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Awesome Hands – part 108

”Heave Offering”

January 11, 2017

Most days I, like many of us, find myself wondering what my day will bring and how it is the Lord will cause me to serve Him. Whether in sins which are committed and repented of or in acts of brotherly love that I am given to partake in, each and every day presents a clean slate for me to discover what the Lord has prepared for His children from before the world began.

2 Timothy 1:6  Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

In our study this evening, we will be looking at the portion of the offerings that has a very significant and very hidden meaning for the Lord – the heave offering.
For the elect of God, we just need to read what has been recorded for us, and the Lord will provide the increase of knowledge to us that He has preordained to happen.

Elevated offering

The start of our study is going to have us examining the first time the “heave” offering is mentioned in scripture.

Exodus 29:26  And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before the LORD: and it shall be thy part.
Exodus 29:27  And thou shalt sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the shoulder of the heave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up (H7311), of the ram of the consecration, even of that which is for Aaron, and of that which is for his sons:

H7311
BDB Definition:
1) to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be high, be set on high
1a2) to be raised, be uplifted, be exalted
1a3) to be lifted, rise
1b) (Polel)
1b1) to raise or rear (children), cause to grow up
1b2) to lift up, raise, exalt
1b3) to exalt, extol
1c) (Polal) to be lifted up
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to raise, lift, lift up, take up, set up, erect, exalt, set on high
1d2) to lift up (and take away), remove
1d3) to lift off and present, contribute, offer, contribute
1e) (Hophal) to be taken off, be abolished
1f) (Hithpolel) to exalt oneself, magnify oneself
2) (Qal) to be rotten, be wormy
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

H7311
room
A primitive root; to be high actively to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively): – bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high (-er, one), hold up, levy, lift (-er) up, (be) lofty, (X a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), + presumptuously, (be) promote (-ion), proud, set up, tall (-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
Total KJV occurrences: 189

So, the heave offering is heaved up and it is also waved.

Exodus 29:27  And thou shalt sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the shoulder of the heave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up (H7311),

I am not going to list in this study all the times it is mentioned in scripture, but here are the times it is conveyed as being exalted or “lifted up”:

H7311
Total KJV Occurrences: 193
exalted, 28
1Sa_2:1, 2Sa_22:47, 1Ki_14:7, 1Ki_16:2, 2Ki_19:22, Neh_9:5, Psa_12:8, Psa_13:2, Psa_18:46, Psa_21:13, Psa_46:10 (2), Psa_57:5, Psa_57:11, Psa_75:10, Psa_89:16-17 (2), Psa_89:19, Psa_89:24, Psa_108:5, Psa_112:9, Pro_11:11, Isa_30:18, Isa_33:10, Isa_37:23, Isa_49:11, Isa_52:13, Hos_13:6

high, 25
Exo_14:8, Num_33:3, Deu_12:2, Deu_32:27, 2Sa_22:49, Job_21:22, Job_22:12, Job_38:15, Psa_18:27 (2), Psa_78:69, Psa_89:13, Psa_99:2, Psa_113:4, Pro_24:6-7 (2), Isa_2:13-14 (2), Isa_6:1, Isa_57:15, Eze_6:13, Eze_17:22, Eze_20:28, Eze_31:4, Eze_34:6
lift, 18
Gen_7:17, Gen_14:22, Gen_41:44, Exo_14:16, 1Ch_25:5, Ezr_9:6, Job_38:34, Psa_75:3-5 (3), Psa_110:7, Isa_10:15 (2), Isa_40:9 (2), Isa_58:1, Isa_62:10, Eze_21:22
exalt, 17
Exo_15:2, 1Sa_2:10, Job_17:4, Psa_34:3, Psa_37:34, Psa_66:7, Psa_92:10, Psa_99:5, Psa_99:9, Psa_107:32, Psa_118:28, Psa_140:8, Isa_13:2, Isa_14:13, Isa_25:1, Dan_11:36, Hos_11:7
lifted, 16
Gen_39:15, Gen_39:18, Exo_7:20, Num_20:11, Deu_8:14, Deu_17:20, 2Sa_22:49, 1Ki_11:26-27 (2), 2Ch_5:13, Psa_27:6, Isa_26:11, Eze_10:17, Eze_31:10, Dan_11:12, Mic_5:9
offer, 14
Exo_35:24, Lev_22:15, Num_15:19-20 (2), Num_18:19, Num_18:24, Num_18:26, Num_18:28-29 (2), Eze_45:1, Eze_45:13, Eze_48:8-9 (2), Eze_48:20
take, 11
Lev_2:9, Lev_4:19, Lev_6:10, Lev_6:15, Num_16:37, Jos_4:5, 2Ki_6:7, Isa_57:14, Eze_21:26, Eze_45:9, Hos_11:4
set, 7
Gen_31:45, Ezr_9:9, Psa_27:5, Psa_89:42, Isa_49:22, Lam_2:17, Eze_31:4
gave, 4
2Ch_30:24, 2Ch_35:7-9 (3)
lifteth, 4
1Sa_2:7-8 (2), Psa_107:25, Psa_113:7
taken, 4
Lev_4:10, Lev_4:31, Lev_4:35, Dan_8:11
exalteth, 3
Psa_148:14, Pro_14:29, Pro_14:34
heaved, 3
Exo_29:27, Num_18:30, Num_18:32
lofty, 3
Psa_131:1, Pro_30:13, Isa_2:12

Since I am able to pick and choose from many verses, the example of exalted which I want to convey, I am going to choose an example that gets to the heart of those who are exalted.

Psalms 89:15  Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
Psalms 89:16  In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted (H7311).
Psalms 89:17  For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted (H7311).
Psalms 89:18  For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
Psalms 89:19  Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

The italicized words in the verses above are added to scripture to help us better understand the meaning in English. However, the “one” added in verse 19 doesn’t help but actually hides the full meaning.

I have exalted one chosen out of the people. Let’s make that, “I have exalted chosen out of the people.”

Why am I suggesting that this be done? Let’s look at another example that will help make this clearer.

There are a few times that the same Hebrew word 7311, “rum”, is translated as “promotion”.

Here are those examples:

Proverbs 3:35  The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Proverbs 3:35  The wiseH2450 shall inheritH5157 glory:H3519 but shameH7036 shall be the promotionH7311 of fools.H3684

And:

Psalms 75:6  ForH3588 promotionH7311 cometh neitherH3808 from the east,H4480 H4161 nor from the west,H4480 H4628 norH3808 from the south.H4480 H4057

Here is it in full context:

Psalms 75:1  To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
Psalms 75:2  When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
Psalms 75:3  The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.
Psalms 75:4  I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
Psalms 75:5  Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.
Psalms 75:6  For promotion (H7311) cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
Psalms 75:7  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up (H7311) another.

Indeed, it is the Lord alone who sets up and puts down ANY and ALL things under His creation whom He judges uprightly.

He also bears/weighs up the PILLARS of the earth… the same earth which is DISSOLVED. That should indeed cause any of His congregation to second guess “lifting their horn on high”. The Hebrew word H8505 translated into English as “bears up” actually indicates a balancing and equaling of the thing being talked about.

What is this “horn” I speak of? It is the power given to the thing possessing the horn.

H7161
qeren
keh’-ren
From H7160; a horn (as projecting); by implication a flask, cornet; by resemblance an elephant’s tooth (that is, ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a mountain), a ray (of light); figuratively power: –  X hill, horn.
Total KJV occurrences: 76

With these few examples, it should be clear that the “heave” offering is one that is lifted up and exalted before the Lord as it is waved.

Now that we have established the way in which the heave offering is presented to the Lord (lifted up and waved), and that the heave offering wouldn’t even be able to be offered unless the Lord “setteth up” the offerings and the situation for the offering to be offered, what exactly is the spiritual significance of this type of offering?

Tithe of the tithe

Our brother Abe Ramos was inspired several months back to post a question on the email list about the heave offering and “the tenth of a tithe”.

It’s funny how the Lord works because in that email thread I commented that I planned to be doing this study the next day and that has been over 3 months ago. The Lord certainly had others plans for my time.

However, the entire thread helped solidify what the heave offering is all about.

Here is the verse which Abe presented as a part of his question on the mailing list:

Numbers 18:26  Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
Numbers 18:27  And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
Numbers 18:28  Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD’S heave offering to Aaron the priest.

Remember, the Levites were given to the priest to minister to them and to also minister to the tabernacle. The priests are appointed to serve the sanctuary and the altar. These are two very different roles given by the Lord to different groups of people.

Seeing that the tithe of the tithe is given to Aaron the priest, and Aaron typifies Jesus Christ, who then can partake of this “tithe of the tithe?”

Hebrews 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Nehemiah 10:38  And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

The treasure house is physically and spiritually where the priests can distribute from to help the needs of the people.

Because God has dragged many of us here away from the outward churches when we use to be deceived to pay physical money as tithes….does not mean we quit tithing!

No….far from it.

We still tithe….our “mint, rue and cummin”, and do good unto others, as we have opportunity, we help those we can help near or far, we bestow our goods (carnal goods or good of the heart)  We MUST pay our tithe cheerfully as we are given opportunity.

The next level….the elevation (heave offering ) is what many…I say many, “pass over”…. omitt[ting] the weightier matters of the Law”!

It’s easier to give money…or do wonderful works of the flesh, than to FURTHER pay the “tenth part of the tithe”. I stand guilty of this too….

1 Corinthians 13:3 (KJV)
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, […tithe as any children of Israel/ of the church world & outside world  ] and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

The tenth part of the tithe, as brother Dennis & Mike wrote below, is the offering up of all our lives…our body…(Rom 12:1-2) our flesh (#10)

That is the offering worthy for the God of gods…King of kings. Though elevated, we are commanded by our Lord “not to leave the other undone”, that is, the less weightier matter of the Law such as the BASIC tithe.

The tithe of the tithes is the more weightier matter ONLY given to us, God’s elect in Christ to fulfil.

“judgment, mercy, and faith:”
“judgment and the love of God”

1 John 5:3 (KJV)
3 For this is the love of God, [= the Tithe of the tithes..] that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

The Pharisees of this world (our Carnal religious self) cannot make that step/elevation/ heave offering. Woe unto them/us with taking pride in many good and wonderful works while omitting the weightier matters like laying down our lives with Christ.

Even the basic tithing principle itself….some don’t even keep the law in doing that! (Yes, again I admit, I seldomly gave 10% gross income money to the church ministers’, and I paid very very little rue and cummin to the fatherless..! 🙁 )

John 7:19 (KJV)
19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

Acts 7:53 (KJV)
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

To conclude, the more excellent way has been consecrated for us ‘Sons of Aaron’ to fulfil at this time. God Is working all things…and he’s using everyone in their place for a service for others. And along the way, He is magnifying the law for us to fulfil his righteousness, not that of the righteousness of the Law…elevating each principle, such as tithing above the standard pharisaical approach.
A tenth of the tithe is the “more excellent” portion for this our royal, peculiar Priesthood.

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Isaiah 42:21 (KJV)
21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake;
he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

Amen! I couldn’t have said it better.

I will end this study will pointing out one more point which really brings home the “hidden manna” found in the heave offering.

The tenth of the tithe is 1%. I will now quote a portion of my part of the exchange on the same email thread.

We have a very active role NOW, in our lives, to bare the “iniquity of the holy things” (Exo 28:38) of which the Levites cannot partake of. All the items that “make up” the physical tabernacle and the VERY ACTIONS (side to side WAVED, heaved UP) have meaning to the Lord since even the “hairs on your head are numbered”.

I emphasis regularly, like many of us do, just how involved the Lord is in the lives of those He is working with AND letting know He is working with us.

The “tithe of the tithe” reminds me of the 1 sheep that gets away and NEEDS its Shepherd to come find it. I do understand that 1 and 99 is not a direct correlation, since that is 1% and not 10%, but it does convey to us just how important even the “smallest” details are to the Lord and to US. He wants us to know that He is there directing our lives. He does care about even the smallest things happening with us because HE is causing them. Literally, a “10th of the 10th – tithe of the tithe” is 1 percent, and when you understand that, then you will know just how important you are little lamb of the Lord!

The “tithe of tithes” connects us directly with the Lord so that while we are ministering to the “kingdom of God”, the tabernacle in others, we are also ministering to the kingdom of God within ourselves and by doing so we can see just how connected we all are because of the priesthood, the church of the Living God, being connected to the “iniquity of the holy things”. It is an odd thing to ponder how the Lord VALUES the “iniquity” of the “HOLY THINGS”.

The Lord has seen fit that the heave offering be given to the High Priest. Being that the High Priest resides in us and us in Him, we too can and will partake of the heave offering spiritually because the Lord wants all of us… not just a 10th.