INTRODUCTION

Psalm 119 is the longest verse-count passage (psalm or chapter) in God’s word. Interestingly, that particular psalm focuses upon one of God’s greatest gifts ever provided for mankind, His precious word. The second longest verse-count passage is Numbers chapter 7. Interestingly, God’s word focuses this chapter upon mankind giving gifts back to God. The passage could have been dramatically shortened had God chosen to give fewer of the details. However, the Lord chose to specifically delineate each of the gifts received from each tribe. Why? Maybe God wanted to emphasize the importance of every gift from every individual given to Him. No gift represented a lesser degree of importance to God Almighty. God does not need anything from man (Psalm 50:7-15 [7] Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. [8] I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. [9] I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. [10] For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. [11] I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. [12] If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. [13] Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? [14] Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: [15] And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
See All...) yet finds great pleasure in receiving gifts from those whom He loves.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): The greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind. Love obeys (John 14:15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  See All...) and love gives (John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
  See All...). God wants us to give back to Him out of love and He takes particular notice of that giving. Read Mark 12:41-44 [41] And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. [42] And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. [43] And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: [44] For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
  See All....
• (For everyone):  Why would our gifts to the Lord be so important to Him if He has no need of the things which we have to offer to Him? What do our gifts to the Lord demonstrate about the condition of our hearts?
• What are some possible reasons that the Lord dedicated so much space to delineating the offerings presented to Him by each tribe? What does this teach us about His care for our gifts?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to give you a heart that desires to give to Him.
• Ask God to give you the ability to give Him more.

HYMN

JESUS, I MY CROSS HAVE TAKEN

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