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Opening the Hand Wide to the Poor

Text: Deuteronomy 15
7 August 2005

(I) THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY

1. The fact is that not all will be wealthy

2. There will be some who will be poor

3. There will always be poor people

“The poor will never cease from the land” Deuteronomy 15:15

4. The pitiful plight of the poor

Some become so poor they sell themselves as slaves!

“If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you…” Deuteronomy 15:12

(II) SPECIAL DIVINE LAWS TO PROTECT THE POOR

1. The Year of the Lord’s Release Deuteronomy 15:1-2

a) All debts are cancelled on the seventh year Deuteronomy 15:2,

b) All slaves are to be freed on the seventh year Deuteronomy 15:12

2. Special Provision to be made for The Poor Deuteronomy 15:14

a) “You shall open your hand wide…” Deuteronomy 15:8

b) “You shall not let him go away empty-handed” Deuteronomy 15:13

c) “You shall supply him liberally…” Deuteronomy 15:14

3. Solemn words of warning

a) Warning against hardening of the heart Deuteronomy 15:7

b) Warning against shutting of the hand Deuteronomy 15:7

c) Warning against wicked thoughts of cheating Deuteronomy 15:9

d) Mistreatment of the poor is Sin

“And it becomes a sin among you” Deuteronomy 15:9

(III) PROMISES OF BLESSING TO THOSE WHO SHOW PITY TO THE POOR

1. If there is full obedience

“Only if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today.” Deuteronomy 15:5

2. Promise of Special Blessing

“For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you today;
You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow;
You shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you” Deuteronomy 15:6

“Then the LORD will bless you in all that you do” Deuteronomy 15:18

OUT OF THIS LIFE

Out of this life I shall never take

Things of silver and gold I make.

All that I cherish and hoard away,

After I leave, on earth must stay.

Though I call it mine and I boast its worth,

I must give it up when I quit the earth.

All that I gather and all that I keep

I must leave behind when I fall asleep.

And I wonder often, just what I shall own,

In that other life when I pass alone.

What shall He find and what shall He see,

In the soul that answers the call for me?

Shall the great Judge learn when my task is through

That my soul had gathered some riches too?

Or shall at the last, it be mine to find,

That all I ha worked for, I had left behind.

– Anonymous –