Deuteronomy 26:1–11— A Confession of God’s Goodness
People give to the Lord for different reasons: some, grudgingly, out of a sense of obligation; some, only when there is a specific need which must be met; some, because they believe that giving to the Lord will bring some sort of earthly reward, monetary or otherwise. These directions to the Children of Israel from the Lord through His prophet Moses show that giving back to the Lord is a privilege, when we realize that all we have comes from Him. It should be a pleasure for us to give generously to the Lord; for doing so reminds us of all the blessings He continually showers upon us and gives us reason to rejoice.
The recitation prescribed in today’s reading from Deuteronomy
recounting the great deliverance from bondage in Egypt, was to be said along
with the presentation of a basket of first fruits each year. This passage is
quite old, thus the offerings were probably made at the tabernacle rather than
at the Temple at Jerusalem, since this writing was around long before the
Temple was built by Solomon. The point is that people, bringing first fruits of
their harvest to the Lord, at the same time offer him thanksgiving for freedom
from the bondage of sin.
Today is Ash Wednesday. We begin the discipline of Lent. Lent
is a forty day observance as Sundays are excluded. Lent is a time when we deal with
the basic realities of life; temptation, denial, suffering, sacrifice, prayer,
agony of soul, betrayal, and death. During Lent we journey to Jerusalem to
participate in the tragedy of the cross. It is a serious and solemn time of
dying with Jesus that we might also rise with Him; for unless this death takes
place, there can be no joy of Easter.
[1] Ash Wednesday © Google Images
[2] Collect for Ash Wednesday, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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