In verses 35-55, God champions the rights of the poor. He encourages his holy people to help the poor and to loan them money without interest. He cautions them to fear God, repent of greed, and he will live among them. Holy people should protect the poor and help them back on the road of recovery, not make a profit out of their hardships. So often the poor are kept in generational poverty by greedy opportunists.

The Lord reminds them how he brought them out of bondage in Egypt and helped them to be his holy people. Likewise, they and we should have compassion and help others in dire need, too. Let's remember the grace we received when we were helpless and be fair and generous.

Out of extreme poverty, some Israelites were forced into servitude (39). They, too, should be set free in the year of Jubilee, for the people belong to the Lord. They must be treated respectfully as hired servants. The Lord allowed them to keep foreigners as slaves. In this cursed world, slavery is an insidious evil and deceives people into justifying ruthless behavior (43). The Jubilee looks forward to Jesus who sets us free from sin, restores us as children of God, and gives us the kingdom of God.


Application: Father, thank you for Jesus who sets me free. Help me to live up to your holy standard of being fair, generous, and respectful of the poor.
One Word: God sets people free