Some Old Time Religion

Things sure do change around these parts fast. Last week a snowstorm, then twenty below zero. Now a few days straight of fifties and a fast melt taking place. Whole fields are open already and the world ain’t totally white no more, YEE HAW! Pretty muddy, but I noticed some of the mud already drying up on the driveways and such. Cattle are comfey and I get all slopped up walking around but what the hey, this sure beats winter! Didn’t even wear a jacket the last two afternoons, not to mention shedding the insulated coveralls the last few days! I feel so lite!

Deuteronomy 26

Harvest Offerings and Tithes

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there, ² put some of the first produce from each crop you harvest into a basket and bring it to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored. ³ Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, ‘With this gift I acknowledge to the Lord your God that I have entered the land he swore to our ancestors he would give us.’ ⁴ The priest will then take the basket from your hand and set it before the altar of the Lord your God.

⁵ “You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation. ⁶ When the Egyptians oppressed and humiliated us by making us their slaves, ⁷ we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He heard our cries and saw our hardship, toil, and oppression. ⁸ So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and powerful arm, with overwhelming terror, and with miraculous signs and wonders. ⁹ He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey! ¹⁰ And now, O Lord, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest you have given me from the ground.’ Then place the produce before the Lord your God, and bow to the ground in worship before him. ¹¹ Afterward you may go and celebrate because of all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household. Remember to include the Levites and the foreigners living among you in the celebration.

These are some verses that I’m pondering over the last few days. Reading what old Moses had to say about things. Now in country preacher tradition I figure a feller aught to talk about Moses here and there. I listen to the old fashioned preachers and some of the best sermons were about Moses, Joshua, David and a bunch of them folks from way back. I always perk up when the stories get good!

Well, here old Moses is teaching the people how to bring their tithes and offering to the Lord, how to make an acceptable offering, a holy offering. And it still follows through today. Of course we ain’t bringing some bull to church to get slaughtered up front, (which by the way might be interesting with some of these Black Angus that I raise. By the time all would be said and done I don’t think there’d be much left in the front of the church building).  I might follow further with this after Sunday’s service and explain the meaning for today from these verses, first I’ll do the church thing.

For tonight I’m just gonna kick back and get ready for tomorrow heading to the salesbarn to sell calves. Read the Bible and get me some sleep! Glory!