There
should be no poor among you. (Deuteronomy
15:4)Our nation’s capital is full of homeless people. They make their beds at Union Station and near the White House (both obviously major tourist destinations). Every once in awhile, especially before a significant event, the Capital Police will push the poor out of these more visible locations, and relocate them elsewhere. After all, it doesn’t look good for the most prosperous nation in the world to have street people huddled beneath dirty blankets in front of tourists and TV cameras.
Chapter 15 speaks about the Sabbath year for cancelling debts. There should be no poor among you. It's not the poor this passage is aimed at, but those with plenty. Deuteronomy does not blame the have-nots for their lot in life. It charges those with much to care for those with little. Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs (Deuteronomy 15:7,8).
Why are so
many Christians quick to quote Paul: “The
one who is unwilling to work shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10), but
slow to quote Jesus: “Whatever you did
not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Matthew
25:45)?
This section reminds me of Proverbs 19:17 - If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord - and he will repay you!
This section reminds me of Proverbs 19:17 - If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord - and he will repay you!
When’s the last time you
looked the other way rather than connecting with the poor?
If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” ... do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them. 9 You must certainly put them to death.
ReplyDeleteIf you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in 13 that troublemakers have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” ... you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. You must destroy it completely,[b] both its people and its livestock.
It would seem if the people did the above, then no one would be following other gods, and yet we all know that Israel did just that. Is it known how long it took before they starting ignoring the above and let worship of other gods creep in? Was it after they took over the land God had given them, or was it before they were even all settled?