20: The Release of debts and slaves (#4 Sabbath law) (Deut 15:1 – 23)

Chapters 15 and 16 tell that the spirit of the law of God for His people is liberality. They needed to release debts and slaves every seventh year. The spirit of freedom is embodied in the fourth commandment, the Sabbath law.

πŸ‘‰ Read Deuteronomy 15:1 - 23

The Lord asked them to cancel all debts at the end of every (           ) year. What is the compensation for this? (4-6)

 

If you refuse to lend money to the needy, it is your sin. Why?

 

Why do you need to keep helping others in need? (v11)

 

What verses promise to bless them if they release their fellow Israelites from the bondage of debt and slavery? (four verses)

 

Any firstborn from their herds or flocks should be offered to (            ). But the one with blemish, they cannot offer it but may eat it at their (             ).

 

Answers and Meditations

Seventh, the Lord will surely bless them.

The Lord doesn’t want His people to live in debt in the promised land. When you read the Bible and interpret the law, keep this in your mind. True freedom and eternal blessing are the Lord's will for His people. 

 

They will cry out to the Lord, and you will be guilty.

If you acknowledge that it is the Lord who made you rich, you will admit that you are obligated to share with others. 


There will be some poor people always.

 

4,6,10,18

Compare four verses and see how the Lord confirms to bless us. Surely (4), in the land (4), just as He promised (6), all your work and everything you attempt (10), everything you do (18).

You don't need to spend too much time or energy to decide where to go and what to do. Just follow the Lord's ways, He will bless you in everything you attempt!


The Lord, villages

Though the Bible doesn’t explicitly detail the procedure of the firstborn offering, it seems they offered it in a way similar to a peace offering. They ate together with the priests after the sacrifice. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

25: ‘Tell us plainly’ vs ‘The Father and I are one.’ (John 10:22 – 42)

As Jesus announced the Father and Jesus were one, the Jewish leaders tried to stone him. πŸ‘‰ Read John 10:22 - 42 Q1. Why did the Jewish leaders not believe in Jesus? Answers πŸ‘‰ They refused to believe in Jesus, for they were not Jesus’ sheep. ‘you refused to believe.’ This tells their willing refusal.  Note that Jesus Himself doesn’t call Himself the Messiah. Instead, He called Himself the One sent from God. He focused on doing the Father’s works and proclaiming His words. From Jesus’ works, they could have concluded that He was the Messiah sent from God. But they refused to admit it. Instead, they asked Jesus to admit His identity as the Messiah plainly, which Jesus wouldn’t do. Q2. They asked Jesus if He were the (           ). But Jesus claimed that the (          ) and He are one. Because of this, they condemned Him of (             ) and tried to stone Him. Answer πŸ‘‰ They asked Jesus if He were the ( Christ ). But Jesus claimed that the ( Father  ) and He are one
Read more

26: Other Laws concerning human life (#6 no murder) (Deut 21:1 – 22:8)

The command ‘do not murder’ should be extended to its full measure and completeness. They needed to remove the guilt of unresolved murder, keep the dignity of the female slave, respect the patrilineal inheritance, and preserve various lives. πŸ‘‰ Read Deuteronomy 21:1 - 22:8 When a homicide victim is found, and no one knows the murderer, the elders of the nearest town must do a ritual of atonement through the death of a heifer. What is the purpose of doing so? (7-9) If you had made your female slave your wife, you can divorce her but not (             ) her. For a man with two wives, if his less-loved wife’s son is the firstborn, let him inherit the (            ) portion. He should not show favoritism according to his affection for one of his wives. When a son doesn’t listen to his parent, he is like a glutton and (             ). Why should they not leave the corpse on the tree of execution overnight? When you see someone’s lost possession, do not (           ) it. You must not re
Read more

35: I am the True Vine. You are the Branches (John 15:1 – 17)

Image
The vine tree analogy so vividly illustrates our relationship with Jesus. As the branches of a vine share the life of the vine, we share and live from Jesus’ life. πŸ‘‰ Read John 15:1 - 17 Q1. Why do we need to remain in Jesus? (2, 4) Answers πŸ‘‰ To bear fruit. God takes away any branch that doesn’t bear fruit. We might debate the security of salvation: do we lose our salvation if we bear no fruit? However, it is better to focus on how to bear fruit rather than how to get salvation.  “You are clean already.” It would refer to a born-again status, a rightful relationship with the Father, one who bathed (13:10). John uses the imagery of cleanness for salvation. In the OT bible, one should be ritually clean to stand before God.  When we believe Jesus’ gospel, we are reconciled with the Father. Though sinners, we can approach God by Jesus’ blood. The pruning (lit. cleaning) (2) of our life is to make us bear more fruit. “Remain”: You should stay, not stop by. No plant produces fruit
Read more