Topical Bible: Offerings: The Jews often: Slow in Presenting

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In the religious life of ancient Israel, offerings played a central role in worship and covenantal relationship with God. The Mosaic Law prescribed various offerings, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings, each with specific purposes and regulations (Leviticus 1-7). These offerings were not only acts of worship but also expressions of obedience, gratitude, and atonement.

Despite the clear instructions and the importance of offerings in maintaining a right relationship with God, the Israelites were often slow or negligent in presenting their offerings. This reluctance or delay in fulfilling their obligations is highlighted in several passages throughout the Old Testament.

One significant example is found in the prophetic literature, where the prophets frequently rebuked the Israelites for their failure to bring offerings in a timely and sincere manner. Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets, addresses this issue directly. In Malachi 1:7-8 , the prophet condemns the people for offering defiled food on God's altar and presenting blind, lame, and sick animals as sacrifices, which were unacceptable according to the Law. This behavior reflects a broader attitude of neglect and disrespect towards God's commands.

The prophet Haggai also addresses the issue of delayed offerings in the context of rebuilding the temple. In Haggai 1:2-4 , the people are criticized for prioritizing their own homes over the house of the Lord, resulting in the neglect of offerings and temple service. This delay in presenting offerings was symptomatic of a deeper spiritual apathy and misplaced priorities.

The historical books of the Old Testament provide further evidence of this tendency. In 2 Chronicles 29:34 , during the reign of King Hezekiah, it is noted that the priests were too few to skin all the burnt offerings, indicating a backlog and delay in the sacrificial system. This situation arose after a period of neglect and idolatry under previous kings, highlighting the cyclical nature of Israel's faithfulness and neglect.

The reluctance to present offerings promptly was not merely a logistical issue but a reflection of the heart condition of the people. In Psalm 50:8-9 , God declares that He does not rebuke the Israelites for their sacrifices, as He does not need them, but He desires a sincere heart and true worship. The delay in offerings often signified a lack of genuine devotion and understanding of the covenant relationship with God.

In summary, the Israelites' slowness in presenting offerings was a recurring issue that revealed deeper spiritual problems. The prophets and historical narratives of the Old Testament consistently call the people back to faithful and timely worship, emphasizing that offerings should be given with a willing heart and in accordance with God's commands.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 13:10-12
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close.
... of "the epistles of the kings concerning the offerings." If they ... most ancient versions
and the traditions of the Jews themselves who often knew what ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter ii the old testament.htm

Three Homilies. On Our Lord.
... let us be sure of this, that as often as anything ... manifested to the external eyes
of the Jews, profited them ... it; but by them that offer are offerings presented ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/three homilies on our lord.htm

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... the faith of the saints was often mingled with ... prayers were ratified: "Remember all
thy offerings," says David ... office of Mediator (all the Jews were instructed ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... with their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings, and offer ... we read of, proselyted
to the Jews religion ... very willingly see her downfall, how often have they ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... years, allowed their critical faculties, and often their imagination as ... Jahveh is
slow to anger and great in power ... a welcome change in the fortunes of the Jews. ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... us, and receive us with plenteous offerings of food ... fruit, and perfumes, but these
were often accompanied, as in ... recited an invocation in a slow and mysterious ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... before God nor understanding men.' I have often said in ... proclaim and publish the
free-will offerings: for this ... name of Christ, such as the Jews and Pharisees ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... their usual haunts, a few days or often a few ... to, extracting from the caldron the
meat offerings of the ... prophets, or to the period when the Jews, without any ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm