Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: The Hallelujah of Confession

Biblical Wealth - Part 6 of 8

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Covenant Theology

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2004-08-22

Synopsis: John Weaver teaches on the third biblical tithe, the tithe of rejoicing (festival tithe), from Exodus 34, Deuteronomy 14, and related passages. He explains that this 10% tithe was to be spent on oneself and one's family during the three annual feasts in Jerusalem, with the purpose of learning to fear the Lord. The tithe decapitalizes the believer, demonstrating dependence on God, and must include an educational aspect. Weaver contrasts God's tithe of rejoicing with man's (state) provision of recreation, arguing that denying God's tithe leads to statism. He emphasizes that joy is found in obedience, not simplicity, and that believers must serve God with gladness.

[John Weaver] Well, let's open our Bible today to the book of Malachi chapter three, although we're not going to be staying there. I have been using this passage for the last several weeks, and I think you'll understand why in just a moment. Malachi chapter three, beginning there with verse seven. Malachi three, verse seven. Even from the days of your fathers, you're going away from mine ordinances and have not kept them.

[John Weaver] Return to me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But you said, wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God, yet you have robbed me? But you say, wherein have we robbed thee in tithes and offerings? You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring you all the tithes in the storehouse, that there may be need in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts.

[John Weaver] If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Now I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time of the field, saith the Lord of Hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts."

[John Weaver] Now, if you would go ahead and turn in your Bibles to the book of Exodus and the book of Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 14 and Exodus chapter 34, and that way you'll be ready to start with me in just a few moments. Now, you will remember that the last five weeks or so I've been preaching on the doctrine of biblical wealth, and in the last several weeks, biblical wealth and the theology of the tithes. Remember, if you would please, I've covered the source and sovereignty of wealth from Deuteronomy chapter 8, the sovereignty of God and the subjects of wealth, not only from Deuteronomy 8, but 1 Samuel chapter 2. I've showed you the purpose of wealth from Deuteronomy 8, that it might fulfill the covenant of God. And then, of course, I showed you the importance of the tithes.

[John Weaver] And I demonstrated the fact from Scripture, and I'm going to do that again today, that whenever you deny God's tithes, it's in order that the state or man in some form or fashion may usurp the jurisdiction that belongs to God alone. And then last week I dealt with the Levitical and poor tithe. The Levitical tithe was a 10% tithe which went for the teaching ministry, basically speaking. The poor tithe was once every three years, which also was 10%, but it would average out about three and a third percent per year.

[John Weaver] Now remember, if you would please, the passage than I quoted from the book of Leviticus chapter 27 and verse 30, where God says specifically the tithes are His. They don't belong to the church. They don't belong to man. They belong to God. Since the tithes belong to God, God then has the absolute sovereign right to tell us how those tithes are to be used. It's important for you and I to understand that without the tithes, stateism usurps and replaces the kingdom of God with the kingdom of man. I pointed out that there can be absolutely no restoration of a Christian order apart from the tithes, simply because everything requires money. That is how God has certainly ordained for His kingdom to be extended.

[John Weaver] Now, we dealt with the Levitical tithe and the four tithe last week. Today I'm going to come to the third tithe in Scripture. and it is the tithe of rejoicing. So look first in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Exodus chapter 34. We're going to see this same truth momentarily in the book of Deuteronomy. But look in Exodus chapter 34, beginning there with verse 22. Exodus 34 and verse 22. Look what God says. Exodus 34 verse 22, And thou shalt observe the Feast of Weeks, and the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end, thrice, or three times in the year, shall all your men, children, appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel." Note, if you would, three times a year they're going to appear before the God of Israel.

[John Weaver] Verse 24,"'For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders. Neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God, thrice in the year.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look in Deuteronomy chapter 14, and I want you to hold this passage because we're going to be coming back to this passage momentarily. Deuteronomy 14, notice if you would please, beginning there with verse 22. Deuteronomy 14 verse 22. Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thine wine, and thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, then thou shalt turn it into money. and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose.

[John Weaver] And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth. And thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice thou in thine household. And the Levite that is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him, for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee."

[John Weaver] Now, the tithe of rejoicing is also known as the festival tithe. One of the most misunderstood and misused tithes is the tithe of rejoicing. God demanded that three times a year all the males had to appear before Him, and when they appeared, they were not to appear empty-handed. Look in Deuteronomy 16, if you would, verses 16 and 17. God will give you the same truth that He gave you in the book of Exodus 34, but now He's adding something to it. Notice Deuteronomy 16, verse 16. Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which He shall choose.

[John Weaver] And of course, we know that it was Jerusalem. in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in the Feast of Weeks, in the Feast of Tabernacles, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty. Every man shall give as he is able according to the blessing of the Lord by God which he hath given unto him." Now, I want you to note, not only in Exodus 34, but in Deuteronomy chapter 16, all the men were required to attend these feasts at Jerusalem.

[John Weaver] Most of the time, the wives and the children went as well. It was kind of like what you and I would call a religious family vacation. But three times a year for these feasts, they had to be there. Now, you remember, there were seven feasts. There was Passover, which was the most important of the feasts. There was the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which actually followed Passover. There's the Feast of Firstfruits. There was the Feast of Pentecost, there was the Feast of Trumpets, there was the Feast of Tabernacles, and then, of course, there was the Day of Atonement. Some of these things kind of went together, but God demanded that three times a year they appear before Him in Jerusalem, and that when they appeared, they could not appear empty-handed.

[John Weaver] Now, let me set the stage for what I'm about to teach today by demonstrating for you a truth that most people have never comprehended. And that is this, that even in the Old Testament, under the law, there was to be joy.

[John Weaver] Now we understand that we only have the fullness of joy in Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is the fullness of the manifestation of God. Jesus Christ is God. And in him is fullness of joy. But what we have not comprehended is this, that even in the Old Testament, one of the predominating truths was the truth of joy. In fact, one of the greatest verses we get concerning joy comes from the Old Testament.

[John Weaver] Nehemiah 8 and verse 10. For the joy of the Lord is your strength. And of course, that comes from Nehemiah 8 and verse 10. The word joy occurs 102 times in 95 verses in the Old Testament. The word rejoice occurs 147 times in 142 verses in the Old Testament. Then when you get to the book of Deuteronomy, which is the book of the law, you find the word rejoice occurs 13 times. So there is an emphasis then, even in the Old Testament, on joy and rejoicing. Please do not think that somehow, that under the law or in the Old Testament, life was to be dead, dull, lifeless, and joyless. No. Joy was to be a predominating factor even in the Old Testament. Now I want you to understand that with the feast of rejoicing, or the tithe of rejoicing, and this festival tithe, rejoicing was to be a predominating truth. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 12.

[John Weaver] I'm just going to emphasize certain things very quickly. Deuteronomy chapter 12. And notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 7. Instead of me reading the entire passage, I'm just going to point these verses out to you. Deuteronomy 12, verse 7. And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand unto, you and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee." Now I want you to note, and you shall rejoice, look what he says, in all that you put your hand unto. Now watch this next phrase, you and your households. where the Lord thy God hath blessed thee. So it's not just an individual, it is the entire house. Look in verse 12. Skip down. And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gate, forasmuch as he hath no partner or inheritance with you. Note, the whole family is to rejoice.

[John Weaver] Now look in verse 18. But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto." Isn't it interesting how he's emphasizing rejoicing? Look in Deuteronomy 14 and verse 26. Now we're talking about the tithe of rejoicing. So Deuteronomy 14 verse 26, he says, And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth. And thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice thou and thy household. Look in chapter 16 and verse 11.

[John Weaver] It's amazing how often God repeats the same truth. And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is with thine, and thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen a place in his name. Skip down to verse 14. And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the fogglers, and the widowed that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast of the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose, because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands. Therefore thou shalt surely rejoice." Now look in Deuteronomy 26 and verse 11. Deuteronomy 26 and verse 11. Once again, God says it like this. Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.

[John Weaver] Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing. And then Deuteronomy 27 and verse 7. And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the Lord thy God."

[John Weaver] Now, before I explain the tithe of rejoicing or the festival tithe, allow me to ask you a question. I want you to think about this. Why are we commanded to rejoice? Why are we commanded to be joyous? Now, there are several answers to that question, but I want to just kind of summarize an answer for you today. First and foremost, we are to recognize our creaturehood. It is God who has made us.

[John Weaver] According to Psalm 100, we are the sheep of His pasture, we are His handiwork, He is the Creator, and we are the creatures. In recognizing the fact that we are the creatures that God has made us, we must understand then that God has made us for His pleasure, for His honor, and for His glory. God has done what He has done for our good and His glory, and God does not make any mistakes. What does that mean?

[John Weaver] That means, therefore, we are obligated to rejoice before him as his preachers. Now listen carefully. We are not autonomous, that is, independent, nor can we ever be. We do not endeavor to become little gods or to become our own god and thus try to be independent from him. Rather what we do, we rejoice in the fact that we're absolutely, totally dependent upon Him. Now I'm talking about the fact that we're recognizing our creaturehood. What do we do when we fail to recognize our creaturehood? Well, when we endeavor to overextend ourselves and go beyond our own limitations, We are denying our creaturehood and playing God.

[John Weaver] Let me ask you to turn in your Bible to Psalm 103. I want to show you two of the most consoling verses, two of the most comforting verses in the entire Bible. Please do not lose your train of thought, because I'm dealing with the fact that we are God's creatures. And therefore, since we are creatures, we have limitations. We are not God, we never will be God, we are his creatures. Psalm 103, notice if you would please verse 13.

[John Weaver] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are but dust. Now notice what the Bible says, like as a father pitied his children, so the Lord pitied them that fear Him, for He knoweth our frame, He remembered that we are but dust. Now when the Bible says He knows our frame, what does that mean? It means He knows what we can do and what we cannot do. He knows what we can take and what we cannot take.

[John Weaver] God remembers that we are creatures. He remembers that we are dust. It is we who many times forget that we're dust. And what do we do? We push and push and push and overextend ourselves until we become exhausted Exasperated and miserable. And there's no joy nor rejoicing in our lives. We have forgotten the first and the most basic catechetical question. Here's the first and most basic catechetical question.

[John Weaver] What is the chief duty of man? And the answer is to glorify God. And what? And to enjoy Him forever. What is our most basic duty? To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

[John Weaver] Now listen, it is not a sin to be tired. I get tired. Do you realize our Lord was tired? That's what the Bible says in John 4. That's why He sat on the well and rested. It is not a sin to be tired, but it is a sin to overextend ourselves to the point that we exhaust the very marrow from our bones so that our family, our friends, our life, and even the ministry becomes drudgery instead of joy. You see, once you understand that we're creatures, that we have limitations, that there is a certain place that we can go and no further, then you're going to become or be coming to the point where you realize that God alone is God.

[John Weaver] Let me show you another illustration of the fact that we oftentimes deny our creaturehood. in the fact that most of us long for what you and I would call the simple life. I mean, we often look back to our childhood and or the good old days when life was simpler. I've often told people, young people do not realize how stupid they really are until they get grown. I remember when I was a teenager I just could not wait to get away from home. Just could not wait to get out from the orders my father and my mother would give me.

[John Weaver] So what did I do? I joined the army.

[John Weaver] Now everybody tells me what to do. They tell me when to get up. They tell me when to go to bed. They tell me what I can eat, what I can't eat. I'm going to spend every hour of my day You know, when you get grown, you think, what a fool I was to want to get away from home. I mean, my father bought all my food. He bought all my clothes. I mean, he paid every bill I had. It was his car. It was his gas. It was his tires. It was his insurance. All I did was make money and then spend his. And you know, we think back, boy, those were the good old days. Our oldest granddaughter, who is now 16, when she was 4 or 5, she looked at Alice and said, Granny, what was it like in the old days? You know, just like she would know. And our youngest granddaughter, just a year ago, and she's only 10, she came to Alice and she said, Granny, I just bought the prettiest old-timey pattern that you've ever seen.

[John Weaver] Well, you know, she kind of likes the Confederate dress and, you know, Alice is thinking 1800s. And guess what? When Alice sees the pattern, it's a pattern made in the 1980s. An old-timey pattern, you know. Well, that ought to tell you something about my wife. She's just old-timey, that's all, you know. You know, we long for the simple life. Let me tell you something, folks. Life has never been simple.

[John Weaver] I don't care what age you're talking about. Life has never been simple. Even in the old days, there were problems. It was just a different set of problems than the ones that we experience on a daily basis. Are you listening? We will never, ever have a simple life. You know why? The desire for simplicity is the desire to be God. Only God is the most simple being. Only God has no problems. You see, all of us are faced with a multitude of problems. Joy is not to be found in simplicity. But joy is to be found in obedience. Joy is not to be found in simplicity. Joy is to be found in obedience.

[John Weaver] I can quote this verse, but I want you to turn in your Bibles. Hold the book of Deuteronomy. Turn in your Bibles to the book of James, if you would. Look in James 1. James 1. After the book of Hebrews, the little book of James. James 1. I want you to see what James writes to the brethren. Remember what I told you. I told you that joy is not found in simplicity, but joy is found in obedience. So in James chapter one, verse two, James writes, my brethren. Count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, that is, multicolored or various temptations. That's not temptations to do evil. The word temptations here means testings or trials. So he says, my brethren, count it all what joy when you fall into different trials and different testings. Why?

[John Weaver] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Well, if patience have a perfect work, You may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

[John Weaver] Now, notice he does not say, endeavor to live a simple life with no problems. No, he says you just counted all joy because you can be just as obedient in testing and trials as you can be when there are no testing and trials. In fact, if you don't turn back there, but in Romans chapter five, the Bible tells us that we exult, that is, we jump up and down in our trials and our tribulations. Why? Because we know that those trials and tribulations, as long as we're obedient, are going to produce patience and patience ultimately is going to produce hope in our lives.

[John Weaver] Now, the desire for simplicity is the desire to be as God. What does God require of us? God requires that you and I be faithful, that we be obedient That we do the best we can for God's honor and God's glory and do it in faith and then rest. And that way you can rejoice. Rejoicing is a principle of the law as well as the gospel. Let me give you an illustration.

[John Weaver] I read this years ago. R.A. Torrey was a preacher in times past and he had a song leader named Homer Hemingway. whose nickname was Ham. In fact, I just saw on sermonaudio.com where Homer Hammond Tree, you can hear his voice. They preserved it even from a hundred and something years back. And you can still hear his voice and him singing. But Torrey was preaching in a meeting and Homer was doing the singing. And he sang wonderfully and Torrey preached wonderfully.

[John Weaver] At the end of the service, nobody was converted. No one was saved. And so Torrey went to his room and Ham was sharing that room and Torrey sat down and read the paper. And Ham was walking back and forth, pacing. He said, I don't understand it. He said, the music was fine. The preaching was wonderful. He said, I don't understand why nobody was converted. And Torrey looked at him and closed his papers and said, I was faithful.

[John Weaver] I did what God wanted me to do and I preached what God wanted me to preach. And I'm satisfied. Next night, same thing. Third night, same thing. Ham was pacing back and forth. On the next night, it looked like the bottom fell out and people were converted, people were convicted. And I mean, Ham was walking up and down rejoicing and shouting and Torrey was sitting there trying to read the paper. And finally, he closed the paper and he said, Ham, sit down and shut up.

[John Weaver] He said, I am no more happier tonight. than I had been the previous nights. I was faithful. I did what God wanted me to do. I preached what God wanted me to preach. And in that, I rest. You see the principle? God requires obedience. And once we've been obedient, whether it's a test, or a trial, or whatever it is, we can just simply sit back and rest.

[John Weaver] I'm talking about the tithe of rejoicing. I want you to understand that the tithe of rejoicing was a stated annual season of rejoicing. Three times a year, all those men and their families appeared before the Lord God in Jerusalem. It is true that you and I are to rejoice always. That's what the Bible tells us. We're to rejoice always, but in the tithe of rejoicing, there was a stated annual tithe of rejoicing, and it was the time of those feasts at Jerusalem.

[John Weaver] Now, the equivalent to those feasts today would be a type of celebration that you and I would have with our entire family. Now, if you haven't figured it out, I'm going to put it to you very bluntly. The tithe of rejoicing is 10%. Just like the Levitical tithe. Just like the poor tithe, however, the poor tithe was collected only once every three years. But this tithe of rejoicing is also ten percent, but it is spent on you and your family. Now, in the Old Testament, the tithe would be spent in Jerusalem at the seven annual feasts. Why was it to be spent only at Jerusalem in the Old Testament. The answer is simple. Because in Jerusalem was where the tabernacle was located and later on the temple. Why was the tabernacle and the temple located there?

[John Weaver] Because that is the place that God has chose. What is the significance then of the tabernacle and the temple? It was the throne room of God where God ruled among his people.

[John Weaver] Now in Jesus Christ, we do not necessarily have to go to Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God, ruling and reigning. Therefore, we may rejoice before him in any place. So the tithe of rejoicing then teaches us that we're to rejoice in Jesus Christ with the full consciousness of our redemption. We must rejoice before Him, realizing that salvation is His work, and His work alone. It is not ours.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 12, and let me begin showing you certain principles relating to this festival tithe, or this tithe of rejoicing. Notice if you would, Deuteronomy chapter 12, and let's begin reading there with verse 11. Deuteronomy 12 verse 11, Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there. which was Jerusalem.

[John Weaver] Then shall you bring all that I command you, your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vowed to the Lord. And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters and your menservants and your maidservants and the Levites that is within your gates, forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you. Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest, but in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there shalt thou offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee. Notwithstanding, thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which is given thee, the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as the roebuck, and as the heart, etc. Now skip down, if you would please, to verse 17, Thou mayest not eat within thy gates that of thine corn, or of thine wine, or of thine oil, or of the firstlings of thy herd, or of thy flock, nor of any of thy vows which thou vowst, nor of thy freewill offerings, nor

[John Weaver] of any of thy offerings of thine hand." In other words, God says you can eat certain things in your own home. He's talking about the tithe of rejoicing. But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose. Thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thy hands unto. Take heed to thyself, and forsake not the Levite, as long as thou livest upon the earth."

[John Weaver] Now, let me just point out that in this passage there are several very general principles concerning the tithe of rejoicing. First of all, The tithe of rejoicing could not be partaken of at home. That's what he said in verse 17. Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, of thine wine, and thine oil, the first things of thy earth. In other words, during this tithe, you could not stay home and just spend this money on yourself. No.

[John Weaver] You had to be gone somewhere. Now, the second general principle is found in verse 18, and that is, The purpose of this tithe was one of rejoicing. But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thy hands unto." In other words, it had to be a stated season of rejoicing. So now God has given us two general directives. Number one, this time could not be spent at home. Number two, it had to do with rejoicing.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look in Deuteronomy chapter 14, you get a little more specifics given to you. Notice Deuteronomy chapter 14, beginning there with verse 22. We read this passage earlier. Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringing forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, and thine wine, and thine oil, the firstlings of thy herds, and thy flocks, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always." Now, so we know the place that he chose was Jerusalem. Now, it would be easy for those people who lived in Jerusalem, or for those people who lived in the surrounding area, to take their sheep, their oxen, their wine, whatever they wanted to take.

[John Weaver] But what if someone lived in the tribe of Dan, in the territory of Dan, or way down south in the city of Beersheba? That's a long way. So what does God say? Watch first of all in verse 23, or verse 24, and if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose, as it is named there, when the Lord thy God will bless thee, then thou shalt turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and thou shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose." So, instead of getting aggravated and frustrated and miserable trying to drive cattle and sheep and goats for a long journey, God says, just sell them, turn it into money.

[John Weaver] Make it easy on yourself because it is to be a time of rejoicing. Now, so we may rejoice before the Lord. We may turn it into money. By the way, let me go back to verse 23. Because I want to emphasize this. Why does God want us to spend this tithe upon ourselves and our families. Here's why. Verse 23, And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thine wine, and thine oil, and the first thing of the herds of thy flock, and of thy herds of thy flocks. Why? That thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. I want you to understand one thing, and I'm going to emphasize this several times before I close today. The purpose of this tithe of rejoicing is not only so that we can have a good time, but so that we can learn to fear the Lord our God. In other words, it must make us more holy and more knowledgeable.

[John Weaver] There has to be an educational aspect of this tithe. Now, verses 24 and 25 tells us we can turn it into money. Now watch verse 25. Thou shalt turn it into money and bind up the money in thine hand, and thou shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose. Well, once you've got your money in your hand and you're there, what can you do with that money? Look in verse 26. And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, or desireth, for oxen, for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth, and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice thou and thy household." Now God says you can spend the money on whatever you want. If you want a good steak, wonderful. If you want mutton, have at it. He said, if you want a glass of wine, you may have that. If you want a glass of strong drink, have that. Now, immediately when this verse is read, someone objects and say, well, wine is not wine.

[John Weaver] Strong drink is not strong drink. Yes, it is. The next thing people come across when they read this verse, they say, well, if it means wine, if it means strong drink, does that mean I can get drunk? And what's the answer to that? The answer is absolutely not. Why? Drunkenness is a sin. What did he say? That you may learn to fear the Lord by God. Would you commit such a sin in the presence of God? By the way, skip down to verse 26. He says the latter part, And whatsoever thy soul desireth, thou shalt eat there before the Lord by God. Thou shalt eat there before the Lord by God. Thou and thou shalt rejoice down in thine household. Would you get drunk in the presence of the Lord thy God? And the answer is no. Would you get drunk before your children? I would hope the answer would be no. Would you teach your children to be drunker? I would hope the answer would be no. Drunkenness is a sin. It is forbidden.

[John Weaver] God says if you exercise this tithe, it must be where you can learn to fear me. How in the world can you learn to fear God by disobeying God? The answer is you can't. Anyone who has a desire to be drunk has a real spiritual problem.

[John Weaver] Now, it is not my intent today to deal with the subject of alcohol, but I'll tell you this. If you will be honest with the Scripture, you will find in the Bible there is a commendation of alcohol And there is a condemnation of alcohol. Both are in the scripture. When it is properly used, there is no sin involved. When it is misused and abused, there is sin, wickedness, and rebellion.

[John Weaver] And the very fact that anyone would misuse and abuse alcohol indicates that his lusts, desires, and sins have never been conquered by the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the same could be said of any inordinate desire. But what God is saying is this, this is a time of rejoicing. It's a time where you're learning. It's a time where you're having a good time. It is when you are having fun as a family. You're spending this money on yourself that you may learn to fear the Lord your God.

[John Weaver] Now, the principle that lies beneath this tithe is decapitalization. Now I want you to listen to me very closely. You are decapitalizing yourself by 10%. Because you're spending this money on yourself, on your family, and on the Levite. For this very reason, most people do not like this tithe. Why? Because it decapitalizes. I want to tell you what this tithe of rejoicing does. It takes the wind out of our sails.

[John Weaver] You say, what in the world are you talking about? Well, all of us have sacrificed in times past, some more than others, in the service of the Lord. And while we do not boast of that sacrifice, and we certainly would never do that, at least we're comfortable with the knowledge in ourselves that we have gone the extra mile number of times Hmm And even when you look around in our homes We try to supply our families whatever they need whether it's a new refrigerator Whether it's a new stove or new bedroom suit And you know we can kind of take a little Pride or a little boastfulness in the fact that well, I've taken care of my family You see, when we're faithful in giving and sacrificing, we're comfortable with the fact that, yeah, we've done that. And yes, we're taking care of our family.

[John Weaver] However, when you come to the tithe of rejoicing and you are decapitalizing yourself by 10%, it makes it so that we can't rejoice in our works. How in the world can we boastfully say to God, look, God, aren't I wonderful? I just blew several thousand dollars on myself. You see what I'm saying? It kind of takes the wind out of your sails, because you've just spent that money on yourself and on your family, and you can't just stand up and say, oh Lord, look what I've just sacrificed and done for you. No, no, no, no. You've done this for yourself and for your family. It may have been in obedience to God, but the money was spent on yourself. You see, Here's the principle of decapitalization. Let me just show you. This tithe makes us totally dependent upon God.

[John Weaver] And it also demonstrates our dependence upon Him and our trust in Him. How can I say that? Because faith is required to decapitalize ourselves. And in doing so, in obedience to Him, we believe and trust Him that He will recapitalize us. Don't you remember the passage I began with in Deuteronomy 8 in verse 18? For it is the Lord, by God, who giveth thee power to get wealth. You see, the obedience to this tithe is a demonstration of our total dependence upon him. We realize our needs. But then we understand that God realizes our needs as well. Thus, in obedience to him, we trust him to supply those needs even while we are decapitalizing ourselves at his command.

[John Weaver] Now, let me emphasize one truth again. It is extremely important. In fulfilling this command to rejoice, we must understand that we cannot violate or disobey any other commands.

[John Weaver] Now when God says, thou shalt spend thy money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, you've got to understand there is a good usage of the word lust in the Bible and a bad usage. In the New Testament, the word lust literally just means to set your desire upon something. Do you remember in the New Testament? Our Lord looked at his disciples and said. With desire, have I desire deep this last supper with you? Yes, what the word desire? Is the word lust literally what he said with lust, have I lusted after this last supper with you? Now, did our Lord sin?

[John Weaver] Well, the answer is no, of course not. But you see, a lust can be good or bad. It does not necessarily have to always be bad. So when our Lord says that you may spend this money in whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, what he's saying is you may spend that money rejoicing before him in whatever area you desire to, just so that you learn to fear him.

[John Weaver] Let me give you a couple of illustrations. If I had a hobby, I guess it would be hunting. I enjoy hunting. I don't get to do that much of it necessarily, but I do enjoy it.

[John Weaver] Now, I've got a friend, a Christian friend out in Idaho that wants to start a camping ministry and a hunting ministry. And what he's interested in doing is taking especially preachers out and keeping them in the woods for a week or two weeks at the time to show them God's creation, to give them time away from a phone, to give them time to study and to pray and to fellowship with each other. Now, that's certainly not a bad idea, because most preachers I know need to get away for a week or two.

[John Weaver] Now, you understand what I'm saying? That would be an excellent time for a time of rejoicing, or the family could go. Our family can't. Or going to a Bible conference. You see, all of us as individuals and as families have things that we enjoy more than other individuals and more than other families. If there's a ball involved, I don't like it. See, I'm not a sportsman in that sense of the word.

[John Weaver] There are some folks who love sports. I don't care anything about sports.

[John Weaver] Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. Whatever we do with the tithe of rejoicing, it is to be a time to learn to fear the Lord thy God. One of the things that Alice and I particularly enjoy is going to Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone, just to look at God's creation. I want to tell you something, folks. If you want to be insignificant, just for a moment, you get up on top of El Capitan or Half Dome, and you just kind of look down at that valley. And you look around at all those things that God has made, and it will sink you to your knees. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. Whatever you do with the tithe of rejoicing, there must be an educational aspect of that tithe.

[John Weaver] Now, before I try to tie this together, let me deal with one objection. Some of you are going to say, well, Brother Weaver, I've just never heard of this tithe before. I've certainly never observed it. I've just never even heard of it. It just seems so strange. Well, the answer is very simple. Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean it's not true. It doesn't mean it's not real. That's why Ephesians 4 tells us that he gave some pastor teachers a lie so that they can be teachers and instruct the people in what God would have to say. Now, let me illustrate this very succinctly. We will either celebrate God's tithe of rejoicing, or we will celebrate man's tithe of rejoicing. When we deny God's tithe of rejoicing, it is only that we may establish the state's tithe of rejoicing.

[John Weaver] Have you ever Thought about why we have state holidays, state parks, state recreational centers, state playgrounds, state hunting and management services, state programs, state services. I don't know about you, but I've heard people say, isn't it wonderful? The state has provided all this for us. You see what I'm saying, folks? When you deny God's tithe of rejoicing, it's only that you may establish man's tithe of rejoicing. All people hold to a tithe of rejoicing, believers and non-believers. All believe in a tithe of rejoicing. The difference is whose tithe of rejoicing do we believe in and hold to? Do we believe and hold to God's tithe of rejoicing or man's? If we obey God in His path of rejoicing, He receives the honor and the glory.

[John Weaver] And we rejoice in His salvation and His provision. If we do not obey God, then ultimately, we rejoice in man and what man gives us. And man will get the honor and the glory. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 28 in closing. Let me show you a passage that is of paramount importance. Everyone in here knows that Israel went into captivity. Ten northern tribes, of course, went to Assyria. The two southern tribes went into Babylon. And there were many other times they were in captivity as well. But in Deuteronomy 28, you have the blessings and the curses. Now, God says, if you obey me, I'm going to bless you. If you disobey me, then I'm going to curse you. Now, I want you to know part of the curses by beginning in verse 45. I want you to notice what God says. Verse 45, Deuteronomy 28.

[John Weaver] Moreover, all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed." Why? Why? Because thou hearkenest not unto the voice of the Lord thy God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee, watch, and they shall be upon thee for a sign and a wonder and upon thy seat forever. Here it is, because thou servest not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things. Therefore thou shalt serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in one of all things, and he shall put a yoke of iron upon my neck until he destroyed thee." What did he say? Because you did not serve God with joyfulness and gladness of heart and the abundance of all things. You did not want to rejoice in God. You wanted to rejoice in man. God says, if you don't serve me, you'll serve man. If you won't serve me with joy and gladness, you'll serve your enemies.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something, folks. God's people are servants. And we will serve one way or the other. We will either serve God or we'll serve man. The tithe of rejoicing is a means of serving God as you rejoice before Him in everything that He's given you. You're acknowledging your total dependence upon Him. And you're trusting Him. And you're thanking Him for everything that He's done for you. The tithe is spent on yourself and your family. Remembering the Levites. But it's spent basically upon you and your family. But the only thing that God says is you must learn to fear the Lord thy God. There must be an educational aspect as you worship and rejoice before Him. Let's pray.

[John Weaver] Father, speak our hearts today. Teach us It builds up in the most holy faith. May we learn to rejoice in Thee and serve Thee with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things that You have given us. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

Biblical Wealth - Part 6 of 8

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	82504145611
Subject	Covenant Theology
Course	Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: The Hallelujah of Confession
Genre	Sermon
Date	2004-08-22
Dictation Name
Book	Book 052: Biblical Wealth — Chapter 6
Source Timed Segments	76

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous weeks' teachings on biblical wealth and the first two tithes (Levitical and poor tithe), emphasizing that tithes belong to God and are essential for a Christian order.

Well, let's open our Bible today to the book of Malachi chapter three, although we're not going to be staying there. I have been using this passage for the last several weeks, and I think you'll understand why in just a moment. Malachi chapter three, beginning there with verse seven. Malachi three, verse seven:

Scripture Reading — Malachi 3:7-12

"Even from the days of your fathers, you're going away from mine ordinances and have not kept them." "Return to me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But you said, 'Wherein shall we return?' Will a man rob God, yet you have robbed me? But you say, 'Wherein have we robbed thee?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts."

"If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts." Now, if you would go ahead and turn in your Bibles to the book of Exodus and the book of Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 14 and Exodus chapter 34, and that way you'll be ready to start with me in just a few moments. Now, you will remember that the last five weeks or so I've been preaching on the doctrine of biblical wealth, and in the last several weeks, biblical wealth and the theology of the tithes. Remember, if you would please, I've covered the source and sovereignty of wealth from Deuteronomy chapter 8, the sovereignty of God and the subjects of wealth, not only from Deuteronomy 8, but 1 Samuel chapter 2. I've showed you the purpose of wealth from Deuteronomy 8, that it might fulfill the covenant of God. And then, of course, I showed you the importance of the tithes.

And I demonstrated the fact from Scripture, and I'm going to do that again today, that whenever you deny God's tithes, it's in order that the state or man in some form or fashion may usurp the jurisdiction that belongs to God alone. And then last week I dealt with the Levitical and poor tithe. The Levitical tithe was a 10% tithe which went for the teaching ministry, basically speaking. The poor tithe was once every three years, which also was 10%, but it would average out about three and a third percent per year.

Now remember, if you would please, the passage that I quoted from the book of Leviticus chapter 27 and verse 30, where God says specifically the tithes are His. They don't belong to the church. They don't belong to man. They belong to God. Since the tithes belong to God, God then has the absolute sovereign right to tell us how those tithes are to be used. It's important for you and I to understand that without the tithes, statism usurps and replaces the kingdom of God with the kingdom of man. I pointed out that there can be absolutely no restoration of a Christian order apart from the tithes, simply because everything requires money. That is how God has certainly ordained for His kingdom to be extended.

The Tithe of Rejoicing Introduced

Weaver introduces the third tithe, the tithe of rejoicing, citing Exodus 34:22-24 and Deuteronomy 14:22-26, which command Israel to appear before God three times a year and not empty-handed.

Now, we dealt with the Levitical tithe and the poor tithe last week. Today I'm going to come to the third tithe in Scripture, and it is the tithe of rejoicing. So look first in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Exodus chapter 34. We're going to see this same truth momentarily in the book of Deuteronomy. But look in Exodus chapter 34, beginning there with verse 22. Exodus 34 and verse 22. Look what God says. Exodus 34 verse 22: "And thou shalt observe the Feast of Weeks, and the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. Thrice, or three times in the year, shall all your men children appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel." Note, if you would, three times a year they're going to appear before the God of Israel.

Verse 24: "For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders. Neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God, thrice in the year." Now, if you look in Deuteronomy chapter 14, and I want you to hold this passage because we're going to be coming back to this passage momentarily. Deuteronomy 14, notice if you would please, beginning there with verse 22. Deuteronomy 14 verse 22: "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thine wine, and thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, then thou shalt turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose."

"And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth. And thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thine household. And the Levite that is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him, for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee." Now, the tithe of rejoicing is also known as the festival tithe. One of the most misunderstood and misused tithes is the tithe of rejoicing. God demanded that three times a year all the males had to appear before Him, and when they appeared, they were not to appear empty-handed. Look in Deuteronomy 16, if you would, verses 16 and 17. God will give you the same truth that He gave you in the book of Exodus 34, but now He's adding something to it. Notice Deuteronomy 16, verse 16: "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which He shall choose."

And of course, we know that it was Jerusalem. "In the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in the Feast of Weeks, in the Feast of Tabernacles, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty. Every man shall give as he is able according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given unto him." Now, I want you to note, not only in Exodus 34, but in Deuteronomy chapter 16, all the men were required to attend these feasts at Jerusalem.

Joy in the Old Testament

Weaver demonstrates that joy was a predominant theme in the Old Testament, citing Nehemiah 8:10 and the frequent use of 'rejoice' in Deuteronomy, countering the notion that the law was joyless.

Now, let me set the stage for what I'm about to teach today by demonstrating for you a truth that most people have never comprehended. And that is this, that even in the Old Testament, under the law, there was to be joy. Now we understand that we only have the fullness of joy in Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is the fullness of the manifestation of God. Jesus Christ is God. And in him is fullness of joy. But what we have not comprehended is this, that even in the Old Testament, one of the predominating truths was the truth of joy. In fact, one of the greatest verses we get concerning joy comes from the Old Testament.

Nehemiah 8 and verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Nehemiah 8:10

"For the joy of the Lord is your strength."

And of course, that comes from Nehemiah 8 and verse 10. The word joy occurs 102 times in 95 verses in the Old Testament. The word rejoice occurs 147 times in 142 verses in the Old Testament. Then when you get to the book of Deuteronomy, which is the book of the law, you find the word rejoice occurs 13 times. So there is an emphasis then, even in the Old Testament, on joy and rejoicing. Please do not think that somehow, that under the law or in the Old Testament, life was to be dead, dull, lifeless, and joyless. No. Joy was to be a predominating factor even in the Old Testament. Now I want you to understand that with the feast of rejoicing, or the tithe of rejoicing, and this festival tithe, rejoicing was to be a predominating truth. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 12.

I'm just going to emphasize certain things very quickly. Deuteronomy chapter 12. And notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 7. Instead of me reading the entire passage, I'm just going to point these verses out to you. Deuteronomy 12, verse 7:

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand unto, you and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee."

Now I want you to note, "and you shall rejoice," look what he says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"in all that you put your hand unto."

Now watch this next phrase,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"you and your households, where the Lord thy God hath blessed thee."

So it's not just an individual, it is the entire house. Look in verse 12. Skip down.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gate, forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you."

Note, the whole family is to rejoice.

Rejoicing as a Command

Weaver reads multiple passages from Deuteronomy 12, 14, 16, 26, and 27 that command rejoicing before the Lord with one's household, emphasizing the family aspect.

Nehemiah 8 and verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Nehemiah 8:10

"For the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand unto, you and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee."

Now I want you to note, "and you shall rejoice," look what he says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"in all that you put your hand unto."

Now watch this next phrase,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"you and your households, where the Lord thy God hath blessed thee."

So it's not just an individual, it is the entire house. Look in verse 12. Skip down.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gate, forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you."

Note, the whole family is to rejoice. Now look in verse 18:

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto."

Isn't it interesting how he's emphasizing rejoicing? Look in Deuteronomy 14 and verse 26. Now we're talking about the tithe of rejoicing. So Deuteronomy 14 verse 26, he says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth. And thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household."

Look in chapter 16 and verse 11.

It's amazing how often God repeats the same truth.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 14:26

"And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there."

Skip down to verse 14:

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 14:26

"And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose, because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands. Therefore thou shalt surely rejoice."

Now look in Deuteronomy 26 and verse 11. Deuteronomy 26 and verse 11. Once again, God says it like this:

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 14:26

"Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 26:11

"Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing."

And then Deuteronomy 27 and verse 7:

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 26:11

"And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the Lord thy God."

Why We Are Commanded to Rejoice

Weaver explains that rejoicing acknowledges our creaturehood and dependence on God, and that joy is found in obedience, not in seeking a simple life free from problems.

Now, before I explain the tithe of rejoicing or the festival tithe, allow me to ask you a question. I want you to think about this. Why are we commanded to rejoice? Why are we commanded to be joyous? Now, there are several answers to that question, but I want to just kind of summarize an answer for you today. First and foremost, we are to recognize our creaturehood. It is God who has made us.

According to Psalm 100, we are the sheep of His pasture, we are His handiwork, He is the Creator, and we are the creatures. In recognizing the fact that we are the creatures that God has made us, we must understand then that God has made us for His pleasure, for His honor, and for His glory. God has done what He has done for our good and His glory, and God does not make any mistakes. What does that mean? That means, therefore, we are obligated to rejoice before him as his creatures. Now listen carefully. We are not autonomous, that is, independent, nor can we ever be. We do not endeavor to become little gods or to become our own god and thus try to be independent from him. Rather what we do, we rejoice in the fact that we're absolutely, totally dependent upon Him. Now I'm talking about the fact that we're recognizing our creaturehood. What do we do when we fail to recognize our creaturehood? Well, when we endeavor to overextend ourselves and go beyond our own limitations, we are denying our creaturehood and playing God.

Let me ask you to turn in your Bible to Psalm 103. I want to show you two of the most consoling verses, two of the most comforting verses in the entire Bible. Please do not lose your train of thought, because I'm dealing with the fact that we are God's creatures. And therefore, since we are creatures, we have limitations. We are not God, we never will be God, we are his creatures. Psalm 103, notice if you would please verse 13.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 103:13-14

"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are but dust."

Now notice what the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 103:13-14

"like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him, for He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are but dust."

Now when the Bible says He knows our frame, what does that mean? It means He knows what we can do and what we cannot do. He knows what we can take and what we cannot take.

God remembers that we are creatures. He remembers that we are dust. It is we who many times forget that we're dust. And what do we do? We push and push and push and overextend ourselves until we become exhausted, exasperated, and miserable. And there's no joy nor rejoicing in our lives. We have forgotten the first and the most basic catechetical question. Here's the first and most basic catechetical question.

What is the chief duty of man? And the answer is to glorify God. And what? And to enjoy Him forever. What is our most basic duty? To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Now listen, it is not a sin to be tired. I get tired. Do you realize our Lord was tired? That's what the Bible says in John 4. That's why He sat on the well and rested. It is not a sin to be tired, but it is a sin to overextend ourselves to the point that we exhaust the very marrow from our bones so that our family, our friends, our life, and even the ministry becomes drudgery instead of joy. You see, once you understand that we're creatures, that we have limitations, that there is a certain place that we can go and no further, then you're going to become or be coming to the point where you realize that God alone is God.

Let me show you another illustration of the fact that we oftentimes deny our creaturehood in the fact that most of us long for what you and I would call the simple life. I mean, we often look back to our childhood and or the good old days when life was simpler. I've often told people, young people do not realize how stupid they really are until they get grown. I remember when I was a teenager I just could not wait to get away from home. Just could not wait to get out from the orders my father and my mother would give me.

So what did I do? I joined the army. Now everybody tells me what to do. They tell me when to get up. They tell me when to go to bed. They tell me what I can eat, what I can't eat. I'm going to spend every hour of my day... You know, when you get grown, you think, what a fool I was to want to get away from home. I mean, my father bought all my food. He bought all my clothes. I mean, he paid every bill I had. It was his car. It was his gas. It was his tires. It was his insurance. All I did was make money and then spend his. And you know, we think back, boy, those were the good old days. Our oldest granddaughter, who is now 16, when she was 4 or 5, she looked at Alice and said, "Granny, what was it like in the old days?" You know, just like she would know. And our youngest granddaughter, just a year ago, and she's only 10, she came to Alice and she said, "Granny, I just bought the prettiest old-timey pattern that you've ever seen."

Well, you know, she kind of likes the Confederate dress and, you know, Alice is thinking 1800s. And guess what? When Alice sees the pattern, it's a pattern made in the 1980s. An old-timey pattern, you know. Well, that ought to tell you something about my wife. She's just old-timey, that's all, you know. You know, we long for the simple life. Let me tell you something, folks. Life has never been simple.

I don't care what age you're talking about. Life has never been simple. Even in the old days, there were problems. It was just a different set of problems than the ones that we experience on a daily basis. Are you listening? We will never, ever have a simple life. You know why? The desire for simplicity is the desire to be God. Only God is the most simple being. Only God has no problems. You see, all of us are faced with a multitude of problems. Joy is not to be found in simplicity. But joy is to be found in obedience. Joy is not to be found in simplicity. Joy is to be found in obedience.

I can quote this verse, but I want you to turn in your Bibles. Hold the book of Deuteronomy. Turn in your Bibles to the book of James, if you would. Look in James 1. James 1. After the book of Hebrews, the little book of James. James 1. I want you to see what James writes to the brethren. Remember what I told you. I told you that joy is not found in simplicity, but joy is found in obedience. So in James chapter one, verse two, James writes, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations," that is, multicolored or various temptations. That's not temptations to do evil. The word temptations here means testings or trials. So he says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into different trials and different testings." Why?

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." Now, notice he does not say, endeavor to live a simple life with no problems. No, he says you just count it all joy because you can be just as obedient in testing and trials as you can be when there are no testing and trials. In fact, if you don't turn back there, but in Romans chapter five, the Bible tells us that we exult, that is, we jump up and down in our trials and our tribulations. Why? Because we know that those trials and tribulations, as long as we're obedient, are going to produce patience and patience ultimately is going to produce hope in our lives.

Principles of the Tithe of Rejoicing

Weaver outlines principles from Deuteronomy 12 and 14: the tithe could not be eaten at home, it was for rejoicing, it could be converted to money for convenience, and it must teach the fear of the Lord.

Now, the equivalent to those feasts today would be a type of celebration that you and I would have with our entire family. Now, if you haven't figured it out, I'm going to put it to you very bluntly. The tithe of rejoicing is 10%. Just like the Levitical tithe. Just like the poor tithe, however, the poor tithe was collected only once every three years. But this tithe of rejoicing is also ten percent, but it is spent on you and your family. Now, in the Old Testament, the tithe would be spent in Jerusalem at the seven annual feasts. Why was it to be spent only at Jerusalem in the Old Testament? The answer is simple. Because in Jerusalem was where the tabernacle was located and later on the temple. Why was the tabernacle and the temple located there?

Because that is the place that God has chosen. What is the significance then of the tabernacle and the temple? It was the throne room of God where God ruled among his people. Now in Jesus Christ, we do not necessarily have to go to Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God, ruling and reigning. Therefore, we may rejoice before him in any place. So the tithe of rejoicing then teaches us that we're to rejoice in Jesus Christ with the full consciousness of our redemption. We must rejoice before Him, realizing that salvation is His work, and His work alone. It is not ours.

Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 12, and let me begin showing you certain principles relating to this festival tithe, or this tithe of rejoicing. Notice if you would, Deuteronomy chapter 12, and let's begin reading there with verse 11. Deuteronomy 12 verse 11:

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:11-12, 17-18

"Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there,"

which was Jerusalem.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:11-12, 17-18

"Then shall you bring all that I command you, your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vowed to the Lord. And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters and your menservants and your maidservants and the Levite that is within your gates, forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you. Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest, but in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there shalt thou offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee. Notwithstanding, thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which is given thee, the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as the roebuck, and as the hart, etc. Now skip down, if you would please, to verse 17: 'Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or of the firstlings of thy herd, or of thy flock, nor of any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor of thy freewill offerings, nor of any of thy offerings of thine hand.'"

In other words, God says you can eat certain things in your own home. He's talking about the tithe of rejoicing. "But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose. Thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thy hands unto. Take heed to thyself, and forsake not the Levite, as long as thou livest upon the earth."

Now, let me just point out that in this passage there are several very general principles concerning the tithe of rejoicing. First of all, the tithe of rejoicing could not be partaken of at home. That's what he said in verse 17: "Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, of thine wine, and thine oil, the firstlings of thy herds." In other words, during this tithe, you could not stay home and just spend this money on yourself. No. You had to be gone somewhere. Now, the second general principle is found in verse 18, and that is, the purpose of this tithe was one of rejoicing. "But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thy hands unto." In other words, it had to be a stated season of rejoicing. So now God has given us two general directives. Number one, this time could not be spent at home. Number two, it had to do with rejoicing.

Now, if you look in Deuteronomy chapter 14, you get a little more specifics given to you. Notice Deuteronomy chapter 14, beginning there with verse 22. We read this passage earlier. "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, and thine wine, and thine oil, the firstlings of thy herds, and thy flocks, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always." Now, so we know the place that he chose was Jerusalem. Now, it would be easy for those people who lived in Jerusalem, or for those people who lived in the surrounding area, to take their sheep, their oxen, their wine, whatever they wanted to take.

But what if someone lived in the tribe of Dan, in the territory of Dan, or way down south in the city of Beersheba? That's a long way. So what does God say? Watch first of all in verse 23, or verse 24: "And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose, to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, then thou shalt turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and thou shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose." So, instead of getting aggravated and frustrated and miserable trying to drive cattle and sheep and goats for a long journey, God says, just sell them, turn it into money.

Make it easy on yourself because it is to be a time of rejoicing. Now, so we may rejoice before the Lord. We may turn it into money. By the way, let me go back to verse 23. Because I want to emphasize this. Why does God want us to spend this tithe upon ourselves and our families? Here's why. Verse 23: "And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thine wine, and thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks." Why? "That thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always." I want you to understand one thing, and I'm going to emphasize this several times before I close today. The purpose of this tithe of rejoicing is not only so that we can have a good time, but so that we can learn to fear the Lord our God. In other words, it must make us more holy and more knowledgeable.

There has to be an educational aspect of this tithe. Now, verses 24 and 25 tells us we can turn it into money. Now watch verse 25: "Thou shalt turn it into money and bind up the money in thine hand, and thou shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose." Well, once you've got your money in your hand and you're there, what can you do with that money? Look in verse 26: "And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, or desireth, for oxen, for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth, and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household." Now God says you can spend the money on whatever you want. If you want a good steak, wonderful. If you want mutton, have at it. He said, if you want a glass of wine, you may have that. If you want a glass of strong drink, have that. Now, immediately when this verse is read, someone objects and say, well, wine is not wine.

Strong drink is not strong drink. Yes, it is. The next thing people come across when they read this verse, they say, well, if it means wine, if it means strong drink, does that mean I can get drunk? And what's the answer to that? The answer is absolutely not. Why? Drunkenness is a sin. What did he say? "That you may learn to fear the Lord thy God." Would you commit such a sin in the presence of God? By the way, skip down to verse 26. He says the latter part, "And whatsoever thy soul desireth, thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God. Thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God. Thou and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thine household." Would you get drunk in the presence of the Lord thy God? And the answer is no. Would you get drunk before your children? I would hope the answer would be no. Would you teach your children to be drunkards? I would hope the answer would be no. Drunkenness is a sin. It is forbidden.

Proper Use and Decapitalization

Weaver discusses the permissible use of wine and strong drink without drunkenness, and explains that the tithe decapitalizes the believer, fostering dependence on God and preventing pride in works.

God says if you exercise this tithe, it must be where you can learn to fear me. How in the world can you learn to fear God by disobeying God? The answer is you can't. Anyone who has a desire to be drunk has a real spiritual problem.

Now, it is not my intent today to deal with the subject of alcohol, but I'll tell you this. If you will be honest with the Scripture, you will find in the Bible there is a commendation of alcohol and there is a condemnation of alcohol. Both are in the scripture. When it is properly used, there is no sin involved. When it is misused and abused, there is sin, wickedness, and rebellion. And the very fact that anyone would misuse and abuse alcohol indicates that his lusts, desires, and sins have never been conquered by the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the same could be said of any inordinate desire. But what God is saying is this, this is a time of rejoicing. It's a time where you're learning. It's a time where you're having a good time. It is when you are having fun as a family. You're spending this money on yourself that you may learn to fear the Lord your God.

Now, the principle that lies beneath this tithe is decapitalization. Now I want you to listen to me very closely. You are decapitalizing yourself by 10%. Because you're spending this money on yourself, on your family, and on the Levite. For this very reason, most people do not like this tithe. Why? Because it decapitalizes. I want to tell you what this tithe of rejoicing does. It takes the wind out of our sails.

You say, what in the world are you talking about? Well, all of us have sacrificed in times past, some more than others, in the service of the Lord. And while we do not boast of that sacrifice, and we certainly would never do that, at least we're comfortable with the knowledge in ourselves that we have gone the extra mile a number of times. And even when you look around in our homes, we try to supply our families whatever they need, whether it's a new refrigerator, whether it's a new stove or new bedroom suit. And you know, we can kind of take a little pride or a little boastfulness in the fact that, well, I've taken care of my family. You see, when we're faithful in giving and sacrificing, we're comfortable with the fact that, yeah, we've done that. And yes, we're taking care of our family.

However, when you come to the tithe of rejoicing and you are decapitalizing yourself by 10%, it makes it so that we can't rejoice in our works. How in the world can we boastfully say to God, "Look, God, aren't I wonderful? I just blew several thousand dollars on myself." You see what I'm saying? It kind of takes the wind out of your sails, because you've just spent that money on yourself and on your family, and you can't just stand up and say, "Oh Lord, look what I've just sacrificed and done for you." No, no, no, no. You've done this for yourself and for your family. It may have been in obedience to God, but the money was spent on yourself. You see, here's the principle of decapitalization. Let me just show you. This tithe makes us totally dependent upon God.

And it also demonstrates our dependence upon Him and our trust in Him. How can I say that? Because faith is required to decapitalize ourselves. And in doing so, in obedience to Him, we believe and trust Him that He will recapitalize us. Don't you remember the passage I began with in Deuteronomy 8 and verse 18?

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 8:18

"For it is the Lord thy God who giveth thee power to get wealth."

You see, the obedience to this tithe is a demonstration of our total dependence upon him. We realize our needs. But then we understand that God realizes our needs as well. Thus, in obedience to him, we trust him to supply those needs even while we are decapitalizing ourselves at his command.

God's Tithe vs. Man's Tithe

Weaver argues that denying God's tithe of rejoicing leads to reliance on state-provided recreation, and that all people hold to some form of a tithe of rejoicing, either God's or man's.

Now, before I try to tie this together, let me deal with one objection. Some of you are going to say, "Well, Brother Weaver, I've just never heard of this tithe before. I've certainly never observed it. I've just never even heard of it. It just seems so strange." Well, the answer is very simple. Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean it's not true. It doesn't mean it's not real. That's why Ephesians 4 tells us that he gave some pastor-teachers alive so that they can be teachers and instruct the people in what God would have to say. Now, let me illustrate this very succinctly. We will either celebrate God's tithe of rejoicing, or we will celebrate man's tithe of rejoicing. When we deny God's tithe of rejoicing, it is only that we may establish the state's tithe of rejoicing.

Have you ever thought about why we have state holidays, state parks, state recreational centers, state playgrounds, state hunting and management services, state programs, state services? I don't know about you, but I've heard people say, "Isn't it wonderful? The state has provided all this for us." You see what I'm saying, folks? When you deny God's tithe of rejoicing, it's only that you may establish man's tithe of rejoicing. All people hold to a tithe of rejoicing, believers and non-believers. All believe in a tithe of rejoicing. The difference is whose tithe of rejoicing do we believe in and hold to? Do we believe and hold to God's tithe of rejoicing or man's? If we obey God in His path of rejoicing, He receives the honor and the glory.

Consequences of Not Rejoicing in God

Weaver closes with Deuteronomy 28:45-48, warning that failure to serve God with joyfulness results in serving enemies, and calls for obedience and gladness.

"Moreover, all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed." Why? Why? "Because thou hearkenest not unto the voice of the Lord thy God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee," watch, "and they shall be upon thee for a sign and a wonder and upon thy seed forever." Here it is, "Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things. Therefore thou shalt serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things, and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck until he have destroyed thee." What did he say? Because you did not serve God with joyfulness and gladness of heart in the abundance of all things. You did not want to rejoice in God. You wanted to rejoice in man. God says, if you don't serve me, you'll serve man. If you won't serve me with joy and gladness, you'll serve your enemies.

Let me tell you something, folks. God's people are servants. And we will serve one way or the other. We will either serve God or we'll serve man. The tithe of rejoicing is a means of serving God as you rejoice before Him in everything that He's given you. You're acknowledging your total dependence upon Him. And you're trusting Him. And you're thanking Him for everything that He's done for you. The tithe is spent on yourself and your family. Remembering the Levites. But it's spent basically upon you and your family. But the only thing that God says is you must learn to fear the Lord thy God. There must be an educational aspect as you worship and rejoice before Him. Let's pray.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Tithe of Rejoicing as a Biblical Mandate

Summary: God commanded a third tithe, 10% spent on oneself and family during feasts, to learn to fear Him.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 14:22-26: 'Thou shalt truly tithe... thou shalt eat before the Lord... that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.'

Joy and Rejoicing in the Old Testament

Summary: Joy was a predominant theme in the Old Testament, not just the New, with many commands to rejoice.

Evidence: Nehemiah 8:10: 'the joy of the Lord is your strength'; 'rejoice' occurs 13 times in Deuteronomy.

Creaturehood and Dependence on God

Summary: Rejoicing acknowledges our limitations as creatures and our total dependence on God, not seeking autonomy.

Evidence: Psalm 103:13-14: 'he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.'

Joy in Obedience, Not Simplicity

Summary: True joy comes from obedience to God in trials, not from a problem-free life; the desire for simplicity is a desire to be God.

Evidence: James 1:2-4: 'count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations'; Romans 5:3-5.

Decapitalization and Trust in God

Summary: The tithe of rejoicing decapitalizes the believer, preventing pride and demonstrating faith that God will recapitalize.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 8:18: 'it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth'; the tithe takes 'the wind out of our sails.'

God's Tithe vs. Man's Tithe (Statism)

Summary: Denying God's tithe of rejoicing leads to reliance on state-provided recreation, usurping God's jurisdiction.

Evidence: State holidays, parks, etc., are man's tithe; 'all people hold to a tithe of rejoicing.'

Serving God with Gladness

Summary: Failure to serve God with joyfulness results in serving enemies; believers must rejoice in God's abundance.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 28:47-48: 'Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness... therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies.'

Key Arguments

The tithe of rejoicing is a distinct, commanded tithe of 10%.

Summary: Scripture commands a third tithe beyond the Levitical and poor tithes, to be spent on rejoicing before God.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 14:22-26 and Exodus 34:22-24 command appearing before God three times a year and tithing for rejoicing.

Rejoicing is a duty rooted in creaturehood.

Summary: We must rejoice because we are creatures dependent on God; failing to do so denies our limitations.

Evidence: Psalm 100:3; Psalm 103:13-14; 'the desire for simplicity is the desire to be God.'

Joy is found in obedience, not in the absence of problems.

Summary: Trials and testings are opportunities for joy through obedience, not obstacles to a simple life.

Evidence: James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5; 'Joy is not to be found in simplicity. But joy is to be found in obedience.'

The tithe of rejoicing must include an educational aspect to learn the fear of God.

Summary: The purpose of the tithe is to learn to fear the Lord; it cannot violate other commands like drunkenness.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 14:23: 'that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always'; 'there must be an educational aspect.'

The tithe decapitalizes the believer, fostering dependence on God.

Summary: Spending 10% on oneself prevents boasting in works and requires faith that God will provide.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 8:18; 'it takes the wind out of our sails... faith is required to decapitalize ourselves.'

Denying God's tithe of rejoicing leads to statism.

Summary: When God's tithe is rejected, man establishes state-provided recreation, giving glory to man instead of God.

Evidence: State holidays, parks, etc.; 'we will either celebrate God's tithe of rejoicing, or we will celebrate man's tithe of rejoicing.'

Serving God without joy brings judgment.

Summary: Deuteronomy 28 warns that failing to serve God with gladness results in serving enemies in want.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 28:47-48: 'Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness... therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies.'

Scripture References

Malachi 3:7-12

Context: Weaver opens with this passage on tithes and offerings, setting the theme of robbing God and the blessing of tithing.

Exodus 34:22-24

Context: Command for all males to appear before God three times a year, foundational for the tithe of rejoicing.

Deuteronomy 14:22-26

Context: Primary passage on the tithe of rejoicing: tithing increase, eating before the Lord, converting to money, and rejoicing.

Deuteronomy 16:16-17

Context: Reinforces appearing before God three times a year and not empty-handed, giving as able.

Nehemiah 8:10

Context: The joy of the Lord is your strength, cited to show joy in the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

Context: Commands to rejoice before the Lord with household, including servants and Levites.

Deuteronomy 14:26

Context: Rejoicing with household as part of the tithe of rejoicing.

Deuteronomy 16:11, 14-15

Context: Commands to rejoice in feasts with family, servants, Levites, strangers, fatherless, and widows.

Deuteronomy 26:11

Context: Rejoice in every good thing given by God, with Levite and stranger.

Deuteronomy 27:7

Context: Offer peace offerings and rejoice before the Lord.

Psalm 100:3

Context: We are the sheep of His pasture, His handiwork, cited to emphasize creaturehood.

Psalm 103:13-14

Context: God pities us as a father, knowing our frame and that we are dust, illustrating our limitations.

James 1:2-4

Context: Count it all joy in trials, because testing produces patience; joy in obedience.

Romans 5:3-5

Context: We exult in tribulations, knowing they produce patience and hope; referenced in passing.

Deuteronomy 12:11-12, 17-18

Context: Tithe of rejoicing not to be eaten at home, but before the Lord with household and Levite.

Deuteronomy 14:22-26

Context: Detailed instructions on tithing, converting to money, and spending on whatever desired, with rejoicing.

Deuteronomy 8:18

Context: God gives power to get wealth, cited to show God recapitalizes after decapitalization.

Ephesians 4:11

Context: God gave pastor-teachers to instruct people, referenced to justify teaching on this tithe.

Deuteronomy 28:45-48

Context: Curses for not serving God with joyfulness; serving enemies instead.

Historical References

R.A. Torrey and Homer Hammontree

Context: Illustration of Torrey's faithfulness and rest in obedience regardless of visible results, emphasizing joy in obedience.

Important Quotes

The desire for simplicity is the desire to be God.

Significance: Encapsulates the argument that seeking a problem-free life denies creaturehood and God's sovereignty.

Joy is not to be found in simplicity. But joy is to be found in obedience.

Significance: Central thesis that true joy comes from obeying God, not from circumstances.

We will either celebrate God's tithe of rejoicing, or we will celebrate man's tithe of rejoicing.

Significance: Highlights the antithesis between God's provision for rejoicing and state-provided recreation.

Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things. Therefore thou shalt serve thine enemies.

Significance: Key warning from Deuteronomy 28 that failure to rejoice in God leads to bondage.

The tithe of rejoicing is a means of serving God as you rejoice before Him in everything that He's given you.

Significance: Summarizes the purpose of the tithe as an act of worship and acknowledgment of God's provision.

Discussion Questions

How does the tithe of rejoicing differ from the Levitical and poor tithes in its purpose and use?

Context: Weaver distinguishes the three tithes, with the rejoicing tithe being spent on oneself and family.

In what ways do we deny our creaturehood by seeking a 'simple life'?

Context: Weaver argues that longing for simplicity is a desire to be God, free from problems.

How can we find joy in trials and testings according to James 1?

Context: Weaver cites James 1:2-4 to show that joy comes from obedience in trials, not absence of trials.

What does it mean to 'learn to fear the Lord' through the tithe of rejoicing?

Context: Deuteronomy 14:23 states the purpose of the tithe is to learn to fear God; Weaver emphasizes an educational aspect.

How does the tithe of rejoicing decapitalize us, and why is that important?

Context: Weaver explains that spending 10% on ourselves prevents pride and demonstrates trust in God's provision.

What are modern examples of 'man's tithe of rejoicing'?

Context: Weaver points to state holidays, parks, and recreational services as substitutes for God's tithe.

How does Deuteronomy 28:47-48 apply to our service to God today?

Context: Weaver warns that failing to serve God with gladness leads to serving enemies, a principle for believers.

Applications

Practice the tithe of rejoicing as a family

Summary: Set aside 10% of income for a family vacation or activity that includes worship and learning to fear God.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 14:22-26 commands tithing and rejoicing with household; 'it is to be a time of rejoicing... that you may learn to fear the Lord.'

Find joy in obedience, not in problem-free living

Summary: When facing trials, count it joy by focusing on obedience and trusting God's purpose, rather than seeking escape.

Evidence: James 1:2-4; 'Joy is not to be found in simplicity. But joy is to be found in obedience.'

Acknowledge creaturehood and rest in God's care

Summary: Recognize personal limitations and avoid overextending to the point of exhaustion; trust God's knowledge of our frame.

Evidence: Psalm 103:13-14; 'He knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are but dust.'

Ensure recreational activities include a spiritual educational component

Summary: When spending on leisure, incorporate elements that teach the fear of the Lord, such as Bible study or creation appreciation.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 14:23: 'that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always'; 'there must be an educational aspect.'

Trust God to provide as you obey the tithe of rejoicing

Summary: Decapitalize by spending on rejoicing in faith, believing God will recapitalize according to His promise.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 8:18; 'faith is required to decapitalize ourselves... we trust him to supply those needs.'

Serve God with gladness in all abundance

Summary: Cultivate a joyful heart in service, thanking God for His provision, to avoid the curse of serving enemies.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 28:47-48; 'serve the Lord with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T17:45:18Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T09:05:08Z

Clean Transcript

Biblical Wealth - Part 6 of 8

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Well, let's open our Bible today to the book of Malachi chapter three, although we're not going to be staying there. I have been using this passage for the last several weeks, and I think you'll understand why in just a moment. Malachi chapter three, beginning there with verse seven. Malachi three, verse seven: "Even from the days of your fathers, you're going away from mine ordinances and have not kept them."
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"Return to me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But you said, 'Wherein shall we return?' Will a man rob God, yet you have robbed me? But you say, 'Wherein have we robbed thee?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts."
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"If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts."
#3 | 0:52 to 1:12 | cleaned
Now, if you would go ahead and turn in your Bibles to the book of Exodus and the book of Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 14 and Exodus chapter 34, and that way you'll be ready to start with me in just a few moments. Now, you will remember that the last five weeks or so I've been preaching on the doctrine of biblical wealth, and in the last several weeks, biblical wealth and the theology of the tithes. Remember, if you would please, I've covered the source and sovereignty of wealth from Deuteronomy chapter 8, the sovereignty of God and the subjects of wealth, not only from Deuteronomy 8, but 1 Samuel chapter 2. I've showed you the purpose of wealth from Deuteronomy 8, that it might fulfill the covenant of God. And then, of course, I showed you the importance of the tithes.
#4 | 1:13 to 2:06 | cleaned
And I demonstrated the fact from Scripture, and I'm going to do that again today, that whenever you deny God's tithes, it's in order that the state or man in some form or fashion may usurp the jurisdiction that belongs to God alone. And then last week I dealt with the Levitical and poor tithe. The Levitical tithe was a 10% tithe which went for the teaching ministry, basically speaking. The poor tithe was once every three years, which also was 10%, but it would average out about three and a third percent per year.
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Now remember, if you would please, the passage that I quoted from the book of Leviticus chapter 27 and verse 30, where God says specifically the tithes are His. They don't belong to the church. They don't belong to man. They belong to God. Since the tithes belong to God, God then has the absolute sovereign right to tell us how those tithes are to be used. It's important for you and I to understand that without the tithes, statism usurps and replaces the kingdom of God with the kingdom of man. I pointed out that there can be absolutely no restoration of a Christian order apart from the tithes, simply because everything requires money. That is how God has certainly ordained for His kingdom to be extended.
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Now, we dealt with the Levitical tithe and the poor tithe last week. Today I'm going to come to the third tithe in Scripture, and it is the tithe of rejoicing. So look first in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Exodus chapter 34. We're going to see this same truth momentarily in the book of Deuteronomy. But look in Exodus chapter 34, beginning there with verse 22. Exodus 34 and verse 22. Look what God says. Exodus 34 verse 22: "And thou shalt observe the Feast of Weeks, and the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. Thrice, or three times in the year, shall all your men children appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel." Note, if you would, three times a year they're going to appear before the God of Israel.
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Verse 24: "For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders. Neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God, thrice in the year."
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Now, if you look in Deuteronomy chapter 14, and I want you to hold this passage because we're going to be coming back to this passage momentarily. Deuteronomy 14, notice if you would please, beginning there with verse 22. Deuteronomy 14 verse 22: "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thine wine, and thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, then thou shalt turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose."
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"And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth. And thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thine household. And the Levite that is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him, for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee."
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Now, the tithe of rejoicing is also known as the festival tithe. One of the most misunderstood and misused tithes is the tithe of rejoicing. God demanded that three times a year all the males had to appear before Him, and when they appeared, they were not to appear empty-handed. Look in Deuteronomy 16, if you would, verses 16 and 17. God will give you the same truth that He gave you in the book of Exodus 34, but now He's adding something to it. Notice Deuteronomy 16, verse 16: "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which He shall choose."
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And of course, we know that it was Jerusalem. "In the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in the Feast of Weeks, in the Feast of Tabernacles, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty. Every man shall give as he is able according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given unto him." Now, I want you to note, not only in Exodus 34, but in Deuteronomy chapter 16, all the men were required to attend these feasts at Jerusalem.
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Most of the time, the wives and the children went as well. It was kind of like what you and I would call a religious family vacation. But three times a year for these feasts, they had to be there. Now, you remember, there were seven feasts. There was Passover, which was the most important of the feasts. There was the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which actually followed Passover. There's the Feast of Firstfruits. There was the Feast of Pentecost, there was the Feast of Trumpets, there was the Feast of Tabernacles, and then, of course, there was the Day of Atonement. Some of these things kind of went together, but God demanded that three times a year they appear before Him in Jerusalem, and that when they appeared, they could not appear empty-handed.
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Now, let me set the stage for what I'm about to teach today by demonstrating for you a truth that most people have never comprehended. And that is this, that even in the Old Testament, under the law, there was to be joy.
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Now we understand that we only have the fullness of joy in Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is the fullness of the manifestation of God. Jesus Christ is God. And in him is fullness of joy. But what we have not comprehended is this, that even in the Old Testament, one of the predominating truths was the truth of joy. In fact, one of the greatest verses we get concerning joy comes from the Old Testament.
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Nehemiah 8 and verse 10: "For the joy of the Lord is your strength." And of course, that comes from Nehemiah 8 and verse 10. The word joy occurs 102 times in 95 verses in the Old Testament. The word rejoice occurs 147 times in 142 verses in the Old Testament. Then when you get to the book of Deuteronomy, which is the book of the law, you find the word rejoice occurs 13 times. So there is an emphasis then, even in the Old Testament, on joy and rejoicing. Please do not think that somehow, that under the law or in the Old Testament, life was to be dead, dull, lifeless, and joyless. No. Joy was to be a predominating factor even in the Old Testament. Now I want you to understand that with the feast of rejoicing, or the tithe of rejoicing, and this festival tithe, rejoicing was to be a predominating truth. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 12.
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I'm just going to emphasize certain things very quickly. Deuteronomy chapter 12. And notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 7. Instead of me reading the entire passage, I'm just going to point these verses out to you. Deuteronomy 12, verse 7: "And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand unto, you and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee." Now I want you to note, "and you shall rejoice," look what he says, "in all that you put your hand unto." Now watch this next phrase, "you and your households, where the Lord thy God hath blessed thee." So it's not just an individual, it is the entire house. Look in verse 12. Skip down. "And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gate, forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you." Note, the whole family is to rejoice.
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Now look in verse 18: "But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto." Isn't it interesting how he's emphasizing rejoicing? Look in Deuteronomy 14 and verse 26. Now we're talking about the tithe of rejoicing. So Deuteronomy 14 verse 26, he says, "And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth. And thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household." Look in chapter 16 and verse 11.
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It's amazing how often God repeats the same truth. "And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there." Skip down to verse 14: "And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose, because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands. Therefore thou shalt surely rejoice." Now look in Deuteronomy 26 and verse 11. Deuteronomy 26 and verse 11. Once again, God says it like this: "Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you."
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"Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing." And then Deuteronomy 27 and verse 7: "And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the Lord thy God."
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Now, before I explain the tithe of rejoicing or the festival tithe, allow me to ask you a question. I want you to think about this. Why are we commanded to rejoice? Why are we commanded to be joyous? Now, there are several answers to that question, but I want to just kind of summarize an answer for you today. First and foremost, we are to recognize our creaturehood. It is God who has made us.
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According to Psalm 100, we are the sheep of His pasture, we are His handiwork, He is the Creator, and we are the creatures. In recognizing the fact that we are the creatures that God has made us, we must understand then that God has made us for His pleasure, for His honor, and for His glory. God has done what He has done for our good and His glory, and God does not make any mistakes. What does that mean?
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That means, therefore, we are obligated to rejoice before him as his creatures. Now listen carefully. We are not autonomous, that is, independent, nor can we ever be. We do not endeavor to become little gods or to become our own god and thus try to be independent from him. Rather what we do, we rejoice in the fact that we're absolutely, totally dependent upon Him. Now I'm talking about the fact that we're recognizing our creaturehood. What do we do when we fail to recognize our creaturehood? Well, when we endeavor to overextend ourselves and go beyond our own limitations, we are denying our creaturehood and playing God.
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Let me ask you to turn in your Bible to Psalm 103. I want to show you two of the most consoling verses, two of the most comforting verses in the entire Bible. Please do not lose your train of thought, because I'm dealing with the fact that we are God's creatures. And therefore, since we are creatures, we have limitations. We are not God, we never will be God, we are his creatures. Psalm 103, notice if you would please verse 13.
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"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are but dust." Now notice what the Bible says, "like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him, for He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are but dust." Now when the Bible says He knows our frame, what does that mean? It means He knows what we can do and what we cannot do. He knows what we can take and what we cannot take.
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God remembers that we are creatures. He remembers that we are dust. It is we who many times forget that we're dust. And what do we do? We push and push and push and overextend ourselves until we become exhausted, exasperated, and miserable. And there's no joy nor rejoicing in our lives. We have forgotten the first and the most basic catechetical question. Here's the first and most basic catechetical question.
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What is the chief duty of man? And the answer is to glorify God. And what? And to enjoy Him forever. What is our most basic duty? To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
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Now listen, it is not a sin to be tired. I get tired. Do you realize our Lord was tired? That's what the Bible says in John 4. That's why He sat on the well and rested. It is not a sin to be tired, but it is a sin to overextend ourselves to the point that we exhaust the very marrow from our bones so that our family, our friends, our life, and even the ministry becomes drudgery instead of joy. You see, once you understand that we're creatures, that we have limitations, that there is a certain place that we can go and no further, then you're going to become or be coming to the point where you realize that God alone is God.
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Let me show you another illustration of the fact that we oftentimes deny our creaturehood in the fact that most of us long for what you and I would call the simple life. I mean, we often look back to our childhood and or the good old days when life was simpler. I've often told people, young people do not realize how stupid they really are until they get grown. I remember when I was a teenager I just could not wait to get away from home. Just could not wait to get out from the orders my father and my mother would give me.
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So what did I do? I joined the army.
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Now everybody tells me what to do. They tell me when to get up. They tell me when to go to bed. They tell me what I can eat, what I can't eat. I'm going to spend every hour of my day... You know, when you get grown, you think, what a fool I was to want to get away from home. I mean, my father bought all my food. He bought all my clothes. I mean, he paid every bill I had. It was his car. It was his gas. It was his tires. It was his insurance. All I did was make money and then spend his. And you know, we think back, boy, those were the good old days. Our oldest granddaughter, who is now 16, when she was 4 or 5, she looked at Alice and said, "Granny, what was it like in the old days?" You know, just like she would know. And our youngest granddaughter, just a year ago, and she's only 10, she came to Alice and she said, "Granny, I just bought the prettiest old-timey pattern that you've ever seen."
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Well, you know, she kind of likes the Confederate dress and, you know, Alice is thinking 1800s. And guess what? When Alice sees the pattern, it's a pattern made in the 1980s. An old-timey pattern, you know. Well, that ought to tell you something about my wife. She's just old-timey, that's all, you know. You know, we long for the simple life. Let me tell you something, folks. Life has never been simple.
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I don't care what age you're talking about. Life has never been simple. Even in the old days, there were problems. It was just a different set of problems than the ones that we experience on a daily basis. Are you listening? We will never, ever have a simple life. You know why? The desire for simplicity is the desire to be God. Only God is the most simple being. Only God has no problems. You see, all of us are faced with a multitude of problems. Joy is not to be found in simplicity. But joy is to be found in obedience. Joy is not to be found in simplicity. Joy is to be found in obedience.
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I can quote this verse, but I want you to turn in your Bibles. Hold the book of Deuteronomy. Turn in your Bibles to the book of James, if you would. Look in James 1. James 1. After the book of Hebrews, the little book of James. James 1. I want you to see what James writes to the brethren. Remember what I told you. I told you that joy is not found in simplicity, but joy is found in obedience. So in James chapter one, verse two, James writes, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations," that is, multicolored or various temptations. That's not temptations to do evil. The word temptations here means testings or trials. So he says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into different trials and different testings." Why?
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"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
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Now, notice he does not say, endeavor to live a simple life with no problems. No, he says you just count it all joy because you can be just as obedient in testing and trials as you can be when there are no testing and trials. In fact, if you don't turn back there, but in Romans chapter five, the Bible tells us that we exult, that is, we jump up and down in our trials and our tribulations. Why? Because we know that those trials and tribulations, as long as we're obedient, are going to produce patience and patience ultimately is going to produce hope in our lives.
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Now, the desire for simplicity is the desire to be as God. What does God require of us? God requires that you and I be faithful, that we be obedient, that we do the best we can for God's honor and God's glory and do it in faith and then rest. And that way you can rejoice. Rejoicing is a principle of the law as well as the gospel. Let me give you an illustration.
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I read this years ago. R.A. Torrey was a preacher in times past and he had a song leader named Homer Hammontree, whose nickname was Ham. In fact, I just saw on sermonaudio.com where Homer Hammontree, you can hear his voice. They preserved it even from a hundred and something years back. And you can still hear his voice and him singing. But Torrey was preaching in a meeting and Homer was doing the singing. And he sang wonderfully and Torrey preached wonderfully.
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At the end of the service, nobody was converted. No one was saved. And so Torrey went to his room and Ham was sharing that room and Torrey sat down and read the paper. And Ham was walking back and forth, pacing. He said, "I don't understand it." He said, "The music was fine. The preaching was wonderful." He said, "I don't understand why nobody was converted." And Torrey looked at him and closed his papers and said, "I was faithful."
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"I did what God wanted me to do and I preached what God wanted me to preach. And I'm satisfied." Next night, same thing. Third night, same thing. Ham was pacing back and forth. On the next night, it looked like the bottom fell out and people were converted, people were convicted. And I mean, Ham was walking up and down rejoicing and shouting and Torrey was sitting there trying to read the paper. And finally, he closed the paper and he said, "Ham, sit down and shut up."
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He said, "I am no more happier tonight than I had been the previous nights. I was faithful. I did what God wanted me to do. I preached what God wanted me to preach. And in that, I rest." You see the principle? God requires obedience. And once we've been obedient, whether it's a test, or a trial, or whatever it is, we can just simply sit back and rest.
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I'm talking about the tithe of rejoicing. I want you to understand that the tithe of rejoicing was a stated annual season of rejoicing. Three times a year, all those men and their families appeared before the Lord God in Jerusalem. It is true that you and I are to rejoice always. That's what the Bible tells us. We're to rejoice always, but in the tithe of rejoicing, there was a stated annual tithe of rejoicing, and it was the time of those feasts at Jerusalem.
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Now, the equivalent to those feasts today would be a type of celebration that you and I would have with our entire family. Now, if you haven't figured it out, I'm going to put it to you very bluntly. The tithe of rejoicing is 10%. Just like the Levitical tithe. Just like the poor tithe, however, the poor tithe was collected only once every three years. But this tithe of rejoicing is also ten percent, but it is spent on you and your family. Now, in the Old Testament, the tithe would be spent in Jerusalem at the seven annual feasts. Why was it to be spent only at Jerusalem in the Old Testament? The answer is simple. Because in Jerusalem was where the tabernacle was located and later on the temple. Why was the tabernacle and the temple located there?
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Because that is the place that God has chosen. What is the significance then of the tabernacle and the temple? It was the throne room of God where God ruled among his people.
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Now in Jesus Christ, we do not necessarily have to go to Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God, ruling and reigning. Therefore, we may rejoice before him in any place. So the tithe of rejoicing then teaches us that we're to rejoice in Jesus Christ with the full consciousness of our redemption. We must rejoice before Him, realizing that salvation is His work, and His work alone. It is not ours.
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Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 12, and let me begin showing you certain principles relating to this festival tithe, or this tithe of rejoicing. Notice if you would, Deuteronomy chapter 12, and let's begin reading there with verse 11. Deuteronomy 12 verse 11: "Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there," which was Jerusalem.
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"Then shall you bring all that I command you, your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vowed to the Lord. And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters and your menservants and your maidservants and the Levite that is within your gates, forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you. Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest, but in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there shalt thou offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee. Notwithstanding, thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which is given thee, the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as the roebuck, and as the hart, etc. Now skip down, if you would please, to verse 17: 'Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or of the firstlings of thy herd, or of thy flock, nor of any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor of thy freewill offerings, nor of any of thy offerings of thine hand.'"
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In other words, God says you can eat certain things in your own home. He's talking about the tithe of rejoicing. "But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose. Thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thy hands unto. Take heed to thyself, and forsake not the Levite, as long as thou livest upon the earth."
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Now, let me just point out that in this passage there are several very general principles concerning the tithe of rejoicing. First of all, the tithe of rejoicing could not be partaken of at home. That's what he said in verse 17: "Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, of thine wine, and thine oil, the firstlings of thy herds." In other words, during this tithe, you could not stay home and just spend this money on yourself. No.
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You had to be gone somewhere. Now, the second general principle is found in verse 18, and that is, the purpose of this tithe was one of rejoicing. "But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thy hands unto." In other words, it had to be a stated season of rejoicing. So now God has given us two general directives. Number one, this time could not be spent at home. Number two, it had to do with rejoicing.
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Now, if you look in Deuteronomy chapter 14, you get a little more specifics given to you. Notice Deuteronomy chapter 14, beginning there with verse 22. We read this passage earlier. "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, and thine wine, and thine oil, the firstlings of thy herds, and thy flocks, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always." Now, so we know the place that he chose was Jerusalem. Now, it would be easy for those people who lived in Jerusalem, or for those people who lived in the surrounding area, to take their sheep, their oxen, their wine, whatever they wanted to take.
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But what if someone lived in the tribe of Dan, in the territory of Dan, or way down south in the city of Beersheba? That's a long way. So what does God say? Watch first of all in verse 23, or verse 24: "And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose, to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, then thou shalt turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and thou shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose." So, instead of getting aggravated and frustrated and miserable trying to drive cattle and sheep and goats for a long journey, God says, just sell them, turn it into money.
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Make it easy on yourself because it is to be a time of rejoicing. Now, so we may rejoice before the Lord. We may turn it into money. By the way, let me go back to verse 23. Because I want to emphasize this. Why does God want us to spend this tithe upon ourselves and our families? Here's why. Verse 23: "And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thine wine, and thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks." Why? "That thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always." I want you to understand one thing, and I'm going to emphasize this several times before I close today. The purpose of this tithe of rejoicing is not only so that we can have a good time, but so that we can learn to fear the Lord our God. In other words, it must make us more holy and more knowledgeable.
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There has to be an educational aspect of this tithe. Now, verses 24 and 25 tells us we can turn it into money. Now watch verse 25: "Thou shalt turn it into money and bind up the money in thine hand, and thou shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose." Well, once you've got your money in your hand and you're there, what can you do with that money? Look in verse 26: "And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, or desireth, for oxen, for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth, and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household." Now God says you can spend the money on whatever you want. If you want a good steak, wonderful. If you want mutton, have at it. He said, if you want a glass of wine, you may have that. If you want a glass of strong drink, have that. Now, immediately when this verse is read, someone objects and say, well, wine is not wine.
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Strong drink is not strong drink. Yes, it is. The next thing people come across when they read this verse, they say, well, if it means wine, if it means strong drink, does that mean I can get drunk? And what's the answer to that? The answer is absolutely not. Why? Drunkenness is a sin. What did he say? "That you may learn to fear the Lord thy God." Would you commit such a sin in the presence of God? By the way, skip down to verse 26. He says the latter part, "And whatsoever thy soul desireth, thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God. Thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God. Thou and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thine household." Would you get drunk in the presence of the Lord thy God? And the answer is no. Would you get drunk before your children? I would hope the answer would be no. Would you teach your children to be drunkards? I would hope the answer would be no. Drunkenness is a sin. It is forbidden.
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God says if you exercise this tithe, it must be where you can learn to fear me. How in the world can you learn to fear God by disobeying God? The answer is you can't. Anyone who has a desire to be drunk has a real spiritual problem.
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Now, it is not my intent today to deal with the subject of alcohol, but I'll tell you this. If you will be honest with the Scripture, you will find in the Bible there is a commendation of alcohol and there is a condemnation of alcohol. Both are in the scripture. When it is properly used, there is no sin involved. When it is misused and abused, there is sin, wickedness, and rebellion.
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And the very fact that anyone would misuse and abuse alcohol indicates that his lusts, desires, and sins have never been conquered by the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the same could be said of any inordinate desire. But what God is saying is this, this is a time of rejoicing. It's a time where you're learning. It's a time where you're having a good time. It is when you are having fun as a family. You're spending this money on yourself that you may learn to fear the Lord your God.
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Now, the principle that lies beneath this tithe is decapitalization. Now I want you to listen to me very closely. You are decapitalizing yourself by 10%. Because you're spending this money on yourself, on your family, and on the Levite. For this very reason, most people do not like this tithe. Why? Because it decapitalizes. I want to tell you what this tithe of rejoicing does. It takes the wind out of our sails.
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You say, what in the world are you talking about? Well, all of us have sacrificed in times past, some more than others, in the service of the Lord. And while we do not boast of that sacrifice, and we certainly would never do that, at least we're comfortable with the knowledge in ourselves that we have gone the extra mile a number of times. And even when you look around in our homes, we try to supply our families whatever they need, whether it's a new refrigerator, whether it's a new stove or new bedroom suit. And you know, we can kind of take a little pride or a little boastfulness in the fact that, well, I've taken care of my family. You see, when we're faithful in giving and sacrificing, we're comfortable with the fact that, yeah, we've done that. And yes, we're taking care of our family.
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However, when you come to the tithe of rejoicing and you are decapitalizing yourself by 10%, it makes it so that we can't rejoice in our works. How in the world can we boastfully say to God, "Look, God, aren't I wonderful? I just blew several thousand dollars on myself." You see what I'm saying? It kind of takes the wind out of your sails, because you've just spent that money on yourself and on your family, and you can't just stand up and say, "Oh Lord, look what I've just sacrificed and done for you." No, no, no, no. You've done this for yourself and for your family. It may have been in obedience to God, but the money was spent on yourself. You see, here's the principle of decapitalization. Let me just show you. This tithe makes us totally dependent upon God.
#61 | 42:19 to 43:13 | cleaned
And it also demonstrates our dependence upon Him and our trust in Him. How can I say that? Because faith is required to decapitalize ourselves. And in doing so, in obedience to Him, we believe and trust Him that He will recapitalize us. Don't you remember the passage I began with in Deuteronomy 8 and verse 18? "For it is the Lord thy God who giveth thee power to get wealth." You see, the obedience to this tithe is a demonstration of our total dependence upon him. We realize our needs. But then we understand that God realizes our needs as well. Thus, in obedience to him, we trust him to supply those needs even while we are decapitalizing ourselves at his command.
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Now, let me emphasize one truth again. It is extremely important. In fulfilling this command to rejoice, we must understand that we cannot violate or disobey any other commands.
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Now when God says, "thou shalt spend thy money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after," you've got to understand there is a good usage of the word lust in the Bible and a bad usage. In the New Testament, the word lust literally just means to set your desire upon something. Do you remember in the New Testament? Our Lord looked at his disciples and said, "With desire I have desired to eat this last supper with you." Yes, what the word desire is the word lust. Literally what he said, "With lust I have lusted after this last supper with you." Now, did our Lord sin?
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Well, the answer is no, of course not. But you see, a lust can be good or bad. It does not necessarily have to always be bad. So when our Lord says that you may spend this money in whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, what he's saying is you may spend that money rejoicing before him in whatever area you desire to, just so that you learn to fear him.
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Let me give you a couple of illustrations. If I had a hobby, I guess it would be hunting. I enjoy hunting. I don't get to do that much of it necessarily, but I do enjoy it.
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Now, I've got a friend, a Christian friend out in Idaho that wants to start a camping ministry and a hunting ministry. And what he's interested in doing is taking especially preachers out and keeping them in the woods for a week or two weeks at the time to show them God's creation, to give them time away from a phone, to give them time to study and to pray and to fellowship with each other. Now, that's certainly not a bad idea, because most preachers I know need to get away for a week or two.
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Now, you understand what I'm saying? That would be an excellent time for a time of rejoicing, or the family could go. Our family can't. Or going to a Bible conference. You see, all of us as individuals and as families have things that we enjoy more than other individuals and more than other families. If there's a ball involved, I don't like it. See, I'm not a sportsman in that sense of the word.
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There are some folks who love sports. I don't care anything about sports.
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Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. Whatever we do with the tithe of rejoicing, it is to be a time to learn to fear the Lord thy God. One of the things that Alice and I particularly enjoy is going to Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone, just to look at God's creation. I want to tell you something, folks. If you want to be insignificant, just for a moment, you get up on top of El Capitan or Half Dome, and you just kind of look down at that valley. And you look around at all those things that God has made, and it will sink you to your knees. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. Whatever you do with the tithe of rejoicing, there must be an educational aspect of that tithe.
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Now, before I try to tie this together, let me deal with one objection. Some of you are going to say, "Well, Brother Weaver, I've just never heard of this tithe before. I've certainly never observed it. I've just never even heard of it. It just seems so strange." Well, the answer is very simple. Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean it's not true. It doesn't mean it's not real. That's why Ephesians 4 tells us that he gave some pastor-teachers alive so that they can be teachers and instruct the people in what God would have to say. Now, let me illustrate this very succinctly. We will either celebrate God's tithe of rejoicing, or we will celebrate man's tithe of rejoicing. When we deny God's tithe of rejoicing, it is only that we may establish the state's tithe of rejoicing.
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Have you ever thought about why we have state holidays, state parks, state recreational centers, state playgrounds, state hunting and management services, state programs, state services? I don't know about you, but I've heard people say, "Isn't it wonderful? The state has provided all this for us." You see what I'm saying, folks? When you deny God's tithe of rejoicing, it's only that you may establish man's tithe of rejoicing. All people hold to a tithe of rejoicing, believers and non-believers. All believe in a tithe of rejoicing. The difference is whose tithe of rejoicing do we believe in and hold to? Do we believe and hold to God's tithe of rejoicing or man's? If we obey God in His path of rejoicing, He receives the honor and the glory.
#72 | 49:50 to 51:01 | cleaned
And we rejoice in His salvation and His provision. If we do not obey God, then ultimately, we rejoice in man and what man gives us. And man will get the honor and the glory. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 28 in closing. Let me show you a passage that is of paramount importance. Everyone in here knows that Israel went into captivity. Ten northern tribes, of course, went to Assyria. The two southern tribes went into Babylon. And there were many other times they were in captivity as well. But in Deuteronomy 28, you have the blessings and the curses. Now, God says, if you obey me, I'm going to bless you. If you disobey me, then I'm going to curse you. Now, I want you to know part of the curses by beginning in verse 45. I want you to notice what God says. Verse 45, Deuteronomy 28.
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"Moreover, all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed." Why? Why? "Because thou hearkenest not unto the voice of the Lord thy God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee," watch, "and they shall be upon thee for a sign and a wonder and upon thy seed forever." Here it is, "Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things. Therefore thou shalt serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things, and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck until he have destroyed thee." What did he say? Because you did not serve God with joyfulness and gladness of heart in the abundance of all things. You did not want to rejoice in God. You wanted to rejoice in man. God says, if you don't serve me, you'll serve man. If you won't serve me with joy and gladness, you'll serve your enemies.
#74 | 52:17 to 53:29 | cleaned
Let me tell you something, folks. God's people are servants. And we will serve one way or the other. We will either serve God or we'll serve man. The tithe of rejoicing is a means of serving God as you rejoice before Him in everything that He's given you. You're acknowledging your total dependence upon Him. And you're trusting Him. And you're thanking Him for everything that He's done for you. The tithe is spent on yourself and your family. Remembering the Levites. But it's spent basically upon you and your family. But the only thing that God says is you must learn to fear the Lord thy God. There must be an educational aspect as you worship and rejoice before Him. Let's pray.
#75 | 53:31 to 54:49 | cleaned
Father, speak to our hearts today. Teach us, build us up in the most holy faith. May we learn to rejoice in Thee and serve Thee with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things that You have given us. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
#76 | 54:50 to 55:09 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T17:45:18Z

Biblical Wealth - Part 6 of 8

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver teaches on the third biblical tithe, the tithe of rejoicing (festival tithe), from Exodus 34, Deuteronomy 14, and related passages. He explains that this 10% tithe was to be spent on oneself and one's family during the three annual feasts in Jerusalem, with the purpose of learning to fear the Lord. The tithe decapitalizes the believer, demonstrating dependence on God, and must include an educational aspect. Weaver contrasts God's tithe of rejoicing with man's (state) provision of recreation, arguing that denying God's tithe leads to statism. He emphasizes that joy is found in obedience, not simplicity, and that believers must serve God with gladness.

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous weeks' teachings on biblical wealth and the first two tithes (Levitical and poor tithe), emphasizing that tithes belong to God and are essential for a Christian order.

Scripture Reading — Malachi 3:7-12

"Even from the days of your fathers, you're going away from mine ordinances and have not kept them." "Return to me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But you said, 'Wherein shall we return?' Will a man rob God, yet you have robbed me? But you say, 'Wherein have we robbed thee?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts."

The Tithe of Rejoicing Introduced

Weaver introduces the third tithe, the tithe of rejoicing, citing Exodus 34:22-24 and Deuteronomy 14:22-26, which command Israel to appear before God three times a year and not empty-handed.

Joy in the Old Testament

Weaver demonstrates that joy was a predominant theme in the Old Testament, citing Nehemiah 8:10 and the frequent use of 'rejoice' in Deuteronomy, countering the notion that the law was joyless.

Nehemiah 8 and verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Nehemiah 8:10

"For the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand unto, you and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee."

Now I want you to note, "and you shall rejoice," look what he says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"in all that you put your hand unto."

Now watch this next phrase,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"you and your households, where the Lord thy God hath blessed thee."

So it's not just an individual, it is the entire house. Look in verse 12. Skip down.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gate, forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you."

Note, the whole family is to rejoice.

Rejoicing as a Command

Weaver reads multiple passages from Deuteronomy 12, 14, 16, 26, and 27 that command rejoicing before the Lord with one's household, emphasizing the family aspect.

Nehemiah 8 and verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Nehemiah 8:10

"For the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand unto, you and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee."

Now I want you to note, "and you shall rejoice," look what he says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"in all that you put your hand unto."

Now watch this next phrase,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"you and your households, where the Lord thy God hath blessed thee."

So it's not just an individual, it is the entire house. Look in verse 12. Skip down.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gate, forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you."

Note, the whole family is to rejoice. Now look in verse 18:

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto."

Isn't it interesting how he's emphasizing rejoicing? Look in Deuteronomy 14 and verse 26. Now we're talking about the tithe of rejoicing. So Deuteronomy 14 verse 26, he says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18

"And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth. And thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household."

Look in chapter 16 and verse 11.

It's amazing how often God repeats the same truth.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 14:26

"And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there."

Skip down to verse 14:

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 14:26

"And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose, because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands. Therefore thou shalt surely rejoice."

Now look in Deuteronomy 26 and verse 11. Deuteronomy 26 and verse 11. Once again, God says it like this:

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 14:26

"Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 26:11

"Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing."

And then Deuteronomy 27 and verse 7:

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 26:11

"And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the Lord thy God."

Why We Are Commanded to Rejoice

Weaver explains that rejoicing acknowledges our creaturehood and dependence on God, and that joy is found in obedience, not in seeking a simple life free from problems.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 103:13-14

"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are but dust."

Now notice what the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 103:13-14

"like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him, for He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are but dust."

Now when the Bible says He knows our frame, what does that mean? It means He knows what we can do and what we cannot do. He knows what we can take and what we cannot take.

What is the chief duty of man? And the answer is to glorify God. And what? And to enjoy Him forever. What is our most basic duty? To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Principles of the Tithe of Rejoicing

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:11-12, 17-18

"Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there,"

which was Jerusalem.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:11-12, 17-18

"Then shall you bring all that I command you, your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vowed to the Lord. And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters and your menservants and your maidservants and the Levite that is within your gates, forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you. Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest, but in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there shalt thou offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee. Notwithstanding, thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which is given thee, the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as the roebuck, and as the hart, etc. Now skip down, if you would please, to verse 17: 'Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or of the firstlings of thy herd, or of thy flock, nor of any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor of thy freewill offerings, nor of any of thy offerings of thine hand.'"

Proper Use and Decapitalization

Weaver discusses the permissible use of wine and strong drink without drunkenness, and explains that the tithe decapitalizes the believer, fostering dependence on God and preventing pride in works.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 8:18

"For it is the Lord thy God who giveth thee power to get wealth."

God's Tithe vs. Man's Tithe

Weaver argues that denying God's tithe of rejoicing leads to reliance on state-provided recreation, and that all people hold to some form of a tithe of rejoicing, either God's or man's.

Consequences of Not Rejoicing in God

Weaver closes with Deuteronomy 28:45-48, warning that failure to serve God with joyfulness results in serving enemies, and calls for obedience and gladness.

Biblical Wealth - Part 6 of 8

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	82504145611
Subject	Covenant Theology
Course	Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: The Hallelujah of Confession
Genre	Sermon
Date	2004-08-22
Dictation Name
Book	Book 052: Biblical Wealth — Chapter 6
Source Timed Segments	76

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the previous weeks' teachings on biblical wealth and the first two tithes (Levitical and poor tithe), emphasizing that tithes belong to God and are essential for a Christian order.
The Tithe of Rejoicing Introduced: Weaver introduces the third tithe, the tithe of rejoicing, citing Exodus 34:22-24 and Deuteronomy 14:22-26, which command Israel to appear before God three times a year and not empty-handed.
Joy in the Old Testament: Weaver demonstrates that joy was a predominant theme in the Old Testament, citing Nehemiah 8:10 and the frequent use of 'rejoice' in Deuteronomy, countering the notion that the law was joyless.
Rejoicing as a Command: Weaver reads multiple passages from Deuteronomy 12, 14, 16, 26, and 27 that command rejoicing before the Lord with one's household, emphasizing the family aspect.
Why We Are Commanded to Rejoice: Weaver explains that rejoicing acknowledges our creaturehood and dependence on God, and that joy is found in obedience, not in seeking a simple life free from problems.
Principles of the Tithe of Rejoicing: Weaver outlines principles from Deuteronomy 12 and 14: the tithe could not be eaten at home, it was for rejoicing, it could be converted to money for convenience, and it must teach the fear of the Lord.
Proper Use and Decapitalization: Weaver discusses the permissible use of wine and strong drink without drunkenness, and explains that the tithe decapitalizes the believer, fostering dependence on God and preventing pride in works.
God's Tithe vs. Man's Tithe: Weaver argues that denying God's tithe of rejoicing leads to reliance on state-provided recreation, and that all people hold to some form of a tithe of rejoicing, either God's or man's.
Consequences of Not Rejoicing in God: Weaver closes with Deuteronomy 28:45-48, warning that failure to serve God with joyfulness results in serving enemies, and calls for obedience and gladness.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

The tithe of rejoicing is a distinct, commanded tithe of 10%.

Scripture commands a third tithe beyond the Levitical and poor tithes, to be spent on rejoicing before God.

Deuteronomy 14:22-26 and Exodus 34:22-24 command appearing before God three times a year and tithing for rejoicing.

Rejoicing is a duty rooted in creaturehood.

We must rejoice because we are creatures dependent on God; failing to do so denies our limitations.

Psalm 100:3; Psalm 103:13-14; 'the desire for simplicity is the desire to be God.'

Joy is found in obedience, not in the absence of problems.

Trials and testings are opportunities for joy through obedience, not obstacles to a simple life.

James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5; 'Joy is not to be found in simplicity. But joy is to be found in obedience.'

The tithe of rejoicing must include an educational aspect to learn the fear of God.

The purpose of the tithe is to learn to fear the Lord; it cannot violate other commands like drunkenness.

Deuteronomy 14:23: 'that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always'; 'there must be an educational aspect.'

The tithe decapitalizes the believer, fostering dependence on God.

Spending 10% on oneself prevents boasting in works and requires faith that God will provide.

Deuteronomy 8:18; 'it takes the wind out of our sails... faith is required to decapitalize ourselves.'

Denying God's tithe of rejoicing leads to statism.

When God's tithe is rejected, man establishes state-provided recreation, giving glory to man instead of God.

State holidays, parks, etc.; 'we will either celebrate God's tithe of rejoicing, or we will celebrate man's tithe of rejoicing.'

Serving God without joy brings judgment.

Deuteronomy 28 warns that failing to serve God with gladness results in serving enemies in want.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48: 'Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness... therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies.'

Scripture References

Malachi 3:7-12: Weaver opens with this passage on tithes and offerings, setting the theme of robbing God and the blessing of tithing.
Exodus 34:22-24: Command for all males to appear before God three times a year, foundational for the tithe of rejoicing.
Deuteronomy 14:22-26: Primary passage on the tithe of rejoicing: tithing increase, eating before the Lord, converting to money, and rejoicing.
Deuteronomy 16:16-17: Reinforces appearing before God three times a year and not empty-handed, giving as able.
Nehemiah 8:10: The joy of the Lord is your strength, cited to show joy in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy 12:7, 12, 18: Commands to rejoice before the Lord with household, including servants and Levites.
Deuteronomy 14:26: Rejoicing with household as part of the tithe of rejoicing.
Deuteronomy 16:11, 14-15: Commands to rejoice in feasts with family, servants, Levites, strangers, fatherless, and widows.
Deuteronomy 26:11: Rejoice in every good thing given by God, with Levite and stranger.
Deuteronomy 27:7: Offer peace offerings and rejoice before the Lord.
Psalm 100:3: We are the sheep of His pasture, His handiwork, cited to emphasize creaturehood.
Psalm 103:13-14: God pities us as a father, knowing our frame and that we are dust, illustrating our limitations.
James 1:2-4: Count it all joy in trials, because testing produces patience; joy in obedience.
Romans 5:3-5: We exult in tribulations, knowing they produce patience and hope; referenced in passing.
Deuteronomy 12:11-12, 17-18: Tithe of rejoicing not to be eaten at home, but before the Lord with household and Levite.
Deuteronomy 14:22-26: Detailed instructions on tithing, converting to money, and spending on whatever desired, with rejoicing.
Deuteronomy 8:18: God gives power to get wealth, cited to show God recapitalizes after decapitalization.
Ephesians 4:11: God gave pastor-teachers to instruct people, referenced to justify teaching on this tithe.
Deuteronomy 28:45-48: Curses for not serving God with joyfulness; serving enemies instead.

Historical References

R.A. Torrey and Homer Hammontree: Illustration of Torrey's faithfulness and rest in obedience regardless of visible results, emphasizing joy in obedience.

Important Quotes

The desire for simplicity is the desire to be God.

Encapsulates the argument that seeking a problem-free life denies creaturehood and God's sovereignty.

Joy is not to be found in simplicity. But joy is to be found in obedience.

Central thesis that true joy comes from obeying God, not from circumstances.

We will either celebrate God's tithe of rejoicing, or we will celebrate man's tithe of rejoicing.

Highlights the antithesis between God's provision for rejoicing and state-provided recreation.

Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things. Therefore thou shalt serve thine enemies.

Key warning from Deuteronomy 28 that failure to rejoice in God leads to bondage.

The tithe of rejoicing is a means of serving God as you rejoice before Him in everything that He's given you.

Summarizes the purpose of the tithe as an act of worship and acknowledgment of God's provision.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the tithe of rejoicing differ from the Levitical and poor tithes in its purpose and use?

[Context]

Weaver distinguishes the three tithes, with the rejoicing tithe being spent on oneself and family.

[Question]

In what ways do we deny our creaturehood by seeking a 'simple life'?

[Context]

Weaver argues that longing for simplicity is a desire to be God, free from problems.

[Question]

How can we find joy in trials and testings according to James 1?

[Context]

Weaver cites James 1:2-4 to show that joy comes from obedience in trials, not absence of trials.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'learn to fear the Lord' through the tithe of rejoicing?

[Context]

Deuteronomy 14:23 states the purpose of the tithe is to learn to fear God; Weaver emphasizes an educational aspect.

[Question]

How does the tithe of rejoicing decapitalize us, and why is that important?

[Context]

Weaver explains that spending 10% on ourselves prevents pride and demonstrates trust in God's provision.

[Question]

What are modern examples of 'man's tithe of rejoicing'?

[Context]

Weaver points to state holidays, parks, and recreational services as substitutes for God's tithe.

[Question]

How does Deuteronomy 28:47-48 apply to our service to God today?

[Context]

Weaver warns that failing to serve God with gladness leads to serving enemies, a principle for believers.

Applications

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