신명기 Chapter 15

Translation: ESV

1

At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release.

Key Message

Economic justice is God's concern. Institutional measures to prevent permanent poverty are necessary.

▸Chapter 15 contains regulations concerning the release of debts (the sabbatical year), the freedom of servants, and the firstborn.

Chapter 15 contains regulations concerning the release of debts (the sabbatical year), the freedom of servants, and the firstborn. The release of debts every seven years is a revolutionary feature of Israel's economic system. It is an institution designed to prevent the permanent formation of an underclass.

Related Verses

Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD.
2

And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the LORD's release has been proclaimed.

Key Message

Debt release is not economic generosity but an expression of faith in the fear of God.

▸The procedure for debt release is explained specifically.

3

Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release.

Key Message

A higher ethical standard applies within the community of faith. Brotherhood entails special responsibility.

▸The year of release applies within the Israelite community.

4

But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess—

Key Message

God's ideal is that there is no poverty in the community. Moving toward this is the value of the kingdom of God.

▸The ideal state is declared: 'there will be no poor among you'—this is God's ideal goal.

5

if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today.

Key Message

The realization of the social ideal begins with obedience to God's Word.

▸The condition for the ideal society without poverty is presented.

6

For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.

Key Message

God's blessing includes economic self-reliance and strength. Obedience leads to prosperity.

▸As a result of obedience, Israel will be a lender to other nations and will not borrow.

7

If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,

Key Message

Helping a poor brother even at the risk of economic loss is the practice of faith.

▸As the year of release approaches, people may become reluctant to lend to the poor.

8

but you shall open wide your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

Key Message

True generosity is willing and sufficient. Giving a little reluctantly is not generosity.

▸'You shall open wide your hand'—an image contrasting with the previous 'shut your hand.

9

Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin.

Key Message

Turning a blind eye to the poor out of economic calculation is sin in God's sight.

▸Refusing to lend just before the year of release is defined as an 'unworthy thought' and 'sin.

10

You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

Key Message

Cheerful giving brings God's blessing. Generosity is not a loss but an investment.

▸'You shall give to him freely'—this is an obligation, not a choice.

11

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'

Key Message

The complete elimination of poverty is difficult, but that is no reason to cease helping. Continuous generosity is required.

▸'There will never cease to be poor in the land'—this is a realistic recognition of the permanence of poverty.

12

If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.

Key Message

Among God's people there is no permanent enslavement. Every person is created in the image of God.

▸The regulation for the release of Hebrew servants is presented.

13

And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed.

Key Message

Freedom must be substantive. Formal release alone is not enough.

▸This is the command not to send a servant away empty-handed when releasing him.

14

You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.

Key Message

Giving to others in proportion to the blessing God has given you is the standard of generosity.

▸What is to be given to the servant is specifically presented.

15

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.

Key Message

The memory of grace received becomes the motivation for extending grace to others.

▸The theological basis for generous release is presented.

16

But if he says to you, 'I will not go out from you,' because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you,

Key Message

Good relationships are stronger than obligations. Where there is love, freedom takes on new meaning.

▸An exception clause is presented.

17

then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever. And to your female servant you shall do the same.

Key Message

Voluntary devotion is stronger than compulsion. Service born from love is true freedom.

▸The ritual of piercing the ear of the one who voluntarily chooses to remain as a servant is prescribed.

18

It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for at half the cost of a hired worker he has served you six years. So the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do.

Key Message

Following God's commands ultimately results in no loss. Generosity brings blessing.

▸Encouragement is given not to consider it burdensome to send the servant away.

19

All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the LORD your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.

Key Message

Giving the first thing to God is an act of acknowledging that God is the owner of everything.

▸Regulations concerning firstborn male livestock begin.

20

You shall eat it, you and your household, before the LORD your God year by year at the place that the LORD will choose.

Key Message

Sharing before God what has been offered to God is the joy of worship.

▸The firstborn is eaten with family at the central sanctuary.

21

But if it has any defect, if it is lame or blind or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Key Message

God must receive the best. Using the remainder to give to God while keeping the best for oneself is treating God lightly.

▸Do not offer to God anything that has a defect.

22

You shall eat it within your towns. The unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as though it were a gazelle or a deer.

Key Message

The best for God and what is used in daily life can be different. Both domains are distinguished, and both are used with gratitude.

▸The defective firstborn cannot be sacrificed at the sanctuary, but it can be eaten as ordinary food at home.

23

Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.

Key Message

The sovereignty of life always belongs to God. This principle has no exceptions.

▸This is the final command of chapter 15.