of heaven. And pour you out a blessing. That there shall not be room. Enough to receive it. And you can feel. The beseeching. Intensity of those words. The pathos. As God is saying. Please bring that tithe. Into my house.

101. 37:45

     Go and try me. Just test me. And see how I will respond. I'd like us just to concentrate. On one word there. In verse 10. Bring ye the tithe. That there may be meat. Or food. As it brings. In mine house. Brothers and sisters. That's what the tithes are all about. Isn't it?

102. 38:04

     About there being food. In God's house. Food to strengthen others. Food to feed the priests. Food to be able to sustain the worship. And the teaching of the truth. Food for all comers to that house. And here are these tragic words. When God's pleading. Saying. Please. Let there be some food. In my house.

103. 38:28

     In your mind. Brothers and sisters. Picture a hungry. And emaciated priest. Who stood there waiting. He's standing. Forlornly. Before his God. In a house. That's empty of food. Because all Israel. Has stopped. Contributing the tithe. So the door. Of the storehouse. Swings idly. In the breeze. The interior. Is swept clean. Every last.

104. 38:54

     Crust. Is gone. The priest. With dull eye. Weakened. With hunger. Scanning. An empty horizon. Just hoping. In his heart. That somebody. Will bring the tithe. And bring some food. But at last. In desperation. He has to consider. His own starving family. His own wasted frame. And finally. The heartbroken priest. Turns his back.

105. 39:23

     On the house of God. He has to flee. For his life. To his own field. And there he ekes out. A meager existence. And poverty. And the house of God. Falls silent. The voice of prayer. Is still. The smoke. Of the sacrifices. Drifts away. And the silence. Of the grave. Falls upon. A deserted building.

106. 39:49

     Why? Because every Israelite. Failed to bring. Their bunch of grapes. Or their sheaf. Of wheat. There was a famine. In the house of God. Because individual Israelites. Didn't bring. Their personal contribution.

107. 40:06

     Now brothers and sisters. We are. Part of the temple of God. As Paul says. Ye are. The temple of the living God. Every temple. Has a storehouse. Or a treasury. For the tithes. It didn't matter. Whether it was the glory. Of the splendor. Of the temple. Built by Solomon. Or the humbleness. Of the small temple.

108. 40:23

     Built in the return. In the days of Nehemiah. Every temple. Has a storehouse. And so do we. And so do our ecclesias. The question for us is. What's in the storehouse? What's in our personal storehouse? What's in yours? What's in mine? Is there food. In God's house? Is there food. To sustain the work.

109. 40:47

     Of the truth. The food. That God's house. Is desperately. In need of today. Is God's word. Isn't it? Food. To sustain. The work. Of the ecclesia. The bread of life. The words of Amos. 8 verse 11. Behold the days come. Seth the Lord Yahweh. That I will send a famine. In the land.

110. 41:06

     Not a famine. Of bread. Not a thirst. For water. But of hearing. The words. Of Yahweh. Now we need to note very carefully. Brothers and sisters. That the responsibility. For bringing the tithe. Was not. The responsibility. Of the Levites. It was not something. That was left. To the leaders of Israel. To do.

111. 41:29

     It's. Our responsibility. As Israelites. Together. In the household of God. The bringing of a tithe. Brothers and sisters. Is a personal responsibility. That every single. One of us here. This morning. Everything has. Now what's the food. For us to provide. In God's house today. Well the spirit. Of the tithe. Brothers and sisters.

112. 41:51

     Is for every one of us. To be daily. Studying God's word. Now. That's the food. Provided for the household. Of God. So let every one of us. Assess our own. Personal commitment. To God's word. The food. Which he has given us. And we ask ourselves. The question. Am I reading. And studying. The word of God.

113. 42:12

     Daily. Am I king. In the word. Do I love it. Do I thrill to it. Am I able to glean. From it. Food. To support myself. And my family. And the ecclesia. Or is there famine. In the house of God. Today. This isn't just a question. Of personal development. This is a process.

114. 42:33

     Brothers and sisters. Of keeping the house. Of God alive. Life. And these days. Often. There is a famine. In the house of God. We need to hear. Those words. Of almighty God. Pleading with us. With each of us. Brothers and sisters. He says. Let there be food. In my house. Now brothers and sisters.

115. 42:54

     If the word of God. Is not our daily habit. And we all know. We all know. In our heart. Every one of us. Whether the word of God. Is our daily. Habit. And delight. If the word of God. Is not our daily habit. Then something else is. It's the stuff. Of Tobiah. If the daily reading.

116. 43:15

     And meditation. On the word of life. Our food. Has not become. Part of our individual lives. Then something else. Has taken its place. That's the stuff. Of Tobiah. Whatever it is. And if we're not. Daily taking up. The food. Of God's word. It's because. We've filled. Our storehouse. With something else.

117. 43:41

     Brothers and sisters. There's a desperate need. For us today. To make sure. That there is food. In God's house. And it brings. It begins. With each one of us. Bringing. Our tithe.

118. 43:52

     Now back in Nehemiah 13. We won't turn back to it. But when Nehemiah returned. He found. That storehouse. Full of the stuff. Of Tobiah. And we're told. In verse 8. That it grieved him. In his heart. It grieved him. In his heart. And so he says. I cast therefore. All the stuff. The household stuff.

119. 44:11

     Of Tobiah. Out of the chamber. And we've got this picture. Of Nehemiah. Getting in there. And he grabs. All the household stuff. Of Tobiah. And he heaves it. Out onto the street. You say. Oh. Isn't that a bit violent? Isn't that a bit extreme? Isn't that rather uncivilized? Perhaps even. Slightly ungodly? Well.

120. 44:33

     Brothers and sisters. If Tobiah's stuff. Is cluttering our house. Then we need to take extreme measures. We need to personally assess our own lives. And heave Tobiah's stuff. Out onto the street. And instead. Fill that storehouse. With the things of God's word. Brothers and sisters. There is an urgent need. For us to ensure.

121. 44:58

     That there is food. In God's house today. Food. To nourish. The hungry. Who then. Is a faithful. And wise servant. Whom his Lord. Hath made ruler. Over his household. To give them meat. In due season. Blessed. Is that servant. Whom his Lord. When he cometh. Shall find. So doing. Thank you. Thank you.

122. 45:35

     Thank you. Brother Mark. For your words this morning. Indeed. You have given. Us many. Lessons from God's word. To consider. That each of us. Needs to. Take into our hearts. As we continue. Our service. To our heavenly father. Brothers and sisters. Our third class. Will. Is scheduled to begin. At 11 a.m. So I'd ask.

123. 45:59

     That we. Be in our seats. A couple minutes. Before that. To afford. Our brother. Nigel. The time. Thank you. Thank you.