Deuteronomy
15 – God has a Poverty Program
Every
seventh year is a sabbatical year. In that year a release was to be made. Israelites
could not take a mortgage that was going to last more than seven years. When
the seventh year came around, money that had been lent or mortgages that had
been made were all to be cancelled out. God had a system for Israel which
equalized the opportunity so that it was possible for the poor man who really
wanted to work to get something for himself. God’s system guarded against
extreme wealth and extreme poverty.
If
man had obeyed God in this respect, there would have been no poor among them;
there would have been a balance of wealth. It is not the system that is wrong;
it is man that is wrong. God makes it very clear that if His system had been
used, the problem would have been solved. The nation never fully obeyed it, and
the Jewish people don’t fully obey it today. God warned them not to rationalize
their responsibility. God knows the human heart, He told them there would
always be poor people in the land. “The poor always ye have with you…” John
12:8.
“You
shall open your hand wide to your brother, and to the needy, in your hand.”
Slaves were to be freed on the seventh year. When the slave was freed, he was
not to be sent away empty-handed.
Jesus
could have gone out free. He owed no debt of sin; He was no sinner. He had no penalty to pay. But He loved us and
gave Himself for us.
Please
read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.
If
you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.
J.
Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.
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