Bringing Firstfruits - Leviticus 23:9-14, 22

Introduction

For the ancient Israelites, the first and seventh months were particularly important. As agrarian people, their existence was closely tied to their crops. Their major celebrations revolved around gratitude to God for what he had done for them in the past and how he was sustaining them in the present. Today’s lesson focuses on one such celebration.

The beginning of the Jewish year is called Rosh Hashanah. This phrase appears in the Hebrew Bible only in , and scholars debate what exactly it is referring to in that passage. The Jews ultimately ended up with two calendars. The religious calendar began with the month of Aviv (), also called Nisan (). On the civil calendar, the month called Ethanim (), later know as Tishri, serves that purpose; that is six months after the beginning of the religious new year. Rosh Hashanah begins the civil new year.

Most important on either calendar were the three annual pilgrimage events: the Festival of Unleavened Bread (combined with Passover), celebrated in May or June; and the Festival of Ingathering (also called Tabernacles or Booths), celebrated in September or October (). The first and third of these week long observances. Between them is the single-day Festival of Harvest, which is also called the Festival of Weeks or the day of firstfruits. This is the subject of today’s lesson.

The Festival of Weeks designation points to seven weeks of grain harvest. On day 50, the day that is seen to conclude this harvest, the Israelites celebrate Pentecost, a later designation that reflects the number 50. The correspondence between agrarian-based holidays and God’s saving acts on behalf of his people were not mere coincidence. God acted powerfully to create a people and settle them in the promised land.

The Israelites were to recognize that their presence in the land was a gift. The land really belonged to God, and he allowed the people to dwell there by his gracious provision. But as today’s text opens, the people were not there yet. The setting of today’s text is, rather, the encampment at Mount Sinai, where the Lord gave his law to Moses for the people ().

The

Preparing Firstfruits -

Leviticus 2:14 NRSV

If you bring a grain offering of first fruits to the Lord, you shall bring as the grain offering of your first fruits coarse new grain from fresh ears, parched with fire.

Leviticus 2:1–4 NRSV

When anyone presents a grain offering to the Lord, the offering shall be of choice flour; the worshiper shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it, and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. After taking from it a handful of the choice flour and oil, with all its frankincense, the priest shall turn this token portion into smoke on the altar, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the Lord. And what is left of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons, a most holy part of the offerings by fire to the Lord. When you present a grain offering baked in the oven, it shall be of choice flour: unleavened cakes mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers spread with oil.

Leviticus 2:9–14 NRSV

The priest shall remove from the grain offering its token portion and turn this into smoke on the altar, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the Lord. And what is left of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings by fire to the Lord. No grain offering that you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you must not turn any leaven or honey into smoke as an offering by fire to the Lord. You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of choice products, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing odor. You shall not omit from your grain offerings the salt of the covenant with your God; with all your offerings you shall offer salt. If you bring a grain offering of first fruits to the Lord, you shall bring as the grain offering of your first fruits coarse new grain from fresh ears, parched with fire.

There are many kinds of firstfruits that can be offered to the Lord. The offering described here is a grain offering. Grains cannot be ground into flour suitable for baking until the moisture is removed; hence the need for the grain’s being roasted in the fire.9-

There are many kinds of firstfruits that can be offered to the Lord. The offering described here is a grain offering. Grains cannot be ground into flour suitable for baking until the moisture is removed; hence the need for the grain’s being roasted in the fire.

Having left Egypt by God’s design and protection, they need instructions regarding how to conduct themselves in the land he is going to give them. Since the land is ultimately his, it must be cared for according to those instructions.

To bring a sheaf of the first grain of the harvest is a requirement, not an option or a guideline. The very first portion of the crop to be harvested is known as the firstfruits. It is the part that the farmer is most excited about because it serves as a sort of sign or down payment of the full crop to come. It assures the farmer that all his hard work of tilling, planting, and watering is beginning to pay off.

Most likely the crop harvested in view is barely, which ripens before wheat. But here some additional details are provided about the offering that are not found in our earlier passage. A sheaf is a small bundle or armful. Of that portion, only a small amount is offered directly to God by being burned up. The majority of it goes to the priests to be eaten.

Th Aaronic priests depend on the offerings of the people for their livelihood since their devotion to working in the tabernacle keeps them from being able to reap regular harvests like everyone else (). Providing for the priests is important, but it is not the primary reason for the firstfruits offering. It is more vital that the Israelites take time to recognize that it is God who is blessing them by his grace; they have not earned it ().

They must never forget that he, not fictitious fertility gods such as Baal, is the source of all they will enjoy in the promised land. After a firstfruits offering is made, the Israelites will be free to enjoy the remainder of the harvest. After receiving a firstfruits offering, the priest elevates it above his head to make clear that it is dedicated to God. The people believe that God’s blessing will result.

After receiving a firstfruits offering, the priest elevates it above his head to make clear that it is dedicated to God. The people believe that God’s blessing will result.

What visual aids can you build into routines to remind you to be grateful for God’s provision? Regarding regular, daily routines (meals, etc.); regarding irregular, occasional routines (holidays, etc.), other.

Verse 12 reveals that Israel’s offerings often involve a series of steps. The second step of this offering is that of a lamb a year old. It is important that this lamb be without defect because the one giving the offering is identifying with the offering. It is a way of saying to God that the worshiper is giving his best to him, not just the best of the flock but also the best of himself.

In contrast with the Passover observance, which looks to the past in celebration of God’s deliverance, the day of firstfruits looks to the future. Firstfruits are offered on the first day of the week (v. 11), the beginning of the workweek after the Sabbath day of rest. The very idea of firstfruits implies there’s more fruit to follow, and that includes not only the grain offering just discussed, but also an abundance of livestock. Thus the worshipper need not fear giving the “best fruit” of his livestock - God always has more to provide!

Burnt offerings are unique in that they are turned completely into smoke. They are not cooked for human consumption, but burned up so that the smoke ascends to God. Though God sometimes acknowledges the pleasing aroma of offerings, he does not need the food (, ). These offerings are about what Israel needs: the people need to keep God first by returning to him the first of the blessings that they have received from him. They owe their abundance to their gracious heavenly provider. Should they forget that, they will begin to drift from the life God has called them to live.

How do you ensure that you’re offering God your best? In preparing your heart for worship; in preparing to participate in a Bible class, other.

Verse 13 reveals that the third step was to mix the grain offering with the finest flour and olive oil. Two tenths of an ephah computes to about 6.2 quart; this amount of flour weighs about 6.6 pounds. This is twice the normal amount of flour used for grain offerings. Olive oil is produced by the hard work of crushing and grinding.

The drink offering is step four. This signifies a joyous occasion. A quarter of a hin computes to 41.4 fluid ounces or 1.22 liters. Drink offerings are also described in .

Verse 14 reveals that for the offering to fulfill its intended function, the Israelites must not eat of any produce of the promised land until the firstfruits offering is given to God. To eat of the produce before offering the firstfruits to God is to indicate that the food is theirs to do with as they wish. But since the whole purpose of the offering is to focus on God as the provider, it is more than appropriate that the Israelites acknowledge him properly before they begin to indulge themselves.

And so it is with Christians. Regular giving is not optional (), and that is a good thing because each gift requires us to focus on the one who ultimately receives the gift: God. But the primary firstfruit he desires is us ourselves. ().

How will you apply the fristfruits principle today? Regarding fristfruits of your time; regarding firstfruits of your talents (abilities and spiritual gifts; regarding firstfruits of your treasure (money and other tangible resources).

Sharing Blessings -

Leviticus 23:22 NRSV

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the Lord your God.

God does not generously give to the Israelites so they can stingily hoard his gifts and focus on themselves. The firstfruits offering is one way to keep them from doing so. Sharing takes various forms for the Israelites. Here, God requires his people to underharvest their fields intentionally. They must leave a portion of the harvest in the fields for the poor. This command may be difficult for many Israelites to obey.

Some will want to harvest every bit of grain and store all they can for the future. This seems the smart and responsible thing to do. Yet God disapproves of this. He wants his people to share selflessly. So he requires those who have been blessed to leave some of the blessing behind for others to reap and enjoy.

God promises to bless those who share with the needy as he commands (). So the Israelites face a choice. They can do the frugal thing by harvesting every square inch of their fields, or they can obey God, trusting him to provide for their needs. Life as God’s people has always been a life of faith day in and day out.

How can we apply Leviticaus 23:22 today without violating ? In personal helping situations; while serving on benevolence committee; other.

Conclusion

Monetary giving is important, and the New Testament has principles for so doing (, ). There are indeed certain parallels between old covenant and new covenant expectations for giving, but we should not press these too far since the old law is nailed to the cross ().

Still, the firstfruits concept should be deeply meaningful to Christians. Christ is designated as “firstfruits” (, ). As a result of Christ’s redeeming work, we “have the firstfruits of the Spirit” (). The result is that we ourselves have become “a kind of firstfruits” (; ).

But what does it mean to be “a kind of firstfruits”? Do others see the good result of Christ’s redemptive work in us, or do they see something else? Are we being salty salt, bright light, a city on a hill, and stars shining in the universe? When people look at us, do they catch a glimpse of the good news of God’s salvation?

In what ways would your life change were you to live consistently as a firstfruit of God’s new creation? In ways visible to others; in ways visible only to God.

Prayer

Faithful God, you have always given your best. And still we struggle to give back to you. We are tempted to hold back. We are tempted to store up treasures on this earth. We are then tempted to keep everything to ourselves. Lord, we need you to save us from our self-deception so we may live as your firstfruit witnesses to the world. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.