22:25-27
It is true in almost every society that the poor pay higher interest rates than the rest. This can be true through “payday lenders”, or in the worst case, loan sharks. The Biblical standard is that interest should not be charged on loans to the poor. The poor are poor, and are far from able to pay back interest. So interest bearing loans are just going to drive them further into poverty.
A similar sentiment lies behind the instruction to return a cloak given in pledge by sun down. The neighbour needs the cloak. There are two underlying principles. One is that we must not exploit the poor, ways of doing things that might be OK for a person in normal circumstances cannot be applied to someone who is in poverty. The second is a repeat of the warning that the Lord hears the cry of the poor.
22:28-31
We are not to blaspheme God, nor curse the ruler of our people. When things go wrong it is a natural reaction to blame God or the government. I guess many of us are guilty of this, especially cursing the government. We need to be very careful.
It can also be tempting to withhold tithes and offerings if things look a bit tight. We must not do this. As Malachi 3 tells us, this would actually be a false economy. Giving should be considered an essential part of our life.
“You are to be a holy people”. This is the overarching principle in how we are to live. We are a people dedicated to the Lord. Living for Him, and receiving power from Him. The specific injunction about eating carrion, was that the meat would not be ritually clean.
No comments:
Post a Comment