The Balance Sheet of Righteousness
Deuteronomy 33:19
They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer sacrifices of righteousness; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand.”
Deuteronomy 33:18-20 (in Context) Deuteronomy 33 (Whole Chapter)
This is an interesting verse on righteousness. When I first read it, I had a clear “feeling” of what “sacrifices of righteousness” meant, but defining it “in words” was more difficult.
Deuteronomy 33:18-19Â (New International Version)
  Â 18 About Zebulun he said:
      “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,
      and you, Issachar, in your tents. 19 They will summon peoples to the mountain
      and there offer sacrifices of righteousness;
      they will feast on the abundance of the seas,
      on the treasures hidden in the sand.”
Viewed in context, we see this in Moses’ farewell speech to the tribes of Israel. Deut. 33:19 is part of his pronouncements regarding Zebulun and his family and offspring. Knowing what righteousness is (i.e., believing and obeying God), it would seem that Zebulun will be a family that believes God and obeys him. It would also seem that God’s blessings will include Zebulun, for they will have grains and animals to sacrifice. “Sacrifices of righteousness” therefore means that God views that person or group as righteous, possibly blesses them through it, and certainly accepts their sacrifices for it. It is not a statement about how righteous the group “is” based on the skill of their actions, so much as it is how righteous God sees them on account of their faith and obedience in Him.
To me, this is not merely a reflection of whether one gives sacrifice. After all, someone could go to the trouble of “obeying” the sacrifical law, but not in a “spirit” of obedience. For example, we saw righteousness start with Abram’s belief; because without belief, without faith, there is no obedience. How is that? Well, consider this: no matter how well you follow the rules, if you do not have faith in the rule-giver, then who are you obeying? The masses perhaps? Well, faith in the masses is not credited to you as righteousness, and I dare say obeying them is not righteoussness for you either. So, if you have no faith in God, then abiding by His rules is not obedience, but convenience, or worse, coincidence. In the Bible, righteousness started with belief… i.e., faith. It starts with faith, and continues with obedience. And now we see what it leads to: sacrifice.
For a Christian, how does this work? Well, as much as we say that we’re no longer under the law, that’s actually a red-herring, because only the Jews were given the law, and most of the church is Gentile. Though, if you are a Jew (as I am) and Christian (as I am) then the statement is true: you are no longer under the law… but why not? Because Jesus fulfilled your requirements for a sin offering for all time. I won’t go into the entire study, but basically the sacrifices of old merely covered your sins; Jesus’ sacrifice washed you clean. So, in a practical sense, no more sin offerings necessary. For the Gentile? Well, God never asked you for one, but provided one on your behalf regardless. But, Jesus didn’t leave it at that.
We are to believe in Jesus Christ, believe God that we’re sinners, and believe God that Jesus is our sin offering. Our repentence and thankfulness to Him, that moment we became a Christian, is where our righteousness begins. You believed God, and it was credited to you as righteousness. Credited, right? Because you didn’t earn it, but had faith, like Abram.
Next, Jesus told us what the most important commandments to obey were: to love God and your neighbor. It doesn’t get much simpler. Are you obedient there? Then that is your righteousness. He also told you to pay your taxes and your tithes. Taxes are easy, but what about your tithes? Do you tithe? If you do, then it is surely a sacrifice… especially in this economy. But have you remained obedient? Do you still sacrifice? And do you do it to look good to your church leadership, or are you doing it out of obedience to God? If it’s to look good, then consider who you are obeying… it isn’t God. However, if it is out of obedience to God, then I dare say that your giving is accepted by God as a sacrifice of righteousness.
In closing, I would encourage you not to get caught up in the analysis of how humanity spends your tithe or the extra credit card interest you are paying while you tithe. Just believe God and he will credit you with righteousness. Obey Him by loving God and your neighbor and that will be your righteousness.  Finally, give sacrifices of righteousness. If you don’t currently, then pray about it. In biblical times, people without the “required” rams were allowed to give doves. People without doves were allowed to give grains. So work it out with Him. Remember the Israelites in the desert could never gather the right amount of manna… not one did. But those who gathered in faith and brought what they gathered to the priests for measurement saw what they gather measure exactly right. I’ve applied this scripture to so many situations, and it’s helped me walk with God in clarity. Emotions make it feel hard; monetary balance sheets make it seem prohibitive. But, when this world passes, so will your finances. The balance sheet of righteousness is the only one that endures.