Daily Devotions
My Song In The Night (Exodus)
我夜间的歌曲《出埃及记》
Text: Exodus 22: 25-27
MEDITATION
Exodus 22:25-27
25 “If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.
26 If you ever take your neighbour’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down.
27 For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
MEANINGFUL APPLICATION TO LIFE
1. Money problems
a. This is not an uncommon problem.
b. There were poor people in the days of Moses too.
2. Moneylenders
a. The idea of a bank did not exist in the ancient days.
b. Moneylenders were the people to approach for loans.
c. It was not unusual to charge some interest for money that were loaned out.
3. Law on lending money to fellow-Israelites
a. The rich were to help the poor.
b. They must be willing to give loans.
c. They were not to charge interest on their loans.
4. Taking a pledge
a. This is like giving a guarantee to the moneylender.
b. The poor man is to give his cloak to the moneylender if he has nothing else of value to offer as a guarantee (collateral).
c. The moneylender must return the cloak to the poor man in the evening.
d. It is his only way to keep warm in the cold night.
5. A word of warning to the moneylender
a. If the moneylender is mean, he will not return the cloak and thus disobeys the Lord.
b. If the poor man cries out to the Lord in prayer, God will hear the poor man.
c. He is gracious.
d. He will then deal with the moneylender:
i. For being mean.
ii. For disobedience to the command of the Lord.
iii. For causing unnecessary extra hardship to the poor man who is already struggling in life to make ends meet.
经文:出埃及记 22:25-27
沉思
《出埃及记 22:25-27》
25不可苦待寡妇和孤儿。“我民中有贫穷人与你同住,你若借钱给他,不可如放债的向他取利。
26你即或拿邻舍的衣服做当头,必在日落以先归还他。27因他只有这一件当盖头,是他盖身的衣服,若是没有,他拿什么睡觉呢?他哀求我,我就应允,因为我是有恩惠的