Deuteronomy 26

CHAPTER 26THEME: First fruitsthanksgivingThe chapter before us presents the beautiful ceremony in connection with the offering of firstfruits. Acknowledging that all the produce of the land came from God, and as an expression of thankfulness for His goodness, the Israelites brought as an offering to Him a portion of the fruit that ripened first.

Deuteronomy 26:1

As he presented his offering of firstfruits to the Lord, he was to review God’s gracious dealings with his people in delivering them from oppression in Egypt and in bringing them to the bountiful land He had promised them.

Deuteronomy 26:5

There is something here I would like to have you note. He comes to God first with confession. The Israelite would confess, “A Syrian ready to perish was my father.” Was Abraham an Israelite? No, he actually was not. What about Isaac? Well, he was not either. What about Jacob? Technically, Jacob was not an Israelite. The crowd that went down to Egypt were Syrians. Abraham was no more an Israelite than he was an Ishmaelitesince both peoples descended from him. Abraham was a Syrian as to nationality.

Deuteronomy 26:6

To the Israelite it was to be a time of true thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for us is a day when we bring a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving unto Godand that’s good. Most of us, and I confess I am in the category, eat a big turkey dinner. Usually friends invite us out to dinner. This past Thanksgiving was a glorious time. But how many of us really make an offering to God on Thanksgiving Day? Israel didthis was the beginning of Thanksgiving. If we go back and check the Pilgrims and the Puritans, we will find that they, out of their meager resources, made an offering unto God on that day. Wonderful as it is to make an offering of thanksgiving and praise with our lips, we ought to back it up with our purse. Praise and purse go together in God’s Word. The second part of this chapter deals with the Israelites’ declaration of obedience to God.

Deuteronomy 26:12

If Israel would keep His commandments, He promises to make them His peculiar people and to place them above all nations of the earth.