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Deuteronomy 26:1-11

The ceremony of firstfruits was a recognition of the fertility of the land.  It was witness of the fulfillment of the promise given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  It was witness to God’s faithfulness.

The Passover Haggadah (guidebook to the Passover Seder) and the Mishna (the writings of the oral traditions) taught that every generation was to view themselves as if they had personally been led from Egypt by God and brought into the land.  The first part of this memorial ceremony is the declaration of the first fruits.  The farmer declared, “I have come to the country.” 

The second part of the ceremony was the association with his forefathers.  The Syrian is the association of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with Aram.  They first came into the land and received the promise that their offspring would come into the land. 

This phrase Aramean refers to someone from Paddan-aram in northwest Mesopotamia (Gen 24:4, 10; 25:20).

The farmer will liken Jacob to his father, who went to Egypt.  He speaks as though he was held in bondage and was a slave to Egypt.  He would then state, “We cried out to the Lord.”   He would declare he was one of those brought out of Egypt and led them into the Promised Land.

The first fruits were given with full acknowledgment that they came from the hand of the Lord.

The farmer would respond to this truth by presenting the first fruit and then worshiping. 

Deuteronomy 26:12-15

Every third year, when the farmer has removed all the tithe from his premises and given it to the Levites, the widow, orphan, and stranger, as directed in 14:28-29, he was to make a declaration before the Lord.  He would attest to the integrity of his tithe – that he had brought it all and not defiled it with uncleanness from contact with a dead body.  It wasn’t exposed to uncleanness in any space.  Nor was any of it given or associated with ancestor cult worship. 

The farmer would then request a blessing from the Father consistent with the promise given to the Fathers, consistent with the Land flowing with milk and honey.

Deuteronomy 26:16-19

The children of Israel stand before the Promised Land, poised to enter in after the wilderness wandering and the passing of a generation since the Lord brought them out of Egypt.  Moses warned them to use great care in handling the commandments, statutes, and judgments.  They were to be observed with all their heart and soul, not at their convenience, when they felt like it, or when time allowed.  There was no expiration to this expectation.  The heart and soul was their life and being, their decision making, character, and integrity.  This kind of obedience would be likened to hearing the voice of God.

The Lord proclaimed Israel as His special people.  He had made this declaration to them in Exodus 19:5; Deut 7:68; and Deut 14:2.  As the Lord of all creation and all nations, Israel was chosen to be set high above all the others.

©2007, 2023 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater