Tag: Deuteronomy 12-16
Our mission to the poor!
Scripture reading for February 25th: Deuteronomy 12-16
In many cultures, the poor and needy are viewed as under the judgment of the gods. These people are despised and live in the worst conditions on the fringes of society. Children born in the families are destined to live in poverty, sickness, and usually have an early death. India has millions living in the caste system and viewed as nearly untouchable by their peers. The Hindu religion and the teaching of reincarnation and the caste system keep the bondage in place.
The God of the Bible, creator of heaven and earth, is compassionate and merciful. When He formed the nation of Israel and delivered them from slavery, He instructed them to care for those society had looked down upon. The orphans and widows were singled out for special care. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29) God promised to bless the Israelites when they cared for them. The alien was also to be cared for, because the Israelites were aliens and strangers in Egypt and could identify with being on the outside of the economic and political power system.
God said that there should be no poor among His people. (Deuteronomy 15:4) If they fully obeyed the Lord in keeping all His commands, God would so bless them that they would have an abundance to help others. They would lend only and not borrow. (Deuteronomy 15:6) God’s heart was and is to prosper His people. (3 John 2) However, some would be poor and need help. God’s people were to be generous, not to be “tight-fisted” or “hard-hearted”, but “open-handed.” (Deuteronomy 15:7-10) God told them it was a sin to be stingy toward the poor brother! Through their generosity they would honor the generous God who had given them everything!
“A generous man will prosper and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25)
“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31)
“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17)
What about the poor?
Scripture reading for February 25: Deuteronomy 12-16
In many cultures, the poor are viewed as under the judgment of the gods. These people are often despised and live in desperate conditions on the fringes of society. Children born in the families are destined to live in poverty, sickness, and usually have an early death. India has millions living in the caste system and viewed as ” untouchable”. The Hindu religion, the teaching of reincarnation, and the caste system perpetuates the bondage.
The God of the Bible, Creator of heaven and earth, is compassionate and merciful. When He formed the nation of Israel and delivered them from slavery, He instructed them to care for those the world had looked down upon. The orphans and widows were noted by God for special care. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29) God promised to bless the Israelites for caring for them. The alien was also to be cared for. His people could identify with what it felts like to be in a strange culture and on the outside of the economic and political power system from their stay in Egypt.
God said that there should be no poor among His people, however. (Deuteronomy 15:4) The reason given was that if they fully obeyed the Lord in keeping all His commands, God would so bless them that they would have an abundance to help others. They would lend only and not borrow. (Deuteronomy 15:6) They would rule and not be in servitude or poverty.
God seemed to contradict Himself later in Deuteronomy 15:11. But here God was teaching the Israelites that not all would fully obey. Some would be poor and need help. Those who were fully obeying the Lord were to be generous with the poor. They are not to be “tight-fisted” or “hard-hearted” towards their poor brothers, but were to be “open-handed” and “freely lend”. (Deuteronomy 15:7-10) God told them that it was sinful to be stingy toward the poor brother! If we will help the poor, God will richly repay!
“A generous man will prosper and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25)
“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31)
“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17)
Instructions for Being Blessed
Scripture reading for February 25th: Deuteronomy 12-16
Everyone loves to be blessed! Blessings are good things or special favor that come to a person who puts himself in a position to receive them. God is generous and He loves to bless His children who are obedient. In His desire to help them be ready to receive, He laid down instructions for receiving the blessings. Faith is required because some of the instructions go against our feelings and we struggle to see how blessing can come from giving away what we already have.
In the reading today, God instructs His people to only worship Him at the place He chose for them. (Deuteronomy 12:4-7) They were not to use the pagan places of worship used by the Canaanites, nor were they to just worship wherever they chose. God had a specific place where His presence would dwell in their midst. It was His presence that brought blessing, not just the act of sacrifice or worship.
The Israelites were to set aside a tenth (tithe) of all their produce and eat some of this in the presence of the Lord. There in God’s presence, they could rejoice and find rest and acceptance. They were to bring their tithes and offerings to help care for the Levites, who had no inheritance. (Deuteronomy 14:22-27) Their tithes in the third year would also be used to feed the aliens, the fatherless and the widows in their towns so they would not go hungry. God promises blessing for giving this away to help the Levites and the hurting.
After 7 years, all debts were to be canceled. God did not want His people becoming poor and slaves to another. He designed a year to release debts to help those who had had trouble managing their money. If the Israelites would do this as an act of obedience to God and love for their brothers, God would bless them!
If there was a poor person, God’s people were to be generous. (Deuteronomy 15:7-11) They were to give without a grudging heart and God promised blessing. He who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord and He will repay. (Proverbs 19:17)
To the natural mind, it looks like God’s people were always giving away to God or to those in need. This was God’s plan for blessing. God’s presence is near when we obey and He is the ultimate giver!
What about the poor?
Scripture reading for February 25: Deuteronomy 12-16
In many cultures, the poor and needy are viewed as under the judgment of the gods. These people are despised and live in the worst conditions on the fringes of society. Children born in the families are destined to live in poverty, sickness, and usually have an early death. India has millions living in the caste system and viewed as nearly untouchable by their peers. The Hindu religion and the teaching of reincarnation and this caste system keeps the bondage in place.
The God of the Bible, creator of heaven and earth, is compassionate and merciful. When He formed the nation of Israel and delivered them from slavery, He instructed them in the care of those society had looked down upon. The orphans and widows were singled out for care by the Lord. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29) God promised to bless the Israelites for caring for them. The alien was also to be cared for, because the Israelites were also aliens and strangers in Egypt and could identify with what it felts like to be in a strange culture and on the outside of the economic and political power system.
God said that there should be no poor among His people, however. (Deuteronomy 15:4) The reason given was that if they fully obeyed the Lord in keeping all His commands, God would so bless them that they would have an abundance to help others. They would lend only and not borrow. (Deuteronomy 15:6) They would also rule and not be in servitude. “The rich rule over the poor, the borrower becomes the slave of the lender.” (Proverbs: 22:7) This is God’s heart desire for His people. (3 John 2)
God seems to contradict Himself later in Deuteronomy 15:11. He only seems to because here God is telling the Israelites not all will fully obey. Some will be poor and they will need help. Those who are fully obeying the Lord are to be generous with the poor. They are not to be “tight-fisted” or “hard-hearted” towards their poor brothers, but are to be “open-handed” and “freely lend”. (Deuteronomy 15:7-10) God even goes so far as to say it is sin to be stingy toward the poor brother! He is indicating His care for those who are truly needy. God always pays well when we help the poor. We can’t outgive God!
“A generous man will prosper and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25)
“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31)
“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17)