And everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the LORD's contribution for the work… that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. (Ex 35:21, 1Cor 9:14)
Note the correlation of the “heave” and “wave” offering found in Ex 35:21-22 and Paul’s contextualization of the Levites to full time Christian workers in 1 Cor 9:13-14.
In Ex. 35:21 we find a parallel to A. God “lifting or stirring the heart” and giving a contribution that is lifted to God (through the "heave" offering) and B. God moving the spirit of individuals (:21) to give an offering (:22); specifically designed to sustain God’s servants (through the "wave" offering).
A. :21 The Hebrew word for a “heart stirred” אֲשֶׁר־נְשָׂא֣וֹ literally means that the heart is “lifted up” in worship.
The Hebrew word “contribution” אֶת־תְּרוּמַ֙ת (terumah) has been identified as a “heave offering,” where a portion of the wave offering is heaved or “lifted” off and is waved up and down signifying that God is Lord of heaven. It was given to the priests “for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments."
As God lifts our hearts, we lift or “heave”, a portion of our gift to consecrate to God for worship!
B. :21 The Hebrew word for “moved” נָדְבָ֙ה literally means to: incite, impel, make willing.
The Hebrew word for offering תְּנוּפַ֥ת (Tenuphah) in :22 is the word translated for the wave offering, and refers to the whole of the offering that the terumah, or heave offering, is taken from. It is waved horizontally before the Lord, signifying that God is Lord of the earth, and was given to sustain the physical needs of the Levites.
As our hearts are lifted in worship, our spirit is moved to give a gift to sustain those He has called and set apart for ministry.
A few important takeaways:
1. Note the giving of the heave and wave offerings were to be a voluntary heart response to God who moved their spirit to give. This was an offering, not a tithe, ie: above and beyond, and not limited to a 10% system, based on the need.
1. Note the giving of the heave and wave offerings were to be a voluntary heart response to God who moved their spirit to give. This was an offering, not a tithe, ie: above and beyond, and not limited to a 10% system, based on the need.
2. The offering was given in the context of worship.
3. The same God that stirred the heart to give, provided the resources for the offering.
4. Paul applied the principles of giving to sustain the Levites to the support of full time Christian workers in 1 Cor 9:13-14, While he waved his right to receive gifts from the people he was ministering to as they were not yet mature in the faith, he did apply this principle from established mature churches who partnered with his ministry, like missionaries do today. (RH)
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