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The Third Tithe Blessing
Sermon by David C. GrabbeDeuteronomy 14:28-29 and 26:12-15 contain biblical instructions for the third tithe, a practice within the sabbatical cycle as a communal act of charity in ancient Israel. Collected every third year, the third tithe was designed for the Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows to protect them from financial loss or poverty, constituting part of God's safety net alongside the sabbatical year, symbolizing Israel's shared responsibility. God's people were obligated to declare before Almighty God that they had faithfully distributed the tithe, refusing to use it for personal, unclean, or improper purposes, but instead solely adhering to God's holy and spiritual commandments. The third tithe represents helping and supporting the helpless and vulnerable, reflecting loving God and neighbor (the two great commandments, Matthew 22:36-40). The blessing was applied nationally, supporting Israel's collective prosperity rather than individual gain. The spiritual nation, participating in the New Covenant, should seek higher blessings, such as repentance and unity, aligning with Our Lord and Savior's prayer for oneness in John 17, instead of selfishly focusing on physical or material provision.
When is the Third Tithe Year?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeIn Israel, the third tithe was practiced as a community, drawing people together in a common experience. This is possible for the church, too.

Deuteronomy, Land Sabbaths, Atonement, and Third Tithe
Sermon by Ryan McClureReflecting on the significance of God's annual Holy Days, the speaker uses the metaphor of The Talent Game (a board game cyclically progressing thorough squares, requiring players to recall teachings of these annual holy days) to identify five key points. 1. Deuteronomy and the Seven-Year Cycle: Deuteronomy 31:9-13 commands the reading of the Law every seven years at the Feast of Tabernacles to instill fear of God and obedience. 2. Land Sabbath and Year of Release: Leviticus 25 commands the land Sabbath, in which the land rests every seventh year, as well as the Jubilee Year every 50th year, inextricably intertwined with the Day of Atonement, promoting ecological rest, debt forgiveness and social equity, reflecting Almighty God's care for creation and justice. 3. Historical events, including economic crises and agricultural problems during Shemitah years, underscore the dangers of ignoring these annual Sabbaths. 4. Day of Atonement and the Two Goats: The atonement and the two goats emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the sole sin-bearer, not Satan, as traditionally applied to the Azazel goat. Atonement signifies complete forgiveness and removal of sin, distinguishing it from the Passover's peace offering. 5. Third Tithe Year: Deuteronomy 26:12 connects the third tithe to the sabbatical cycle, supporting the needy (Levites, strangers, widows, orphans), culminating on the Day of Atonement. God uses these cycles to reinforce understanding and worship, encouraging His people to respond with humility and action, as exemplified by Josiah's reforms, which aligned believers with God's will and spiritual growth through obedience and reverence.