2 Chronicles 31:10
And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.
Azariah the chief priest answered Hezekiah about the heaps in the temple that since the people began bringing the offerings into the house of the LORD there had been food enough with plenty left, and the great store remaining was the proof of it. This came in Hezekiah's reformation when worship had been neglected and he commanded the people to provide for the priests and Levites, and want ended when they obeyed and brought tithes and offerings in abundantly. The increase was because the LORD had blessed His people for their faithfulness, fulfilling His promise to bless those who bring the tithe by preserving their substance and making them prosper as He sees best for good and for His glory. The tithe thus brought into the LORD's storehouse belonged wholly to His house for those who serve in spiritual work, and not to the civil ruler as revenue, so taxes for civil government stand outside it and cannot be deducted from it. In like manner tithes and offerings now brought into His treasury support His ministers and give abundance for His work, so that there is no need to resort to unscriptural methods for raising money.
Historical Setting and Meaning
Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok spoke to Hezekiah in answer concerning the heaps gathered in the temple, declaring that since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD there had been enough to eat with plenty left, and that what remained was this great store. The setting was Hezekiah's reformation after worship had been neglected, when he restored tithes and offerings. He commanded the people to provide for the priests and Levites encouraged in the law of the LORD, and scarcity ended when the people obeyed. When thus restored, the people brought tithes and offerings in abundance, providing enough for the work and leaving a large reserve.
The things on which the priests and Levites lived were the things brought into the LORD's storehouse. That store consisted principally of the tithe brought by those who recognized God's claim upon them. The people brought tithes and offerings into the house of the LORD abundantly.
The tithes belonged entirely to the house of the LORD for the priests and Levites, and not to the civil ruler as government revenue. Taxes for support of civil government stand entirely outside of tithing, which is for religious and benevolent purposes. Civil taxes therefore cannot be deducted from the tithe.
Divine Blessing and Abundance
Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, the priests and Levites had abundant food, enough to eat with plenty left over. The accumulated offerings formed a great store, kept as a large supply and reserve for the sanctuary's work and the priests' needs. When Hezekiah restored tithes and offerings the people brought them in abundantly, so that provision was full and a great surplus remained.
Azariah explained that surplus as the result of the Lord blessing His people. The abundance was received as evidence that the Lord had blessed them for bringing the tithe, and when the people obeyed by bringing their offerings to the temple the blessing supplied need and left abundance. Their return to faithful tithing brought plenty, unlike the scarcity associated with withholding the tithe. Scarcity ended when the people obeyed the command to provide for the priests and Levites encouraged in the law of the Lord.
God fulfills His promise to those who bring tithes and offerings, in harmony with the later promise of blessing for faithful tithing. He does so by rebuking the devourer, preserving the fruits of the ground and the vine from destruction and premature loss, and making them blessed and a delightsome land. The blessing is given as He sees best for good and for His glory.
Their abundance did not end their giving, for they continued bringing in the tithes and offerings faithfully. Their experience illustrates that a people who give themselves to God give liberally.
Provision for Gospel Work
When the people began to bring offerings and tithes into the house, the priests and Levites had enough to eat and plenty left over, with a large surplus laid up as a great reserve for their needs. That provision met the work of the sanctuary and showed that giving to support those serving in the spiritual work supplied what they required. The abundance was the Lord's blessing upon His people for bringing the tithe. The things on which the priests and Levites lived were the things brought into the storehouse, consisting principally of the tithe brought by those who recognized God's claim upon them, and in like manner tithes brought into the Lord's treasury by those who believe and obey the gospel now support God's ministers and provide abundantly for the temple's servants.
When all Christians faithfully bring tithes and offerings into the house of the Lord for the support of His work, there is abundance in His treasury with enough to eat and plenty left over, because the Lord blesses His people. That full treasury removes any need to resort to unscriptural methods for raising money. The restoration of faithful giving that supported the priests and brought material provision stands as an urging to give likewise for the same result. Those who want a blessing are to give as the people then gave, whose continued bringing in of tithes and offerings sustained the priests and left a surplus.