PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Leviticus 27
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“To dedicate a person to the Lord by giving the equivalent value…” (Leviticus 27:2)
To ‘devote’ someone or something to the Lord was an act of love or loyalty.
They were considered holy, dedicated to the Lord’s purpose, whatever that meant.
To redeem that offering meant to keep it, but pay its value in place.
The value assigned to humans was based on their economic worth in an agricultural setting.
No, the value does not make them less loved or less important to God.
I’ve tried to come up with an understanding or application that makes sense.
As I see it, I am not the one dedicating, I am the one that has been dedicated.
“For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” (John 17:19)
Jesus has presented me to God, and made me ‘most holy to the Lord’.
“Everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord.” (Leviticus 27:28)
He has made the personal sacrifice of love, so that God can have me as his own.
Jesus wanted to redeem us, but what is the value he placed on us – his life?
Jesus had to pay the ultimate price to redeem us, and he did.
So whatever these laws meant to the Israelites, to me they show me HOW MUCH God loves me.
PRAYER
Lord, you have devoted yourself to me, in order to devote me to God. I do not feel worthy of the price you paid, but this is how much you felt I was worth. Thank you.
Setting value in human terms! That which is dedicated to the Lord is valuable. Humanly speaking we like to ask how much – so we apply a precious metal standard. In a fund raising campaign the organizers ask people to contribute and challenge them according to what they estimate a person can give. Bigger benefactors and supporters are challenged to give larger amounts – because they are deemed able. The tithe is an equalizer. It is consistently proportional. Putting a value on human life, we do that in terms of wages today. We pay more for highly qualified and specialized people – we pay more for those who make the difficult decisions and manage/direct people. In the parable of the talents, there were servants who were entrusted talents with respect to their ability. I have been blessed much and have had a number of responsible and challenging positions – but I couldn’t have carried them out well without entrusting all to the Lord – not just what I set aside as a tithe, as a gift. All of it belongs to the God who entrusted me – and I know I am a much loved child of God – precious in His sight!! God values me enough to send his Son to redeem me!! PTL!