Deuteronomy 15.
THEY had been slaves themselves; could that ever be forgotten? They had been poor indeed; a look backward to the time before God had taken them up, when they were wretched brickmakers under the lash of the taskmaker in Egypt, would remind them of that. What then? Every seven years every debtor among the people of God was to be released, for He would greatly bless His people, if they would “carefully hearken” to His word, to do all His commandments.
“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” The poor human heart is so easily hardened, the hand so easily shut from the poor brother (verse 7). In verse 9 we should read, “a wicked thought in thy heart.” instead of “a thought in thy wicked heart.” as our common version reads. Ah, God can read our thoughts! May He warm the hearts of all His own, to a more real imitation of the Lord Jesus in the grace that was so beautifully shown in Him, the rich One, who for our sakes became poor. that we (believers) through His poverty might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:99For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)).
The Hebrew slave (verses 12-18), was not only to be set free at the end of six years, but he was to be furnished “liberally” out of what God had given. This we may say, is like God. He sets the poor slave of Satan free, and gives him the very treasure house of heaven to draw upon; no grudging God is ours! Then is given the possibility of a willing slave who loved his master, and does not want to go free. Surely each must have treated the other in the fear of God, faithfully, and in love.
Verses 19-23: What was owing to God was to be recognized as His. Year by year He should have His portion in the gathering of His people in the appointed place, — “thou and thy household,” for the whole family ought to be the Lord’s. Nothing with a blemish should be offered to God; it might be eaten at home, but the blood. as always, must be poured out.
ML 12/07/1924