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God’s Care for the Poor
337
midst, ... where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him.”
(
Deuteronomy 23:15, 16
).
To the poor, the seventh year was a year of release from debt.
The Hebrews were to lend money without interest to their needy
spiritual brothers and sisters. It was expressly forbidden to require
unusually high interest rates from the poor: “If one of your brethren
becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall
help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.
Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your
brother may live with you. You shall not lend him your money for
usury, nor lend him your food at a profit.” (
Leviticus 25:35-37
). If
the debt remained unpaid until the year of release, the principal itself
could not be recovered. “If there is among you a poor man of your
brethren, ... you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from
your poor brother. ... Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your
heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and
your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing,
and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become sin among
you.” “The poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command
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you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your
poor and to your needy, in your land,’” “‘and willingly lend him
sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.’” (
Deuteronomy 15:7-9,
11, 8
).
No one needed to be afraid that their generosity would make
them poor. “You shall lend to many nations,” God said, “but you
shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall
not reign over you.” (
Deuteronomy 15:6
).
Preventing Extremes of Wealth or Poverty
After “seven times seven years” came the great year of release—
the Jubilee. “Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to
sound ... throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the
fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its
inhabitants ... and each of you shall return to his family.” (
Leviticus
25:9, 10
).