In this episode we continue studying the book of Leviticus. In this episode laws for vows and the dedication of devoted things were given.

The first vow mentioned was the personal vow. Which pertained to vows a person made to devote himself or herself to the Lord. Parents could also devote a child to the Lord.

This is the type of vow Hannah made when she devoted Samuel to the Lord.

Here’s the text:

1Samuel 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

We note that after Hannah weaned Samuel, she took him to the house of the Lord and there he remained for the rest of his life.

He began ministering to the Lord, under the watchful eyes of Eli the High Priest.

It looks like his first job as a young child was opening the doors of the house of the Lord in the morning and in the evening.

And the first words of prophecy young Samuel received from the Lord, concerned Eli and his sons.

Eli’s sons were corrupt, they robbed the people of their offerings and they slept with women who were serving in God’s house.

Yet, Eli failed to restrain his sons and this angered the Lord.

Eli verbally rebuked his sons but they should have been removed from office.

But since he did not, the Lord told Samuel that every man in Eli's family would die in the flower of his age, that is in the prime of his life.

Not one of them would live to be an old man.

They would all die young.

They were so wicked that God said, not even sacrifices or offerings could purge them forever

This reveals that when people make themselves vile like Eli’s sons who were ministers and priests of the Lord. Christ’s sacrifice will not be applied to them.They will be subjected to the second death.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Hebrews 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Laws regarding tithes of their seed, harvest and flocks were also given. Every tenth animal that passed under the rod belonged to the Lord.

They were told not to search for the good or the bad when they gave their flocks and herds. But if they decided to do so and wanted to make an exchange, He kept both of them.

Shepherding was hard work and God had blessed the works of their hands by increasing it. They should give of their increase without worrying.

He was pleased with what they were bringing him. Searching for the good or bad would add unnecessary stress to something that was supposed to be a simple proccess. The 10th was the 10th, nothing more or nothing less. He did not want them to worry about whether it was good enough or not.

We note that after Adam and Eve sinned, their eyes were opened. They became citizens of the kingdom of darkness. They could’t see things as they should.

Quiet often man's judgment is wrong because we can't see properly, and by not searching for the good or bad, they could avoid unnecesssary stress. And giving to the Lord, could be a joyful experience.

So God doesn't want us to judge our tithes or the acts of service we do in and for his name.

He just doesn’t want us scrutinizing the works of our hands, lest we halt the work because of pride or discouragement. If we are prideful he will resist us and how can we continue to do the work if we think it’s no good enough.

Paul understood this idea and said as a steward of God not only did he not judge himself or his ministry but he wasn’t bothered or concerned about how others judged him, God was his judge, he worked to please God alone.

He said, that the only thing a person serving the Lord should be concerned about is being faithful with his stewardship.

Here’s the text:

1Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

1Corinthians 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

1Corinthians 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

1Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.