FRIDAY
This week in our devotional, since last Sunday was Serve Sunday, we are going to simply read some passages in Scripture about caring for the poor. This is a consistent theme throughout all of Scripture.
In the Mosaic Law, there were many expression of God’s concern for the poor. The poor in Israel were to be protected and cared for. We’ve already seen how the people of Israel failed to live up to God’s law in this area, when we read the Prophets. Now let’s see the laws themselves.
Deuteronomy 15:7–8 7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.
Deuteronomy 15:11 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
Leviticus 19:9–10 9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.”
Exodus 23:10–11 10 “For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.”
Exodus 22:25 25 “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.”
So, here we see a few of the laws that demanded the people of Israel care for the poor in their society.