Generosity and Provision
In Malachi 3:10, we encounter a profound invitation from God: “’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’”
The "storehouse" in ancient Israel was a place in the temple where tithes and offerings were kept, primarily to provide for the priests and the needy. By instructing the Israelites to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, God taught them about stewardship and caring for people in their community. Their generosity was a way of loving and serving those around them.
If you’ve ever tried to give when you felt strapped for resources, you may have discovered this truth already: giving is an act of trust. When we give, we are making a choice to believe that God will provide for our every need no matter what. God challenges His people to trust Him enough to give wholeheartedly, promising that in return, He would open the "floodgates of heaven."
Today, this verse prompts us to examine our own generosity. Are we holding back, or are we trusting God with all we have? We get to bring our whole tithe to God, not out of obligation but out of faith. We get to say ‘yes’ to God’s invitation to experience His provision in everything, and even provide for others.
He Comforts Us
In ancient Israel, the rod and staff of a shepherd protected and guided the sheep, and even reminded the sheep that the shepherd was there. And so King David (who was a shepherd as a boy) used the metaphor in Psalm 23:4 to convey this truth: God was his protector and guide.
King David faced death many times and had enemies bent on killing him. He also dealt with his own sin issues and personal mistakes. But in the midst of all this, he repeatedly turned his attention to the faithfulness and assurances of God.
Where did he find these assurances?
King David would have been a student of the Hebrew Scripture, the Torah—the first five books in our Bibles.
To a Hebrew, the Torah wasn’t just a story about God, it was the very Word of God. It was authority, promise, and guide. It was this Word that David based his life—and his psalms—upon. David could write about God’s character because:
1. He knew the Word of God.
2. He experienced the faithfulness and goodness of God based ...