So, I know it's not Wednesday, not even close...but I wanted to write this down, more for myself than anything else. This weeks Torah portion is Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8, this portion covers many things that would be wonderful to dig into deeper however as I was reading and going over the Hoshana Rabbah (parsha KiTavo) commentary, something really jumped out at me.
The discussion is on verse 26:11 And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.
This whole section is about tithing. Traditionally when we think about tithing it is taught, if you give and sow you will reap blessings. And sadly, I feel that far too often the emphasis is on what WE will receive, rather than on what we can give. Now, when I read this passage about giving joyfully today and looked at the commentary, this is what jumped out to me. "Bringing one's tithes and offering to YHVH is to be a joyful event since it is a reflection of our gratitude to him for abundantly blessing us." This is the reverse of what is traditionally taught about tithing. We are not giving so we can receive but rather we are giving to show our GRATITUDE to Him who blessed us first! WOW! That is RIGHT ON! He did bless us first, anything we give back was not of our own hands, but of His gracious love alone. Deut 10:14 "Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it."Anything we give, already belongs to Him to begin with.
So, when you are ready to give an offering to the Lord, do it with rejoicing in your heart, thanking Him for what He has already blessed you with and not thinking about how He will bless you in return, He already has! Amein!
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