AM Bible Study Group; July 6, 2011
Deuteronomy 15:1-18
Theme: In this chapter, God’s people are instructed to show mercy to those who are placed under them because of pressing need.
In this chapter, God gave His people specific instructions to regulate those cases in which someone had to place themselves into servitude to someone else because of pressing needs. In all of it, the people are called upon to remember mercy—because they too were once slaves in Egypt. God commanded such mercy through . . .
I. A SEVENTH-YEAR RELEASE OF DEBT (vv. 1-6).
A. God commanded that, at the end of every seven years, a complete release of all debts was to be granted (v. 1). That this involved a complete release—not just a relief during the seventh year—is made clear in verses 7-11. The form of this release is described in verse 2-3. Of a foreigner, the debt may be required; but of a fellow Jew, it must be forgiven. The law had previously commanded a sabbath on the seventh year for the land (see Leviticus 25:1-7); but here, a release is also commanded for those who had debts—including those whose debts were so great that they had to place themselves under servitude to the creditor (see Leviticus 25:39-46; see also Proverbs 22:7).
B. There was an ideal involved in this. It was conceivable that the people lived so obediently that there would be no poor in the land (v. 4-6). Sadly, however, this ideal was not achieved (see v. 11; see also Matthew 26:11). But it’s God’s desire that His people so live that they are the lenders—not the borrowers; and that they are the rulers— not the servants (see v. 6).
II. SACRIFICIAL GENEROSITY TO THE POOR (vv. 7-11).
A. Human nature being what it is, the commanded release in the seventh year might have tempted some to tighten their hand and not lend to those in need—particularly if the meeting of that need was so close to the seventh year that it would have to be immediately forgiven and never recovered by the lender. The creditor would then be required to suffer loss. But God commanded that His people be generous and lend anyway (vv. 7-9).
B. God promises that He will bless those who are faithful in this, and who give generously —even at their own loss. Verse 11 even seems to suggest that there will always be poor among them to test them in their obedience to this; and to challenge them to trust Him for His provision (see Philippians 4:19).
III. COMPASSION SHOWN TO THOSE SET FREE (vv. 12-18).
A. In those cases in which someone’s need is so great that they had to sell themselves as slaves to their creditors, mercy was to prevail (see also Exodus 21:1-11). The debt-slave was to be released at the seventh year (v. 12). What’s more, because he was under servitude for possibly as much as six years, he was not to be released “empty handed”; but was to be generously supplied from the creditors stock (vv. 13-14).
B. In all this, they were to remember that they, too, were slaves in Egypt; and that God had released them (v. 15). They were not to make the slave feel badly by making a show of hardship over their release—because that slave truly earned that freedom by their service (v. 18). It would be a very wicked thing to have been shown mercy by God, and yet refuse to show mercy to those around them in similar need.
C. In some cases, a slave would be better off with his master; and God gave a provision—in mercy—for that man or woman to become a permanent servant to the household of his master (vv. 16-17). The piercing of the ear—which was a very public event (see also Exodus 21:5-6)—would have permanently identified the slave to the home of the master.
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The law of the seventh-year release illustrates for us how we are to be ready to forgive others because we have been forgiven by God. Jesus pointed this out to us in His parable:
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses” (Matthew 18:21-35)