http://adventistsermons.blogspot.co.uk/ Walter Pearson – The Floodgates Of Heaven, Part 1
Since the time Abraham first paid “tithe” to Melchizedek—king of Salem and priest of the Most High God (Gen. 14:18)—believers throughout the ages have earnestly inquired about how to figure one’s tithe, when and where to return it to God, and what God wants the tithe to be used for.
Tithe was one-tenth of one’s increase (Mal. 3:7-10; Lev. 27:30, 32) returned to God as a sign of one’s allegiance to, and partnership with, God. God was the acknowledged owner, humans the stewards of His property. In Malachi’s day the tithes were paid to the priests. Tithes were stored in a “storehouse.” a collection of rooms at the Temple in Jerusalem, since tithes were often paid in agricultural produce. The tithes were the payment, or inheritance, for the tribe of Levi—those who ministered before God at the Temple. God said, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house” (Mal. 3:10, MV).
The tithe spoken of was neither an “offering,” nor “second tithe” (an additional one-tenth set aside by some Israelites as an offering), but a full one-tenth of one’s increase given to the priests.
