Deuteronomy 26:1-11: a reflection

1It shall be, when you have come in to the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, possess it, and dwell in it, 2that you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you shall bring in from your land that the LORD your God gives you. You shall put it in a basket, and shall go to the place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there. 3You shall come to the priest who shall be in those days, and tell him, “I profess today to the LORD your God, that I have come to the land which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.” 4The priest shall take the basket out of your hand, and set it down before the LORD your God’s altar. 5You shall answer and say before the LORD your God, “My father was a Syrian ready to perish. He went down into Egypt, and lived there, few in number. There he became a great, mighty, and populous nation. 6The Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and imposed hard labor on us. 7Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers. The LORD heard our voice, and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. 8The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, with great terror, with signs, and with wonders; 9and he has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10Now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, the LORD, have given me.” You shall set it down before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God. 11You shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given to you, and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the foreigner who is among you.

When the people came into the promised land, God gave them a way to offer their firstfruits that was steeped in grateful remembrance. Bringing the first of the harvest, they were to recite the story of God's deliverance: My father was a wandering Aramean; he went down into Egypt, and there we were afflicted; then we cried to the LORD, and the LORD brought us out with a strong hand, and has brought us into this place, and given us this land. And then, having remembered, they were to set down their offering and rejoice in all the good God had given. Their gratitude remembered the whole story of God's deliverance, offered him the first and best, and rejoiced in his gifts.

Notice the shape of their gratitude: remembering God's deliverance, offering the firstfruits, rejoicing in his gifts. They did not simply bring an offering; they brought it with a recital of the story of what God had done, remembering their affliction and his deliverance, how he had heard their cry and brought them out and given them the land. Their offering of the first and best of the harvest was set in the context of that remembered story; and it issued in rejoicing over all the good God had given. Gratitude here was not a bare thank-you, but a remembering of God's deliverance, an offering of the first and best, and a rejoicing in his gifts, all together.

That is worth taking to heart, for our gratitude too is deepened by remembering God's deliverance, offering him the first and best, and rejoicing in his gifts. We can offer God a bare, hurried thanks, forgetting the story of what he has done for us; but Israel's gratitude remembered the whole story of God's deliverance, offered him the firstfruits, and rejoiced in his gifts. Gratitude is deepened when we remember what God has done, give him our first and best, and rejoice in his goodness. Do not offer God a bare, forgetful thanks; remember the story of his deliverance, give him your first and best, and rejoice in his gifts. Let your gratitude remember the story of God's deliverance, offer him the first and best, and rejoice in all the good he has given, as Israel recited God's deliverance and set down their firstfruits with rejoicing; for gratitude is deepened by remembering what God has done, and true thanksgiving offers him the first and best and rejoices in his gifts.

Lord, when the people came into the promised land, you gave them a way to offer their firstfruits that was steeped in grateful remembrance. Bringing the first of the harvest, they were to recite the story of your deliverance: my father was a wandering Aramean; he went down into Egypt, and there we were afflicted; then we cried to the LORD, and the LORD brought us out with a strong hand, and has brought us into this place, and given us this land. And then, having remembered, they were to set down their offering and rejoice in all the good you had given. Show me the shape of their gratitude: remembering your deliverance, offering the firstfruits, rejoicing in your gifts. They did not simply bring an offering; they brought it with a recital of the story of what you had done, remembering their affliction and your deliverance. Their offering of the first and best was set in the context of that remembered story; and it issued in rejoicing over all the good you had given. Gratitude here was not a bare thank-you, but a remembering, an offering, and a rejoicing, all together. Take that to my heart, for my gratitude too is deepened by remembering your deliverance, offering you the first and best, and rejoicing in your gifts. I can offer you a bare, hurried thanks, forgetting the story of what you have done for me; but Israel's gratitude remembered the whole story. Keep me from offering you a bare, forgetful thanks; help me remember the story of your deliverance, give you my first and best, and rejoice in your gifts, Lord, as Israel recited your deliverance and set down their firstfruits with rejoicing.