LOOK | WHAT DOES IT SAY?
THINK | WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Today's readings are from the specific stipulations in Moses' second speech (Deuteronomy 15-18). For a free and easily accessible, modern, online commentary from a trustworthy and reputable resource, The Gospel Coalition Commentaries are once again a good resource--specifically this commentary written by J. Gary Millar.
Keeping Time by Looking to God. It is really interesting to see how the whole structure of Israelite life was centered around their identity as God's people. In Deuteronomy 15 we see the Year of Release, which was practiced every seven years. And then in Deuteronomy 16 we see the pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Shavuot (also called Pentecost), and Sukkot (the Feast of Booths). Significant planning had to be done to account for these events. If I am reading this right, there was no way that Israelite society could accomodate something like a 40-year mortgage; the laws of Deuteronomy 15 would not have allowed a creditor to provide a loan that took longer than seven years to pay off (at least not without being severely disappointed when all debts were cleared in the sabbatical year). So at all points, the economical decisions of Israelites had to account for the reality that they lived on time that was structured by God's commands. The same thing was seen in the Jubilee Year (Leviticus 25) and the Sabbath year for the land (Exodus 23). In the case of the pilgrimage festivals, whole features of Israelite society and customs also had to be set up to account for God's command to have all the males gather in Jerusalem for three festivals each year in Deuteronomy 16. The reminders for the people were constant. Maybe it's worth leaning into some holidays and regular rhythms of life to remind ourselves that we belong to God as well! It is my hope that as we journey through the month of March this year, that we will also have a sense of keeping time marked by our relationship with God, in which we are journeying with Jesus to Jerusalem together, that we are entering through the gates amidst the triumphal entry of Palm Sunday, that we weep at the foot of the cross on Good Friday, and that we celebrate the news of the empty tomb together with the disciples on Easter.
There will be no poor... there will never cease to be poor. Deuteronomy 15:4 and 11 shows the difference between realism and idealism, and demonstrates that both have a place within the instructions of God. On the idealistic side, we are told in 15:4 that "there will be no poor" in the land of Israel. But due to human factors and the facts of life, the reality was that according to 15:11 "there will never cease to be poor" in the land. Here we see the groundedness and wisdom of God's law. God's Word avoids both the airy, detached expectation that everything will just go fantastic, while at the same time avoiding cynical defeatism. Sure, there will always be poor in the land--so, it seems to say, we'll just continually work to wipe out poverty. But on the other hand: Sure, we've got a plan to eradicate poverty--but we'll reexamine it every 5 years, because of course there will still be poverty. It's this balance that helps us to swing for the fences without getting crushed when things don't go as far or as fast as we feel like they should. We need the idealists to lead us out to do the impossible, and we need the realists to come along behind to build structures for dealing with the reality that we might fall a bit short of the mark. That's how progress happens.
There will be no poor... there will never cease to be poor. Deuteronomy 15:4 and 11 shows the difference between realism and idealism, and demonstrates that both have a place within the instructions of God. On the idealistic side, we are told in 15:4 that "there will be no poor" in the land of Israel. But due to human factors and the facts of life, the reality was that according to 15:11 "there will never cease to be poor" in the land. Here we see the groundedness and wisdom of God's law. God's Word avoids both the airy, detached expectation that everything will just go fantastic, while at the same time avoiding cynical defeatism. Sure, there will always be poor in the land--so, it seems to say, we'll just continually work to wipe out poverty. But on the other hand: Sure, we've got a plan to eradicate poverty--but we'll reexamine it every 5 years, because of course there will still be poverty. It's this balance that helps us to swing for the fences without getting crushed when things don't go as far or as fast as we feel like they should. We need the idealists to lead us out to do the impossible, and we need the realists to come along behind to build structures for dealing with the reality that we might fall a bit short of the mark. That's how progress happens.
RESPOND | WHAT IS OUR PART?
How can we respond in our worship, attitude, and actions? In our attitudes, I at least feel pretty convicted of my own tendency to fall into either idealism or cynicism. While we will never reach perfection in ourselves or in society on this side of glory, it's still worth it to head out and see how far we can get towards the goal. In our actions it might be worth it to do little things to make our schedules reflect that we are God's people, like Deuteronomy 15 and 16 portray. One option could be to adopt the Jewish Calendar. But more realistically, we could try other ways. What if we scheduled an hour with God this week the way that we would for a meeting, by putting a place and time into our Google calendars or printed daily planners? What if I could look at my schedule and see by what I've got booked in it that I belong to God's people?
PRAY | HOW DOES THIS BRING US CLOSER TO GOD?
Here is a suggested prayer prompt: "I spend my time on so many things, and I schedule myself around other important things in my life. I make time for meetings and shows and books and gatherings. But God, help me to make time to spend in your presence, reflecting on what you are saying to me through your Word."
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