1 00:00:00,860 –> 00:00:03,020 The Gospels tell us about an occasion 2 00:00:03,020 –> 00:00:07,060 when someone asked our Lord, Jesus, this question. 3 00:00:07,060 –> 00:00:09,600 Of all the commandments, the man asked, 4 00:00:09,600 –> 00:00:11,940 which is the most important? 5 00:00:12,960 –> 00:00:16,459 And you know that Jesus answered in this way. 6 00:00:16,459 –> 00:00:20,600 He said, the most important commandment is this, 7 00:00:20,600 –> 00:00:22,660 love the Lord your God with all your heart 8 00:00:22,660 –> 00:00:24,920 and with all your soul and with all your mind 9 00:00:24,920 –> 00:00:26,200 and with all your strength. 10 00:00:26,200 –> 00:00:29,920 And then he said, and the second one is like it. 11 00:00:30,320 –> 00:00:32,099 The second most important commandment 12 00:00:32,099 –> 00:00:34,939 is love your neighbor as yourself. 13 00:00:35,880 –> 00:00:38,240 So our Lord Jesus Christ makes it very clear 14 00:00:38,240 –> 00:00:41,380 that everything that God asks of you, 15 00:00:41,380 –> 00:00:42,880 all that he calls you to be, 16 00:00:42,880 –> 00:00:46,320 all that he calls you to do is really summed up in this. 17 00:00:46,320 –> 00:00:48,599 Love God with all your heart 18 00:00:48,599 –> 00:00:51,520 and love your neighbor as yourself. 19 00:00:53,180 –> 00:00:55,439 And we’re seeing as we move through this series 20 00:00:55,439 –> 00:00:58,299 that the entire Book of Deuteronomy 21 00:00:58,400 –> 00:01:02,080 is really an exposition or an application 22 00:01:02,080 –> 00:01:04,199 of these two commandments. 23 00:01:04,199 –> 00:01:07,180 It’s telling us what it meant for God’s people 24 00:01:07,180 –> 00:01:11,800 in ancient Israel to love God with all of their hearts 25 00:01:11,800 –> 00:01:16,419 and to love their neighbor as they loved themselves. 26 00:01:16,419 –> 00:01:19,059 Now, we’ve been learning in the first part of this series 27 00:01:19,059 –> 00:01:21,739 about what it means to love the Lord. 28 00:01:21,739 –> 00:01:23,139 We’ve been seeing how loving God 29 00:01:23,139 –> 00:01:25,900 will have an influence on family life. 30 00:01:26,220 –> 00:01:28,639 We’ve been seeing together how remembering the Lord 31 00:01:28,639 –> 00:01:31,320 will deliver us from a circle of pride 32 00:01:31,320 –> 00:01:35,019 and move us into a circle of praise. 33 00:01:35,019 –> 00:01:38,440 Last week we got to chapter eight of Deuteronomy. 34 00:01:38,440 –> 00:01:41,099 And if you look in your Bible over the pages 35 00:01:41,099 –> 00:01:43,699 at what follows chapter eight there, 36 00:01:43,699 –> 00:01:45,559 you’ll see that there are more chapters 37 00:01:45,559 –> 00:01:48,779 that are spelling out, applying to God’s people 38 00:01:48,779 –> 00:01:51,019 what it means to love the Lord. 39 00:01:51,019 –> 00:01:53,379 So that for example in chapter nine, 40 00:01:53,419 –> 00:01:55,500 there is a warning about idols taken 41 00:01:55,500 –> 00:01:58,160 from the story of the Golden Calf. 42 00:01:58,160 –> 00:02:01,139 Chapter 11 is about loving and obeying the Lord. 43 00:02:01,139 –> 00:02:03,860 If you have the NIV you’ll see that title there. 44 00:02:03,860 –> 00:02:06,500 Chapter 12 is about one place of worship. 45 00:02:06,500 –> 00:02:08,619 In other words, where to worship the Lord. 46 00:02:08,619 –> 00:02:13,339 Chapter 13 is a warning against worshiping any other gods. 47 00:02:13,339 –> 00:02:16,539 So all of this really is an exposition 48 00:02:16,539 –> 00:02:20,259 or an application of the first three commandments. 49 00:02:20,259 –> 00:02:22,020 It’s spelling out what it means 50 00:02:22,419 –> 00:02:24,500 to have no other gods before the Lord, 51 00:02:24,500 –> 00:02:28,020 not to make any idol or not to misuse 52 00:02:28,020 –> 00:02:30,919 the name of the Lord your God. 53 00:02:30,919 –> 00:02:32,860 Now as this is a short series, 54 00:02:32,860 –> 00:02:36,479 I want us to move on to fresh ground today. 55 00:02:36,479 –> 00:02:40,059 And that’s why we’re coming on to chapter 15, 56 00:02:40,059 –> 00:02:42,899 which is really an application or an exposition 57 00:02:42,899 –> 00:02:44,860 of the fourth commandment, 58 00:02:44,860 –> 00:02:46,300 that of course is the commandment 59 00:02:46,300 –> 00:02:48,500 about remembering the Sabbath day 60 00:02:48,500 –> 00:02:50,039 and keeping it holy. 61 00:02:50,059 –> 00:02:52,679 And what I want us to see here today 62 00:02:52,679 –> 00:02:56,279 is that the root of loving God 63 00:02:56,279 –> 00:03:00,399 produces the fruit of loving other people. 64 00:03:00,399 –> 00:03:02,460 That’s always the way it works. 65 00:03:02,460 –> 00:03:04,699 We don’t generate love from others 66 00:03:04,699 –> 00:03:07,500 by some kind of latent power within ourselves. 67 00:03:07,500 –> 00:03:10,779 Real self sacrificing love 68 00:03:10,779 –> 00:03:12,839 has its root in love for God. 69 00:03:12,839 –> 00:03:14,419 The root of love for God 70 00:03:14,419 –> 00:03:17,679 produces the fruit of love for others, 71 00:03:17,740 –> 00:03:19,539 and we’ll see that increasingly 72 00:03:19,539 –> 00:03:22,860 as we move through the book of Deuteronomy. 73 00:03:22,860 –> 00:03:24,960 Now before we plunge into this, 74 00:03:24,960 –> 00:03:28,119 I need to say that it is important to remember 75 00:03:28,119 –> 00:03:32,720 that the particular applications of the Ten Commandments 76 00:03:32,720 –> 00:03:37,720 that are laid out here are given to the nation of Israel. 77 00:03:38,179 –> 00:03:39,860 Back in the 12th century, 78 00:03:39,860 –> 00:03:43,899 a Jewish philosopher by the name of Maimonides 79 00:03:43,919 –> 00:03:48,919 published a definitive list of laws in the Old Testament. 80 00:03:49,119 –> 00:03:51,619 In the first five books in the Pentateuch that is. 81 00:03:51,619 –> 00:03:53,020 And he listed, 82 00:03:53,020 –> 00:03:54,979 it’s been generally accepted ever since 83 00:03:54,979 –> 00:03:56,940 as an accurate description 84 00:03:56,940 –> 00:03:59,179 that the first five books of the Bible 85 00:03:59,179 –> 00:04:03,059 contain 248 commands, 86 00:04:03,059 –> 00:04:05,619 365 prohibitions, 87 00:04:05,619 –> 00:04:10,220 a total of 613 laws in the Old Testament. 88 00:04:10,220 –> 00:04:12,800 That’s Maimonides’ calculation 89 00:04:12,800 –> 00:04:14,119 and you can find it on the internet 90 00:04:14,119 –> 00:04:18,000 and lay it out and read through the various categorizations. 91 00:04:18,000 –> 00:04:22,440 These Old Testament laws relate to worship. 92 00:04:22,440 –> 00:04:24,640 They relate to the temple. 93 00:04:24,640 –> 00:04:26,239 They relate to sacrifices, 94 00:04:26,239 –> 00:04:27,559 how they were to be done. 95 00:04:27,559 –> 00:04:30,339 They relate to dietary laws. 96 00:04:30,339 –> 00:04:31,720 They relate to vows. 97 00:04:31,720 –> 00:04:33,559 They relate to ritual washings. 98 00:04:33,559 –> 00:04:38,559 They relate to festivals and a host of other things. 99 00:04:39,100 –> 00:04:43,660 And I just need to say that it would be a great mistake 100 00:04:43,660 –> 00:04:48,100 to draw a direct line from these Old Testament laws 101 00:04:48,100 –> 00:04:51,940 given to Israel to the Christian life today. 102 00:04:51,940 –> 00:04:52,779 For example, 103 00:04:52,779 –> 00:04:53,859 in chapter 14, 104 00:04:53,859 –> 00:04:57,100 that is just before where we are in the scripture now, 105 00:04:57,100 –> 00:04:59,339 we have a whole chapter about laws 106 00:04:59,339 –> 00:05:03,420 regarding clean and unclean foods. 107 00:05:03,420 –> 00:05:06,260 These laws were given to Israel. 108 00:05:06,260 –> 00:05:08,160 But in the New Testament, 109 00:05:08,160 –> 00:05:10,779 Christ proclaimed all foods clean, 110 00:05:10,779 –> 00:05:14,380 that is Mark chapter seven and verse 29. 111 00:05:14,380 –> 00:05:15,220 This, for example, 112 00:05:15,220 –> 00:05:18,459 was a huge issue for the early church. 113 00:05:18,459 –> 00:05:19,279 There were people, 114 00:05:19,279 –> 00:05:20,119 you see, 115 00:05:20,119 –> 00:05:21,339 who said now to be a Christian, 116 00:05:21,339 –> 00:05:22,899 you have to believe in Jesus 117 00:05:22,899 –> 00:05:27,859 and keep the 613 Old Testament laws as well. 118 00:05:27,859 –> 00:05:30,299 They were called the Judaizers 119 00:05:30,299 –> 00:05:33,239 and the apostle Paul had to deal with this. 120 00:05:33,239 –> 00:05:34,480 And he made it very clear 121 00:05:34,500 –> 00:05:36,640 that those who said this kind of thing 122 00:05:36,640 –> 00:05:38,859 had turned to a different gospel, 123 00:05:38,859 –> 00:05:39,779 which he said, 124 00:05:39,779 –> 00:05:41,100 Galatians chapter one, 125 00:05:41,100 –> 00:05:43,220 is really no gospel at all. 126 00:05:45,000 –> 00:05:47,619 So I say that just as we come to chapter 15 127 00:05:47,619 –> 00:05:50,040 and in terms of our general understanding 128 00:05:50,040 –> 00:05:53,500 of how we apply the book of Deuteronomy, 129 00:05:53,500 –> 00:05:54,619 the command, for example, 130 00:05:54,619 –> 00:05:56,540 in chapter 15 and verse one, 131 00:05:56,540 –> 00:05:59,420 to cancel all debts every seven years 132 00:05:59,420 –> 00:06:03,940 is not a command that God gives to you today. 133 00:06:03,940 –> 00:06:06,619 So if someone owes you some money 134 00:06:06,619 –> 00:06:08,040 and they repay it to you 135 00:06:08,040 –> 00:06:10,119 over a period of say 10 years, 136 00:06:10,119 –> 00:06:13,380 you are not sinning if you receive that. 137 00:06:14,619 –> 00:06:16,459 Now as we take that in, 138 00:06:17,459 –> 00:06:19,100 let me add this other point. 139 00:06:19,100 –> 00:06:21,739 It’s very important today. 140 00:06:21,739 –> 00:06:24,239 In the same way as it would be a great mistake 141 00:06:24,239 –> 00:06:28,339 to draw a direct line from all of the 613 commands 142 00:06:28,339 –> 00:06:30,220 positive and negative in the Old Testament 143 00:06:30,220 –> 00:06:32,359 and just drop them on to the Christian life, 144 00:06:32,380 –> 00:06:34,220 which is what the Judaizers tried to do 145 00:06:34,220 –> 00:06:35,279 and Paul said you’re turning 146 00:06:35,279 –> 00:06:37,320 to another gospel if you do that, 147 00:06:37,320 –> 00:06:39,739 in the same way as that would be a huge mistake, 148 00:06:39,739 –> 00:06:41,040 it is equally 149 00:06:41,940 –> 00:06:44,480 a great mistake 150 00:06:44,480 –> 00:06:48,480 to draw a direct line from the promises 151 00:06:48,480 –> 00:06:50,760 that are given specifically to Israel 152 00:06:50,760 –> 00:06:54,500 and land them as it were directly on the Christian today. 153 00:06:54,500 –> 00:06:57,700 For example, in Chapter 15 read verses four and five. 154 00:07:02,380 –> 00:07:04,920 Prosperity teaching. 155 00:07:04,920 –> 00:07:06,220 See, verses four and five. 156 00:07:06,220 –> 00:07:08,500 God will richly bless you 157 00:07:09,339 –> 00:07:12,299 if only you fully obey the Lord your God. 158 00:07:12,299 –> 00:07:15,720 Now, you see, teachers of a prosperity gospel 159 00:07:15,720 –> 00:07:17,720 seize on words like these 160 00:07:17,720 –> 00:07:20,320 that were clearly given in the Covenant to Israel 161 00:07:20,320 –> 00:07:23,019 and just apply them blithely to every Christian. 162 00:07:23,019 –> 00:07:25,679 Obey God and you will be rich they say. 163 00:07:26,660 –> 00:07:28,859 You’ll hear this all the time on television. 164 00:07:29,899 –> 00:07:32,339 Verse six, the Lord, your God will bless you 165 00:07:32,899 –> 00:07:34,220 as he has promised you 166 00:07:34,220 –> 00:07:35,700 and you will lend to many nations 167 00:07:35,700 –> 00:07:37,420 and you will borrow from none. 168 00:07:37,420 –> 00:07:39,940 But this is a promise that is given to Israel. 169 00:07:41,339 –> 00:07:44,739 God has not promised material prosperity 170 00:07:44,739 –> 00:07:45,959 to every Christian. 171 00:07:45,959 –> 00:07:48,899 It is a great misapplication of the Old Testament 172 00:07:48,899 –> 00:07:52,119 to take what is given distinctly to Israel 173 00:07:52,119 –> 00:07:53,500 and to simply land it, 174 00:07:53,500 –> 00:07:54,459 whether it be commandments 175 00:07:54,459 –> 00:07:55,799 or whether it be promises 176 00:07:55,799 –> 00:08:00,519 on the individual Christian’s life. 177 00:08:00,519 –> 00:08:02,160 So I want us to be clear about this, 178 00:08:02,160 –> 00:08:04,559 otherwise we will get into all kinds of confusion. 179 00:08:04,559 –> 00:08:07,440 If you apply every command of the Old Testament 180 00:08:07,440 –> 00:08:09,100 and every promise of the Old Testament 181 00:08:09,100 –> 00:08:11,739 that was given to Israel directly to the Christian, 182 00:08:11,739 –> 00:08:13,779 you will end up in great confusion 183 00:08:13,779 –> 00:08:16,220 and you will end up in great difficulties. 184 00:08:16,220 –> 00:08:19,220 We must not take what is distinctive 185 00:08:19,220 –> 00:08:21,359 to God’s covenant with Israel 186 00:08:21,359 –> 00:08:23,779 as if these commands and promises 187 00:08:23,779 –> 00:08:27,359 were given to all people in every circumstance. 188 00:08:27,359 –> 00:08:30,660 Now, having said that, 189 00:08:32,260 –> 00:08:37,099 the law of God reflects the character of God, 190 00:08:37,580 –> 00:08:39,479 and the New Testament makes it clear, 191 00:08:39,479 –> 00:08:42,239 speaking about the Old Testament, 192 00:08:42,239 –> 00:08:47,159 that all scripture is God-breathed, 193 00:08:47,320 –> 00:08:50,400 all of Deuteronomy, all of the Old Testament, 194 00:08:50,400 –> 00:08:52,820 and all of it is useful. 195 00:08:52,820 –> 00:08:54,780 That’s why we’re studying Deuteronomy. 196 00:08:54,780 –> 00:08:56,679 It’s useful for teaching. 197 00:08:56,679 –> 00:08:58,520 It’s useful for rebuking. 198 00:08:58,520 –> 00:09:00,039 It’s useful for correcting, 199 00:09:00,080 –> 00:09:02,320 and it’s useful for training in righteousness. 200 00:09:02,320 –> 00:09:06,200 That’s 2 Timothy 3 16. 201 00:09:06,200 –> 00:09:08,200 All these things in the Old Testament, 202 00:09:08,200 –> 00:09:10,900 the Apostle Paul says, were written for us, 203 00:09:10,900 –> 00:09:13,919 and they’re all there for our benefit. 204 00:09:13,919 –> 00:09:16,679 That’s why we don’t simply detach the New Testament 205 00:09:16,679 –> 00:09:18,840 and say this is all we need to worry about. 206 00:09:20,039 –> 00:09:21,400 We want to hear the word of God 207 00:09:21,400 –> 00:09:23,179 in every part of the scripture. 208 00:09:24,239 –> 00:09:26,559 So what I want us to do today 209 00:09:26,559 –> 00:09:28,840 is to see how 210 00:09:29,000 –> 00:09:32,340 God’s words in Deuteronomy chapter 15 211 00:09:32,340 –> 00:09:36,500 that reflect His glorious character and His purpose, 212 00:09:36,500 –> 00:09:38,719 how these words teach us 213 00:09:39,599 –> 00:09:41,919 and how they train us 214 00:09:41,919 –> 00:09:44,340 and how they rebuke us 215 00:09:44,340 –> 00:09:47,539 and how they correct us. 216 00:09:47,539 –> 00:09:50,659 So with that introduction that I think is very important 217 00:09:50,659 –> 00:09:53,419 for our understanding of the Old Testament, 218 00:09:53,419 –> 00:09:56,539 I want to suggest that God speaks to us here 219 00:09:56,559 –> 00:09:59,239 in at least five ways. 220 00:09:59,239 –> 00:10:02,280 Well, I’m only going to give five ways today. 221 00:10:02,280 –> 00:10:04,219 They’re not going to grow in the telling, 222 00:10:04,219 –> 00:10:05,400 but there may well be more, 223 00:10:05,400 –> 00:10:08,479 but I want to give to you these five. 224 00:10:08,479 –> 00:10:09,320 Number one, 225 00:10:10,159 –> 00:10:13,400 I want us to see here a wonderful glimpse 226 00:10:13,400 –> 00:10:18,320 of the abundant provision of God. 227 00:10:18,320 –> 00:10:21,840 Look at Deuteronomy chapter 15 in verse four. 228 00:10:21,840 –> 00:10:26,260 There should be no poor among you 229 00:10:26,280 –> 00:10:28,900 for in the land, the Lord, your God is giving you. 230 00:10:28,900 –> 00:10:32,280 He will richly bless you. 231 00:10:33,419 –> 00:10:36,599 Now, remember when God’s people came out of the desert, 232 00:10:36,599 –> 00:10:37,739 Moses is speaking to them 233 00:10:37,739 –> 00:10:39,479 on the verge of the promised land here 234 00:10:39,479 –> 00:10:42,580 and they’re about to go in under the leadership of Joshua. 235 00:10:42,580 –> 00:10:44,159 When they got into the promised land, 236 00:10:44,159 –> 00:10:47,559 each family was given a portion of land. 237 00:10:47,559 –> 00:10:50,119 Here are these tent dwellers, 238 00:10:50,119 –> 00:10:52,400 kids who all their lives have lived in the desert. 239 00:10:52,400 –> 00:10:54,599 They owned nothing 240 00:10:54,599 –> 00:10:57,020 and they become property owners with land 241 00:10:57,020 –> 00:11:00,320 and a means of establishing an income. 242 00:11:00,320 –> 00:11:02,099 And what God gave to them, 243 00:11:02,099 –> 00:11:04,039 they were able to pass on to their children 244 00:11:04,039 –> 00:11:07,119 which is why the word inheritance is used here. 245 00:11:08,080 –> 00:11:12,419 If ever there was a land of equal opportunity, 246 00:11:12,419 –> 00:11:14,140 this was it. 247 00:11:14,140 –> 00:11:16,340 Everyone given a house. 248 00:11:16,340 –> 00:11:17,659 Everyone given some land. 249 00:11:17,659 –> 00:11:20,580 Everyone given the opportunity of generating an income. 250 00:11:21,820 –> 00:11:23,099 We have called this series, 251 00:11:23,099 –> 00:11:26,059 take to the power of a fresh start. 252 00:11:27,000 –> 00:11:31,320 Boy, God’s people had some fresh start in this land 253 00:11:31,320 –> 00:11:33,820 where God had supplied all that was needed 254 00:11:33,820 –> 00:11:36,619 to sustain all of his people. 255 00:11:36,619 –> 00:11:39,780 And so God says in chapter 15 and verse four, 256 00:11:39,780 –> 00:11:43,919 there should be no poor among you. 257 00:11:43,919 –> 00:11:46,340 No need for anyone to be poor in the land 258 00:11:46,340 –> 00:11:47,880 because everyone is going to be given 259 00:11:47,880 –> 00:11:49,479 this wonderful inheritance 260 00:11:49,479 –> 00:11:51,479 and the land is abundant with enough 261 00:11:51,539 –> 00:11:54,320 to sustain all of God’s people. 262 00:11:55,299 –> 00:11:59,700 Obey the Lord then, the Lord is saying to Israel. 263 00:11:59,700 –> 00:12:02,599 And you won’t need laws about cancelling debts 264 00:12:02,599 –> 00:12:03,960 because you won’t have debts 265 00:12:03,960 –> 00:12:04,900 and you won’t have debts 266 00:12:04,900 –> 00:12:06,500 because you won’t have poor among you 267 00:12:06,500 –> 00:12:07,799 and you won’t have poor among you 268 00:12:07,799 –> 00:12:10,739 because the Lord continues to bless you in the land. 269 00:12:11,840 –> 00:12:14,500 So wonderful picture of the abundance 270 00:12:14,500 –> 00:12:17,619 of God’s provision and of his promise. 271 00:12:17,619 –> 00:12:19,919 And it’s a good reminder to us, isn’t it? 272 00:12:19,919 –> 00:12:24,000 That God has promised and indeed has provided 273 00:12:24,000 –> 00:12:29,000 all that is needed to sustain all people 274 00:12:29,320 –> 00:12:31,299 at all times in all places. 275 00:12:31,299 –> 00:12:33,760 There is enough food to circle the world. 276 00:12:34,700 –> 00:12:39,700 There should be no poor among you. 277 00:12:42,719 –> 00:12:45,200 The reality of life in the land though 278 00:12:45,200 –> 00:12:48,400 and the reality of life in our world today 279 00:12:48,719 –> 00:12:53,719 is that no one fully obeys the Lord, our God. 280 00:12:56,260 –> 00:12:59,200 None of us loves God with all his heart. 281 00:13:00,960 –> 00:13:04,700 And we do not love our neighbor as we love ourselves. 282 00:13:05,719 –> 00:13:10,719 So, while there is sufficient that has been supplied 283 00:13:10,859 –> 00:13:13,479 by God for everybody, 284 00:13:13,479 –> 00:13:18,479 the nature of sin in us is such that God gives us laws 285 00:13:19,099 –> 00:13:22,940 to put a break on human greed. 286 00:13:24,200 –> 00:13:28,419 And God gave these laws in Deuteronomy, chapter 15, 287 00:13:28,419 –> 00:13:32,159 so that the poor would find relief, 288 00:13:32,159 –> 00:13:37,159 and so that no one would be trapped long term 289 00:13:37,580 –> 00:13:39,340 in crippling debt. 290 00:13:40,340 –> 00:13:43,320 So that brings us to the second way 291 00:13:43,320 –> 00:13:45,619 in which this scripture speaks to us. 292 00:13:45,619 –> 00:13:48,780 It speaks to us of the abundant provision of God, 293 00:13:48,780 –> 00:13:50,940 bringing his people into this good land. 294 00:13:50,940 –> 00:13:55,940 Secondly, it speaks to us of the kindness of God’s law. 295 00:13:57,640 –> 00:14:02,640 Think about the kindness of these laws that we’ve read. 296 00:14:03,580 –> 00:14:07,739 At the end of every seven years, verse seven, 297 00:14:07,979 –> 00:14:12,719 you must cancel debts. 298 00:14:12,719 –> 00:14:14,940 Remember God saying there’s no reason why anyone 299 00:14:14,940 –> 00:14:16,580 should be in a position of poverty 300 00:14:16,580 –> 00:14:18,500 because of the abundance of supply. 301 00:14:19,419 –> 00:14:21,979 But in this fallen world, the reality is 302 00:14:21,979 –> 00:14:25,859 that some are going to find themselves in great difficulty 303 00:14:25,859 –> 00:14:28,119 and no one is to be trapped there longterm. 304 00:14:29,559 –> 00:14:32,280 So says God, I give you this law, 305 00:14:32,280 –> 00:14:37,280 at the end of every seven years, you must cancel debts. 306 00:14:38,659 –> 00:14:42,419 About 60 years ago, a man by the name of Thomas Cameron 307 00:14:42,419 –> 00:14:44,640 wrote a book with a beautiful title, 308 00:14:44,640 –> 00:14:49,640 he called it the Kindly Laws of the Old Testament, 309 00:14:50,979 –> 00:14:54,919 the kindly laws of the Old Testament. 310 00:14:54,919 –> 00:14:56,500 And what Thomas Cameron did was 311 00:14:56,500 –> 00:14:58,859 he picked up throughout the Old Testament 312 00:14:58,859 –> 00:15:03,099 with its over 600 laws and commandments there. 313 00:15:03,099 –> 00:15:06,539 He picked up just how many of them 314 00:15:06,559 –> 00:15:10,599 were an expression of God’s kindness 315 00:15:10,599 –> 00:15:14,940 to the weakest and the poorest in society. 316 00:15:15,799 –> 00:15:16,799 You read through the scriptures, 317 00:15:16,799 –> 00:15:18,719 you see it here and in so many other places, 318 00:15:18,719 –> 00:15:22,039 the Old Testament is full of laws 319 00:15:22,039 –> 00:15:24,119 that were to help the poor, 320 00:15:24,119 –> 00:15:27,880 that were to deliver people from being trapped 321 00:15:27,880 –> 00:15:32,059 in situations of grinding poverty in the long term. 322 00:15:32,059 –> 00:15:34,559 And really this Sabbath Law, 323 00:15:34,580 –> 00:15:36,780 this application of the Fourth Commandment, 324 00:15:36,780 –> 00:15:41,359 the seven year release in Deuteronomy 15 in verse one, 325 00:15:41,359 –> 00:15:45,260 it is really the flagship that leads the way 326 00:15:45,260 –> 00:15:48,219 as someone has put it for a whole flotilla 327 00:15:48,219 –> 00:15:51,719 of Old Testament laws that all have this in common. 328 00:15:51,719 –> 00:15:54,020 They are the kindness of God 329 00:15:55,059 –> 00:15:57,799 with regards to those who have least. 330 00:15:57,799 –> 00:15:59,979 Look at how it was to work, verse two. 331 00:16:00,239 –> 00:16:04,780 Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made 332 00:16:04,780 –> 00:16:06,500 to his fellow Israelite. 333 00:16:07,320 –> 00:16:08,960 He shall not require payment 334 00:16:08,960 –> 00:16:11,919 from his fellow Israelite or brother 335 00:16:11,919 –> 00:16:16,799 because the Lord’s time for cancelling debts 336 00:16:16,799 –> 00:16:18,299 has been proclaimed. 337 00:16:19,580 –> 00:16:23,039 Now folks, think with me about the practical effects 338 00:16:24,479 –> 00:16:27,619 of God’s kindly law here. 339 00:16:28,520 –> 00:16:33,520 Think of how this exercises a restraint on lenders. 340 00:16:34,700 –> 00:16:37,400 See, what this is saying is that under this law, 341 00:16:37,400 –> 00:16:40,820 there were to be no loans that were for more 342 00:16:40,820 –> 00:16:42,859 or longer than seven years. 343 00:16:44,179 –> 00:16:46,859 Now remember by way of explanation, 344 00:16:46,859 –> 00:16:49,940 we’re not talking about mortgages for homes here. 345 00:16:49,940 –> 00:16:52,640 The homes were given by God to people 346 00:16:52,640 –> 00:16:56,719 and if a person became poor and they had to sell the home 347 00:16:56,719 –> 00:16:58,559 in order to alleviate their poverty, 348 00:16:58,559 –> 00:17:01,739 there was another law that you will be aware of, I’m sure, 349 00:17:01,739 –> 00:17:03,159 called the Jubilee Law. 350 00:17:03,159 –> 00:17:05,939 You can read about that in Leviticus 25 351 00:17:05,939 –> 00:17:08,500 in which once every 50 years, 352 00:17:08,500 –> 00:17:10,280 there was a return of property. 353 00:17:10,280 –> 00:17:12,219 But this is not dealing with property, 354 00:17:12,219 –> 00:17:15,479 it’s not dealing with loans, with regards to a mortgage. 355 00:17:15,479 –> 00:17:17,479 So put homes to one side 356 00:17:18,479 –> 00:17:21,079 where most people will have to borrow 357 00:17:21,079 –> 00:17:22,719 over a longer periods of time, 358 00:17:22,719 –> 00:17:25,699 put that to one side and look at the rest of life 359 00:17:25,800 –> 00:17:27,979 and what this law has to teach us. 360 00:17:29,160 –> 00:17:31,660 Lenders would be restrained 361 00:17:32,599 –> 00:17:35,339 from giving loans that were larger 362 00:17:35,339 –> 00:17:38,699 than people could reasonably expect to repay 363 00:17:38,699 –> 00:17:42,800 within a period of seven years. 364 00:17:44,099 –> 00:17:46,359 That’s a restraint for lenders. 365 00:17:47,439 –> 00:17:48,500 And folks, if you think about 366 00:17:48,500 –> 00:17:49,939 what our country is going through 367 00:17:49,939 –> 00:17:51,859 and what a large part of the world is going through, 368 00:17:51,859 –> 00:17:54,260 you think of the principle of this law being applied 369 00:17:54,300 –> 00:17:55,680 and the good of it. 370 00:17:57,359 –> 00:18:01,219 Push people into loans that they cannot sustain 371 00:18:01,219 –> 00:18:04,020 over a period of time that drift on and on 372 00:18:04,020 –> 00:18:07,260 and eventually cause misery. 373 00:18:07,260 –> 00:18:11,900 So this kindly law of God gives a restraint to lenders. 374 00:18:11,900 –> 00:18:16,500 Secondly, it gives a discipline for borrowers. 375 00:18:16,500 –> 00:18:20,780 Since loans were canceled at the end of every seven years 376 00:18:20,780 –> 00:18:23,079 if they could not be repaid, 377 00:18:23,079 –> 00:18:24,959 what that meant was by definition, 378 00:18:24,959 –> 00:18:28,520 the repayment of loans would be scheduled 379 00:18:28,520 –> 00:18:32,119 over a maximum of 84 months. 380 00:18:32,119 –> 00:18:36,479 No loan was repayable over a longer schedule 381 00:18:36,479 –> 00:18:37,800 than seven years. 382 00:18:37,800 –> 00:18:39,800 And in most cases, of course, 383 00:18:39,800 –> 00:18:42,079 the loan would be scheduled for repayment 384 00:18:42,079 –> 00:18:43,640 considerably sooner. 385 00:18:43,640 –> 00:18:47,079 If you were in year four of the seven year circle 386 00:18:47,079 –> 00:18:49,180 and you took a loan, it would have to be repaid. 387 00:18:49,180 –> 00:18:50,780 The schedule would be for three years. 388 00:18:50,780 –> 00:18:54,199 If you were year five, in the cycle and you took a loan, 389 00:18:54,199 –> 00:18:55,439 you would need to be taking a loan 390 00:18:55,439 –> 00:18:57,680 that you could repay within two years. 391 00:18:57,680 –> 00:19:01,640 That’s the discipline that clearly this law imposes 392 00:19:01,640 –> 00:19:04,400 in relation to borrowers. 393 00:19:04,400 –> 00:19:08,020 There is a restraint, there is a discipline here. 394 00:19:08,020 –> 00:19:09,979 This law is not saying, folks, 395 00:19:09,979 –> 00:19:11,800 hey, just borrow as much as you want 396 00:19:11,800 –> 00:19:13,699 and then every seven years, just write it off. 397 00:19:13,699 –> 00:19:14,800 That’s not what it’s saying. 398 00:19:14,800 –> 00:19:17,280 This is a law for the relief of the poor. 399 00:19:18,300 –> 00:19:20,439 For someone who might have taken out a loan 400 00:19:20,459 –> 00:19:22,520 that they could reasonably on a schedule 401 00:19:22,520 –> 00:19:25,380 expect to repay within the seven-year period 402 00:19:25,380 –> 00:19:27,719 and then a father has died 403 00:19:27,719 –> 00:19:30,040 or some other calamity has come 404 00:19:30,040 –> 00:19:32,060 and with the best will in the world, 405 00:19:32,060 –> 00:19:33,640 they have not been able to do this. 406 00:19:33,640 –> 00:19:37,839 The situation has totally changed and God says, 407 00:19:37,839 –> 00:19:41,760 well, rather than them be caught in a trap 408 00:19:41,760 –> 00:19:45,719 that will grind on throughout their life, 409 00:19:45,719 –> 00:19:47,680 there is to be a year of release 410 00:19:47,819 –> 00:19:51,380 and it is to be a blessing in the whole land. 411 00:19:51,380 –> 00:19:53,420 So here’s the principle. 412 00:19:53,420 –> 00:19:56,500 God allows His people to borrow money 413 00:19:58,239 –> 00:20:03,099 but He does not want His people living on credit. 414 00:20:03,099 –> 00:20:05,239 You have a schedule. 415 00:20:05,239 –> 00:20:09,699 You repay it within a limited period of time 416 00:20:09,699 –> 00:20:11,739 and God says, here’s a seven-year frame. 417 00:20:11,739 –> 00:20:15,579 That’s a very good way for thinking about it. 418 00:20:16,300 –> 00:20:19,079 And so the principle, I think here is very simple. 419 00:20:19,079 –> 00:20:22,199 You can borrow if you need to 420 00:20:22,199 –> 00:20:24,979 but borrow as little as you can 421 00:20:24,979 –> 00:20:27,400 and repay as fast as you can. 422 00:20:28,959 –> 00:20:31,900 And don’t borrow more than you can reasonably expect 423 00:20:31,900 –> 00:20:34,680 to repay in a short period of time. 424 00:20:34,680 –> 00:20:36,500 This is wisdom from God 425 00:20:36,500 –> 00:20:38,540 that comes from the Old Testament law 426 00:20:38,540 –> 00:20:42,699 that is transferable across cultures and across time. 427 00:20:43,699 –> 00:20:46,319 Plan to repay whatever you borrow. 428 00:20:46,319 –> 00:20:48,599 Don’t borrow what you cannot repay 429 00:20:48,599 –> 00:20:50,500 for the New Testament also says 430 00:20:50,500 –> 00:20:53,079 let no debt remain outstanding. 431 00:20:55,199 –> 00:20:57,199 So these are wonderful kind laws. 432 00:20:57,199 –> 00:21:00,020 They give restraint to lenders 433 00:21:00,020 –> 00:21:03,599 and they give discipline to borrowers, 434 00:21:03,599 –> 00:21:06,579 Thirdly and I’m just intrigued to think about this 435 00:21:06,579 –> 00:21:11,439 especially in relation to our time and our culture today. 436 00:21:11,439 –> 00:21:13,599 Can you imagine the good that this would do 437 00:21:13,599 –> 00:21:15,280 in our court system? 438 00:21:16,819 –> 00:21:21,439 The canceling of all debts every seven years? 439 00:21:21,439 –> 00:21:25,420 Luther describes this as a beautiful and fair law 440 00:21:26,520 –> 00:21:28,800 and he says he longs that rulers of the world 441 00:21:28,800 –> 00:21:30,280 would imitate it. 442 00:21:30,280 –> 00:21:34,020 He says they would have fewer questions 443 00:21:34,020 –> 00:21:36,040 by which he means cases, 444 00:21:36,040 –> 00:21:38,579 fewer cases and commotions 445 00:21:38,579 –> 00:21:41,300 for people would know that suits, 446 00:21:41,300 –> 00:21:44,719 disputes, debts, dealings, agreements, 447 00:21:44,719 –> 00:21:47,439 judgments, seals and letters 448 00:21:47,439 –> 00:21:49,579 would all be removed at one time 449 00:21:49,579 –> 00:21:51,459 cancelled in the seventh year 450 00:21:51,459 –> 00:21:54,619 and would not be postponed and continued forever 451 00:21:54,619 –> 00:21:57,459 into endless litigation. 452 00:21:57,459 –> 00:21:59,459 That’s Luther’s comment. 453 00:22:00,579 –> 00:22:02,880 So folks I had a new experience, 454 00:22:02,880 –> 00:22:05,599 I was called last week for the first time in my life 455 00:22:05,599 –> 00:22:08,180 to serve on a jury in the Daily Center 456 00:22:08,800 –> 00:22:10,020 in the City of Chicago. 457 00:22:10,020 –> 00:22:13,660 The blessings of being an American citizen, 458 00:22:13,660 –> 00:22:15,739 it was a fascinating, 459 00:22:15,739 –> 00:22:20,219 a fascinating experience indeed. 460 00:22:20,219 –> 00:22:21,280 But you know what I found, 461 00:22:21,280 –> 00:22:23,060 I’d not realized this before, 462 00:22:23,900 –> 00:22:27,619 the circuit court of Cook County 463 00:22:27,619 –> 00:22:30,739 serves us a population 464 00:22:30,739 –> 00:22:34,420 of just 5.1 million people. 465 00:22:34,420 –> 00:22:36,560 That’s who we are, we’re 5.1 million people. 466 00:22:36,579 –> 00:22:39,119 How many suits do you think we file every year? 467 00:22:40,579 –> 00:22:44,880 2.4 million suits 468 00:22:44,880 –> 00:22:48,280 from 5.1 million people every year. 469 00:22:49,660 –> 00:22:50,920 Now it doesn’t work out like this, 470 00:22:50,920 –> 00:22:53,400 but in my simple mind, 471 00:22:53,400 –> 00:22:54,979 I’m thinking, 472 00:22:54,979 –> 00:22:57,560 that’s one suit for every two of us every year, 473 00:22:59,680 –> 00:23:02,199 we are awash with litigation, 474 00:23:03,319 –> 00:23:04,280 it’s staggering. 475 00:23:05,040 –> 00:23:08,719 Well of course the various statutes of limitation 476 00:23:08,719 –> 00:23:10,839 that we have in our legal system 477 00:23:10,839 –> 00:23:13,359 go back to these old testament laws 478 00:23:13,359 –> 00:23:15,160 and thank God for it. 479 00:23:16,160 –> 00:23:17,479 But can your imagine, 480 00:23:17,479 –> 00:23:19,520 not simply the statutes of limitation 481 00:23:19,520 –> 00:23:21,260 that are on a kind of rolling cycle, 482 00:23:21,260 –> 00:23:24,619 but can your imagine the impact of 483 00:23:24,619 –> 00:23:27,859 everybody drawing a line at the same time? 484 00:23:29,719 –> 00:23:33,680 And all claims against you being canceled 485 00:23:33,959 –> 00:23:37,140 and you at the same time canceling all claims 486 00:23:37,140 –> 00:23:38,880 against everyone else. 487 00:23:40,040 –> 00:23:42,260 The kindly laws of the old testament. 488 00:23:44,199 –> 00:23:46,560 By the way here’s just a footnote 489 00:23:46,560 –> 00:23:50,280 that I think we can rightly 490 00:23:50,280 –> 00:23:53,239 take away from this teaching. 491 00:23:54,920 –> 00:23:58,239 For every grievance, 492 00:23:58,239 –> 00:24:00,400 there is a time to let go. 493 00:24:01,380 –> 00:24:03,339 For every grievance, 494 00:24:04,239 –> 00:24:07,140 there is a time to let go. 495 00:24:09,079 –> 00:24:10,319 So we’ve looked at this 496 00:24:10,319 –> 00:24:13,959 as teaching us the abundant provision of God 497 00:24:13,959 –> 00:24:16,540 in his goodness, supplying all that is needed 498 00:24:16,540 –> 00:24:19,339 for all of the people who are coming into the land. 499 00:24:20,319 –> 00:24:21,719 We’ve looked at it secondly 500 00:24:21,719 –> 00:24:25,859 from the angle of the kindness of God’s laws, 501 00:24:25,880 –> 00:24:30,880 how they reflect the compassion of our God, 502 00:24:30,880 –> 00:24:35,020 his care for those who are especially in need. 503 00:24:35,020 –> 00:24:37,579 Thirdly, I want us to see here 504 00:24:37,579 –> 00:24:42,040 what we learn about the stubbornness of God’s people. 505 00:24:43,420 –> 00:24:45,420 Remember that these are the words of Moses 506 00:24:45,420 –> 00:24:47,800 and that he is speaking here in Deuteronomy 507 00:24:47,800 –> 00:24:51,040 both as the lawgiver and also as a preacher. 508 00:24:51,040 –> 00:24:53,500 The two are mixed together. 509 00:24:53,500 –> 00:24:55,780 And if you look at chapter 15, for example, 510 00:24:55,780 –> 00:24:59,020 you will see that there are two specific laws. 511 00:24:59,020 –> 00:25:00,819 The first one in verse one, 512 00:25:00,819 –> 00:25:03,060 where every seven years you must cancel debt 513 00:25:03,060 –> 00:25:05,500 and the second one in verse 11 514 00:25:05,500 –> 00:25:07,319 at the end of the section we read, 515 00:25:07,319 –> 00:25:09,260 therefore I command you to be openhanded 516 00:25:09,260 –> 00:25:11,020 towards your brothers, towards the poor 517 00:25:11,020 –> 00:25:12,079 and the needy in your land. 518 00:25:12,079 –> 00:25:13,219 There are two commands, 519 00:25:13,219 –> 00:25:16,560 the second one is repeated in verse eight. 520 00:25:17,540 –> 00:25:21,020 But between these two commands, just two commands here, 521 00:25:21,020 –> 00:25:22,880 Moses is preaching. 522 00:25:23,000 –> 00:25:28,160 And he’s preaching to the people about how 523 00:25:28,160 –> 00:25:31,579 it’s not enough to have great laws that are given by God, 524 00:25:31,579 –> 00:25:34,079 you have to have a right heart. 525 00:25:35,359 –> 00:25:40,119 Otherwise life is going to implode 526 00:25:40,119 –> 00:25:41,760 even for the people of God. 527 00:25:42,819 –> 00:25:45,300 Notice that Moses warns them about four dangers, 528 00:25:45,300 –> 00:25:48,760 verse seven, the first is a hard heart. 529 00:25:48,760 –> 00:25:51,040 If there is a poor man among your brothers, 530 00:25:51,040 –> 00:25:54,160 do not be hard-hearted. 531 00:25:54,160 –> 00:25:55,000 Then verse seven, 532 00:25:55,000 –> 00:25:57,239 a closed hand, 533 00:25:57,239 –> 00:26:00,140 do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted, 534 00:26:01,300 –> 00:26:04,479 rather be open-handed and freely lend your brother 535 00:26:04,479 –> 00:26:05,880 whatever he needs. 536 00:26:07,160 –> 00:26:09,339 Verse nine, there’s the hard heart, 537 00:26:09,339 –> 00:26:11,339 there’s the closed-hand, 538 00:26:11,339 –> 00:26:14,060 there’s the wicked thought, verse nine. 539 00:26:14,060 –> 00:26:18,239 Be careful that you do not harbor this wicked thought. 540 00:26:19,319 –> 00:26:20,760 Don’t you love this? 541 00:26:20,800 –> 00:26:22,040 He’s the potential lender 542 00:26:22,040 –> 00:26:24,160 and he’s harboring this wicked thought. 543 00:26:24,160 –> 00:26:26,439 The seventh year, 544 00:26:26,439 –> 00:26:29,079 the year of cancelling debts is near 545 00:26:29,079 –> 00:26:31,660 so that you do not show ill will 546 00:26:31,660 –> 00:26:34,780 towards your needy brother and give him nothing, see? 547 00:26:34,780 –> 00:26:35,839 Here’s a potential lender, 548 00:26:35,839 –> 00:26:37,640 he’s got the capacity to help his brother 549 00:26:37,640 –> 00:26:39,099 and he’s thinking, 550 00:26:39,099 –> 00:26:40,380 hey, it’s year six. 551 00:26:41,319 –> 00:26:45,359 Huh, am I sure I’m going to get this back? 552 00:26:45,359 –> 00:26:48,560 And he’s no longer operating on the manner of kindness 553 00:26:48,560 –> 00:26:51,420 which is what these las are all about. 554 00:26:51,420 –> 00:26:53,900 And God says, be very careful 555 00:26:53,900 –> 00:26:57,160 you don’t have this wicked thought. 556 00:26:57,160 –> 00:26:59,699 What did that thought occur to you? 557 00:26:59,699 –> 00:27:01,020 It occurred to me. 558 00:27:02,939 –> 00:27:04,380 And if you say it wouldn’t occur to you, 559 00:27:04,380 –> 00:27:05,540 I don’t believe you. 560 00:27:07,180 –> 00:27:08,660 You’d think it? 561 00:27:08,660 –> 00:27:10,760 What you’d do and what I’d do? 562 00:27:10,760 –> 00:27:12,560 Well, maybe that’s another question. 563 00:27:13,579 –> 00:27:15,900 Fourthly, a grudging spirit, verse 10. 564 00:27:15,959 –> 00:27:20,959 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart. 565 00:27:22,400 –> 00:27:24,959 And indeed that comes over into the New Testament 566 00:27:24,959 –> 00:27:26,300 in a phrase that we know well. 567 00:27:26,300 –> 00:27:27,719 The New Testament version of that 568 00:27:27,719 –> 00:27:31,520 is God loves a cheerful giver. 569 00:27:32,420 –> 00:27:34,119 Now, you see what Moses is doing here. 570 00:27:34,119 –> 00:27:35,800 Moses is saying now, look, 571 00:27:35,800 –> 00:27:37,599 there are these wonderful laws 572 00:27:37,599 –> 00:27:41,920 that I receive directly from the Finger of God. 573 00:27:41,920 –> 00:27:43,959 Moses went up Mount Sinai. 574 00:27:43,959 –> 00:27:46,619 God’s immediate presence came down 575 00:27:46,619 –> 00:27:49,260 and Moses received the most perfect laws 576 00:27:49,260 –> 00:27:50,280 that could ever be given, 577 00:27:50,280 –> 00:27:52,420 have ever been given in human society. 578 00:27:54,280 –> 00:27:56,280 But law has its limit, 579 00:27:58,300 –> 00:28:00,219 every law has a loophole. 580 00:28:02,160 –> 00:28:05,660 There is no law to which some person 581 00:28:05,660 –> 00:28:07,739 with an ingenious mind and a hard heart 582 00:28:07,739 –> 00:28:09,619 can’t find a way around it. 583 00:28:10,199 –> 00:28:13,780 And Moses is saying, 584 00:28:14,760 –> 00:28:17,439 I’m giving you the very law of God, 585 00:28:18,520 –> 00:28:20,959 but it will not be of much use to you 586 00:28:20,959 –> 00:28:24,579 if you have a hard heart and you have a closed hand 587 00:28:24,579 –> 00:28:25,839 and you have a wicked thought 588 00:28:25,839 –> 00:28:28,040 and you have a grudging spirit. 589 00:28:29,920 –> 00:28:33,239 Here’s the law of God himself and Moses is saying, 590 00:28:33,239 –> 00:28:34,979 if you have a hard heart, 591 00:28:34,979 –> 00:28:36,439 you could sin against God, 592 00:28:36,439 –> 00:28:38,160 even while you’re keeping it, 593 00:28:40,260 –> 00:28:41,900 see this is why in the New Testament 594 00:28:41,900 –> 00:28:43,760 we have this very clear teaching. 595 00:28:44,780 –> 00:28:47,699 It speaks about what the law cannot do 596 00:28:48,739 –> 00:28:52,180 because it is weakened by the sinful nature. 597 00:28:53,739 –> 00:28:56,060 The law can’t change the heart. 598 00:28:57,199 –> 00:29:00,880 Good laws only work well when there is a heart 599 00:29:00,880 –> 00:29:04,180 that reflects the spirit that is behind them 600 00:29:04,180 –> 00:29:05,920 and that is what Moses is saying. 601 00:29:06,660 –> 00:29:11,300 So I came away from the Daily Center, folks, 602 00:29:11,300 –> 00:29:16,300 very thankful for the law but more convinced than ever 603 00:29:16,780 –> 00:29:21,780 that this city, so awash with greed, 604 00:29:22,180 –> 00:29:23,920 desperately needs the Gospel 605 00:29:25,560 –> 00:29:26,920 because the law won’t change the greed 606 00:29:26,920 –> 00:29:28,260 that is in the human heart. 607 00:29:30,380 –> 00:29:34,300 Number four, the glory of God’s son. 608 00:29:35,199 –> 00:29:36,339 Look at God’s provision, the kindness of his law, 609 00:29:36,339 –> 00:29:38,400 the stubbornness of the human heart. 610 00:29:39,979 –> 00:29:41,160 Can’t look at this Scripture 611 00:29:41,160 –> 00:29:43,319 without seeing the glory of God’s son. 612 00:29:44,359 –> 00:29:46,599 See as you get your mind round these laws, 613 00:29:46,599 –> 00:29:48,339 here’s the obvious question. 614 00:29:49,439 –> 00:29:54,439 Would you have liked to live under these laws? 615 00:29:56,900 –> 00:29:59,119 Now you have to think about that, you see, 616 00:29:59,119 –> 00:30:02,520 because if you’re a borrower it’s great 617 00:30:02,520 –> 00:30:04,079 if you’re in grinding poverty, 618 00:30:04,819 –> 00:30:05,859 and you get this relief. 619 00:30:07,339 –> 00:30:08,699 But what if you’re a lender? 620 00:30:11,000 –> 00:30:14,699 These laws were great for debtors who were unable to repay, 621 00:30:14,699 –> 00:30:18,359 but very very tough on those who had provided a loan 622 00:30:18,359 –> 00:30:19,739 in the first place. 623 00:30:21,959 –> 00:30:24,439 See, God gave these wonderful laws 624 00:30:24,439 –> 00:30:29,439 as a break on acquisition and as a relief 625 00:30:30,319 –> 00:30:33,540 in relation to those who had leased. 626 00:30:35,000 –> 00:30:38,500 But how often do you think these laws were actually kept? 627 00:30:40,099 –> 00:30:41,760 One thing to write them in a book, 628 00:30:42,959 –> 00:30:44,939 another thing to put them into practice. 629 00:30:46,400 –> 00:30:47,579 DA Carson says, 630 00:30:47,579 –> 00:30:49,920 the extends to which these statutes 631 00:30:49,920 –> 00:30:52,660 were ever enacted is disputed. 632 00:30:52,660 –> 00:30:55,380 But there is very little evidence 633 00:30:55,380 –> 00:30:58,640 that they became widely observed in public law 634 00:30:58,640 –> 00:31:01,219 in the Promised Land, are you surprised? 635 00:31:02,040 –> 00:31:05,099 Why would they not be enacted 636 00:31:05,099 –> 00:31:06,540 in public law in the promised land? 637 00:31:06,540 –> 00:31:07,380 Answer very simple. 638 00:31:07,380 –> 00:31:08,660 The people who had the power 639 00:31:08,660 –> 00:31:10,699 to proclaim the year of release 640 00:31:11,920 –> 00:31:13,479 never had the will to do so. 641 00:31:14,880 –> 00:31:16,260 Would have been too costly. 642 00:31:17,880 –> 00:31:19,579 So the history of Israel, 643 00:31:19,579 –> 00:31:21,819 despite the abundant provision of God, 644 00:31:21,819 –> 00:31:23,459 and despite the kindliness 645 00:31:23,459 –> 00:31:25,780 of God’s law for the relief of poverty, 646 00:31:25,780 –> 00:31:27,439 because of human sinfulness, 647 00:31:27,439 –> 00:31:28,520 the history of Israel, 648 00:31:28,560 –> 00:31:31,219 like the history of the rest of the world 649 00:31:31,219 –> 00:31:35,060 has been one of continuing frustration for the poor. 650 00:31:37,160 –> 00:31:39,400 Now that is why it is so striking, 651 00:31:39,400 –> 00:31:42,400 and it must have hit folks absolutely between the eyes 652 00:31:42,400 –> 00:31:45,880 when the Lord Jesus Christ begins his public ministry, 653 00:31:45,880 –> 00:31:49,079 and in Luke chapter four and verse 18 and 19, 654 00:31:49,079 –> 00:31:51,079 he says these words. 655 00:31:51,079 –> 00:31:53,579 First public utterances of the Lord Jesus, 656 00:31:53,579 –> 00:31:54,420 He says, 657 00:31:54,420 –> 00:31:57,119 The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me 658 00:31:57,119 –> 00:32:00,520 to preach good news to the poor. 659 00:32:00,520 –> 00:32:03,719 Then he says, this, to release the oppressed. 660 00:32:03,719 –> 00:32:08,359 That word release is directly back to Deuteronomy chapter 15 661 00:32:08,359 –> 00:32:11,979 I’m bringing the release, the cancelling, 662 00:32:11,979 –> 00:32:14,400 the freeing, the unshackling 663 00:32:15,680 –> 00:32:18,599 that is spoken off in Deuteronomy chapter 15 and verse one, 664 00:32:18,599 –> 00:32:20,839 and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, 665 00:32:20,839 –> 00:32:23,719 which of course was the Jubilee year. 666 00:32:24,079 –> 00:32:27,800 As the Lord Jesus says, this is what I’ve come to do. 667 00:32:27,800 –> 00:32:30,699 God is saying, I am going to do for you 668 00:32:30,699 –> 00:32:34,300 what you have not done for each other. 669 00:32:34,300 –> 00:32:38,500 I’ve come to release you from an eternally crippling 670 00:32:38,500 –> 00:32:39,900 debt towards God. 671 00:32:42,859 –> 00:32:44,160 Of course, there was only one way 672 00:32:44,160 –> 00:32:47,000 in which that could happen. 673 00:32:47,000 –> 00:32:49,260 If someone owes you a thousand dollars 674 00:32:49,260 –> 00:32:53,000 and you release the debt, guess what you’re down by? 675 00:32:53,079 –> 00:32:54,959 A thousand dollars, right? 676 00:32:54,959 –> 00:32:57,540 You incur the loss in yourself. 677 00:32:59,459 –> 00:33:01,579 And so, when Jesus goes to the cross, 678 00:33:01,579 –> 00:33:02,859 what is he doing? 679 00:33:02,859 –> 00:33:06,599 He is bearing our debt before God in himself. 680 00:33:07,599 –> 00:33:11,300 He bears our sins in His body on the tree. 681 00:33:11,300 –> 00:33:12,979 He assumes the loss. 682 00:33:14,640 –> 00:33:17,359 And in that way, He cancels our debt. 683 00:33:17,359 –> 00:33:19,780 And now He offers this release 684 00:33:20,680 –> 00:33:22,939 to all who will come to Him 685 00:33:24,859 –> 00:33:26,680 in faith and in repentance. 686 00:33:26,680 –> 00:33:28,680 He offers it to you today. 687 00:33:28,680 –> 00:33:32,339 The release of your eternal debt before God. 688 00:33:34,199 –> 00:33:37,540 A full pardon paid for by His shed blood 689 00:33:38,920 –> 00:33:40,040 on the cross. 690 00:33:40,040 –> 00:33:42,260 God is saying, I am doing for you 691 00:33:42,260 –> 00:33:45,459 what you have not done for each other. 692 00:33:45,459 –> 00:33:49,140 Jesus says, I have come to proclaim the release. 693 00:33:49,160 –> 00:33:51,119 This is good news. 694 00:33:51,119 –> 00:33:53,300 This is eternal good news. 695 00:33:54,599 –> 00:33:56,920 The time, verse two, 696 00:33:56,920 –> 00:34:00,140 the Lord’s time for canceling debts 697 00:34:00,140 –> 00:34:01,800 has been proclaimed. 698 00:34:05,079 –> 00:34:07,979 Now that leads to the fifth thing. 699 00:34:09,000 –> 00:34:11,379 As this speaks to us today, 700 00:34:11,379 –> 00:34:13,199 I thought about God’s abundant provision, 701 00:34:13,199 –> 00:34:14,540 the kindliness of His law, 702 00:34:14,540 –> 00:34:16,120 the stubbornness of human nature, 703 00:34:16,120 –> 00:34:18,899 the glory of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ 704 00:34:19,040 –> 00:34:23,219 to do for us what we have not done for each other. 705 00:34:24,620 –> 00:34:25,820 And here’s the fifth thing, 706 00:34:25,820 –> 00:34:28,419 the distinctive of God’s church. 707 00:34:31,739 –> 00:34:34,100 Look at the words in verse 11 for just a moment. 708 00:34:34,100 –> 00:34:38,020 I’m sure they’ll seem familiar to you. 709 00:34:38,020 –> 00:34:41,780 There will always be poor people in the land. 710 00:34:44,800 –> 00:34:46,679 A striking contrast to verse four, isn’t it? 711 00:34:46,679 –> 00:34:49,719 When God says, there should be no poor in the land, 712 00:34:49,719 –> 00:34:52,340 no reason for it because of the abundance of provision, 713 00:34:52,340 –> 00:34:55,020 but because of human greed, 714 00:34:55,020 –> 00:34:57,020 here is what will be not what should be, 715 00:34:57,020 –> 00:34:57,879 but what will be. 716 00:34:57,879 –> 00:35:02,120 There will always be poor people in the land. 717 00:35:02,120 –> 00:35:04,919 Now, if you recognize these words, 718 00:35:04,919 –> 00:35:06,500 you will probably recognize them 719 00:35:06,500 –> 00:35:08,500 because Jesus quoted them 720 00:35:09,899 –> 00:35:12,800 when Mary poured an expensive jar 721 00:35:12,800 –> 00:35:14,800 of perfume over the Lord 722 00:35:15,419 –> 00:35:17,320 before his crucifixion. 723 00:35:19,080 –> 00:35:22,320 And you remember that Judas criticized 724 00:35:22,320 –> 00:35:24,360 and Judas said, 725 00:35:24,360 –> 00:35:27,659 why wasn’t this perfume sold 726 00:35:27,659 –> 00:35:32,100 and why wasn’t the money used to give to the poor? 727 00:35:32,100 –> 00:35:35,479 And do you remember that Jesus defended Mary’s action 728 00:35:35,479 –> 00:35:37,780 and he said, John 12, 28, 729 00:35:37,780 –> 00:35:40,040 you will always have the poor among you, 730 00:35:40,040 –> 00:35:41,919 quoting from Deuteronomy 15, 731 00:35:42,520 –> 00:35:45,800 but you will not always have me. 732 00:35:45,800 –> 00:35:47,919 Now, I mentioned this 733 00:35:47,919 –> 00:35:52,179 because some people have abused these words of Jesus. 734 00:35:54,179 –> 00:35:55,000 And they say, well, 735 00:35:55,000 –> 00:35:58,300 Jesus said the poor you’ll have with you always. 736 00:35:58,300 –> 00:36:00,659 And they say it with a shrug. 737 00:36:00,659 –> 00:36:02,159 Well, the poor you’ll have with you always. 738 00:36:02,159 –> 00:36:03,979 So you know, what can we do about it? 739 00:36:03,979 –> 00:36:05,959 It’s just a fact of life as if it were 740 00:36:05,959 –> 00:36:10,139 part of being Christian to sort of walk away from it. 741 00:36:11,139 –> 00:36:13,120 That is why it is so important 742 00:36:13,120 –> 00:36:16,459 for us to read this verse today in full, 743 00:36:18,520 –> 00:36:21,780 because the context in Deuteronomy 15 744 00:36:22,699 –> 00:36:25,399 is the only way in which we can understand 745 00:36:25,399 –> 00:36:29,379 the words that our Lord Jesus Christ quoted 746 00:36:29,379 –> 00:36:31,239 and what he meant by them. 747 00:36:31,239 –> 00:36:32,739 Look at the verse in full. 748 00:36:32,739 –> 00:36:36,479 There will always be poor people in the land, 749 00:36:37,060 –> 00:36:40,479 therefore I command you to be open-handed 750 00:36:43,040 –> 00:36:46,620 towards your brothers and towards the poor 751 00:36:47,580 –> 00:36:49,820 and the needy in your walk. 752 00:36:51,300 –> 00:36:55,580 So anytime these words of our Lord Jesus are quoted, 753 00:36:55,580 –> 00:36:57,360 the poor you will have with you always, 754 00:36:57,360 –> 00:36:58,699 remember where they come from. 755 00:36:58,699 –> 00:37:01,820 It is not hey, there’ll always be poor 756 00:37:01,820 –> 00:37:04,360 so we can’t do anything. 757 00:37:04,620 –> 00:37:08,040 It is there will always be people in need 758 00:37:08,040 –> 00:37:11,459 so God says I command you to be generous. 759 00:37:12,399 –> 00:37:14,459 That’s the lesson. 760 00:37:14,459 –> 00:37:16,800 And this culture of kindness 761 00:37:18,239 –> 00:37:21,520 is a distinctive calling of the church 762 00:37:21,520 –> 00:37:24,120 of our Lord Jesus Christ today. 763 00:37:25,620 –> 00:37:28,699 Folks, Jesus Christ has released us 764 00:37:28,699 –> 00:37:31,639 from a debt to God that we had no means 765 00:37:31,639 –> 00:37:33,639 we could possibly repay. 766 00:37:34,639 –> 00:37:37,760 And His Spirit, the Spirit of this Jesus 767 00:37:37,760 –> 00:37:39,760 lives within His people. 768 00:37:40,800 –> 00:37:42,379 So acts of kindness 769 00:37:43,219 –> 00:37:46,520 that help people in great need 770 00:37:46,520 –> 00:37:49,179 has been from Acts in chapter two onwards 771 00:37:49,179 –> 00:37:52,840 a distinctive of the church of Jesus Christ. 772 00:37:55,000 –> 00:37:58,479 And kindness is to be shown to all. 773 00:37:58,479 –> 00:37:59,520 But I want you to notice 774 00:37:59,520 –> 00:38:02,360 in both Old Testament and New Testament 775 00:38:02,360 –> 00:38:05,060 that God calls us to act of kindness 776 00:38:05,060 –> 00:38:07,719 especially among His own people. 777 00:38:08,699 –> 00:38:11,179 Notice how often the word brother is used 778 00:38:11,179 –> 00:38:13,399 here in chapter 15. 779 00:38:13,399 –> 00:38:18,080 Verse two, cancel the loan to your fellow Israelite. 780 00:38:18,080 –> 00:38:20,479 Verse two, you shall not require payment 781 00:38:20,479 –> 00:38:23,320 from your fellow Israelite or brother. 782 00:38:23,320 –> 00:38:26,540 Verse four, there are to be no poor among you. 783 00:38:26,540 –> 00:38:30,379 Verse seven, if there is a poor man among your brothers. 784 00:38:30,459 –> 00:38:32,439 Verse nine, do not show ill will 785 00:38:32,439 –> 00:38:34,280 towards your needy brother. 786 00:38:34,280 –> 00:38:36,820 Verse 11, I command you to be open handed 787 00:38:36,820 –> 00:38:38,560 towards your brother. 788 00:38:38,560 –> 00:38:41,439 It makes you think of that question back in Genesis, 789 00:38:41,439 –> 00:38:42,280 you remember? 790 00:38:42,280 –> 00:38:44,959 Am I my brother’s keeper? 791 00:38:44,959 –> 00:38:46,800 You know the answer to that? 792 00:38:46,800 –> 00:38:50,060 No, you’re your brother’s brother. 793 00:38:50,060 –> 00:38:51,219 Right? 794 00:38:51,219 –> 00:38:53,419 You are your brother’s brother, 795 00:38:53,419 –> 00:38:55,280 and he’s your brother. 796 00:38:55,280 –> 00:38:58,020 So the Lord is saying here in Deuteronomy, 797 00:38:58,040 –> 00:39:00,780 remember that there is a special bond 798 00:39:00,780 –> 00:39:03,219 in the family of God. 799 00:39:03,219 –> 00:39:05,780 Your brother is your brother. 800 00:39:07,260 –> 00:39:09,120 It says that in the New Testament as well. 801 00:39:09,120 –> 00:39:11,080 Yes, it is. 802 00:39:11,080 –> 00:39:14,899 While kindness is to be shown to all people, 803 00:39:14,899 –> 00:39:18,580 a special priority is to be given to the family of God. 804 00:39:18,580 –> 00:39:21,699 Galatians chapter six and verse 10. 805 00:39:21,699 –> 00:39:24,080 Therefore, as we have opportunity, 806 00:39:24,080 –> 00:39:26,899 let us do good to all people. 807 00:39:26,899 –> 00:39:28,459 There’s the all people 808 00:39:28,459 –> 00:39:30,219 but notice what comes next, 809 00:39:30,219 –> 00:39:33,280 especially, so here’s a priority, 810 00:39:33,280 –> 00:39:37,699 to those who belong to the family of believers. 811 00:39:39,560 –> 00:39:42,080 Now folks, one way in which we do this 812 00:39:42,080 –> 00:39:44,020 in our church here 813 00:39:44,020 –> 00:39:46,699 is through the Benevolent Fund 814 00:39:46,699 –> 00:39:49,199 which you give to after we have communion 815 00:39:49,199 –> 00:39:51,419 on the first weekend of every month. 816 00:39:52,540 –> 00:39:55,879 We use that and it’s being greatly used 817 00:39:55,919 –> 00:39:57,199 especially in these times 818 00:39:57,199 –> 00:40:00,739 much more than five or 10 years ago. 819 00:40:02,000 –> 00:40:03,600 And it is used to help people 820 00:40:03,600 –> 00:40:05,199 both within the fellowship 821 00:40:05,199 –> 00:40:08,120 and it is also used to help large numbers 822 00:40:08,120 –> 00:40:10,919 of people who come here every week 823 00:40:10,919 –> 00:40:12,800 and receive help through the kindness 824 00:40:12,800 –> 00:40:15,399 and ministry of our laypeople 825 00:40:15,399 –> 00:40:18,719 who do a marvelous, marvelous job 826 00:40:18,719 –> 00:40:21,379 of serving in these ways. 827 00:40:22,199 –> 00:40:24,959 But folks, I want you to understand this very clearly. 828 00:40:26,120 –> 00:40:28,800 That is only a very small part of it. 829 00:40:30,879 –> 00:40:35,080 The larger part by far, by far 830 00:40:36,939 –> 00:40:41,300 is in the quiet acts of kindness 831 00:40:42,320 –> 00:40:44,879 that take place every week 832 00:40:46,520 –> 00:40:48,360 between one believer and another, 833 00:40:48,360 –> 00:40:50,000 one family and another 834 00:40:51,459 –> 00:40:53,459 to the praise and the glory of God. 835 00:40:56,120 –> 00:40:57,120 I tell you, 836 00:40:58,360 –> 00:41:02,239 things happen in the body of Christ 837 00:41:02,239 –> 00:41:04,739 that don’t happen anywhere else. 838 00:41:06,560 –> 00:41:08,300 And it is wonderful 839 00:41:09,679 –> 00:41:12,719 to see the body of Christ in action. 840 00:41:12,719 –> 00:41:14,879 And I hope just as we think about the ways 841 00:41:14,879 –> 00:41:17,379 in which we have been blessed by others, 842 00:41:18,399 –> 00:41:20,080 what that’s going to do in our hearts, 843 00:41:20,080 –> 00:41:22,979 as it’s done in my heart again thinking about it this week, 844 00:41:23,939 –> 00:41:28,939 is that it will encourage us to reflect kindness 845 00:41:29,280 –> 00:41:33,540 into the lives of others, freely you have received, 846 00:41:34,899 –> 00:41:37,840 now Jesus says, freely give. 847 00:41:40,239 –> 00:41:43,879 I don’t often tell personal stories, 848 00:41:43,879 –> 00:41:45,360 but in these last moments, 849 00:41:45,360 –> 00:41:48,080 let me just tell you one thing that was huge 850 00:41:48,080 –> 00:41:50,919 that happened to Karen and to myself 851 00:41:50,939 –> 00:41:52,879 whenever I think about it it still moves 852 00:41:52,879 –> 00:41:55,020 my heart with thanksgiving it had never happened before, 853 00:41:55,020 –> 00:41:58,659 it has never happened again, nor do I expect it to. 854 00:42:00,840 –> 00:42:03,239 Coming to this country was a big stretch for us 855 00:42:03,239 –> 00:42:07,600 and many of you who have come this way 856 00:42:07,600 –> 00:42:09,959 know exactly what I mean, 857 00:42:09,959 –> 00:42:12,840 moving to another country you begin life again. 858 00:42:14,560 –> 00:42:17,879 And we worked out what we felt that we were looking for 859 00:42:17,899 –> 00:42:22,219 in a home and what kind of mortgage we could afford 860 00:42:22,219 –> 00:42:23,879 and it didn’t add up. 861 00:42:26,179 –> 00:42:28,100 And then I was told in a phone call 862 00:42:29,399 –> 00:42:33,260 that someone in the church had offered to give us 863 00:42:34,459 –> 00:42:38,459 an interest-free loan of $50,000 to help us buy a home 864 00:42:38,459 –> 00:42:39,659 when we came to America. 865 00:42:41,340 –> 00:42:43,500 I had never met this person, 866 00:42:44,459 –> 00:42:46,919 nothing like that had ever happened 867 00:42:46,919 –> 00:42:49,060 in my life before or since. 868 00:42:51,080 –> 00:42:53,320 I asked how long the loan would be for. 869 00:42:53,320 –> 00:42:55,939 The answer repay it when you can, 870 00:42:56,800 –> 00:42:59,600 no paperwork, no schedule. 871 00:43:00,860 –> 00:43:01,699 It’s amazing. 872 00:43:04,679 –> 00:43:07,879 We received the loan gratefully and took out a mortgage, 873 00:43:07,879 –> 00:43:10,719 put in our savings and bought the house 874 00:43:10,719 –> 00:43:12,280 that is still our home today. 875 00:43:13,840 –> 00:43:15,419 So now we had two loans. 876 00:43:17,219 –> 00:43:19,800 One from a mortgage company bearing interest, 877 00:43:21,219 –> 00:43:25,800 one interest-free with no repayment date. 878 00:43:28,080 –> 00:43:31,000 When someone shows you kindness, 879 00:43:32,120 –> 00:43:37,120 it will always test your heart, always. 880 00:43:39,239 –> 00:43:40,699 I said to Carmen we have been shown 881 00:43:40,699 –> 00:43:42,879 an extraordinary kindness, 882 00:43:44,100 –> 00:43:48,320 and after our giving to the Lord, 883 00:43:48,320 –> 00:43:51,600 our first priority must be to repay the kindness 884 00:43:51,600 –> 00:43:52,879 that has been shown to us. 885 00:43:52,879 –> 00:43:55,060 By the way, your first priority 886 00:43:55,060 –> 00:43:56,679 is always your giving to the Lord. 887 00:43:56,679 –> 00:43:58,459 If you’re steaming into your mortgage 888 00:43:58,459 –> 00:43:59,780 and so proud about it, 889 00:43:59,780 –> 00:44:01,840 but you’re doing it at the expense of giving to the Lord 890 00:44:01,840 –> 00:44:03,580 and you’re saying, oh, one day in the future, 891 00:44:03,580 –> 00:44:04,459 I’ll be generous. 892 00:44:04,459 –> 00:44:05,600 That day will not come. 893 00:44:07,379 –> 00:44:09,520 It will always be another thing. 894 00:44:09,520 –> 00:44:11,679 Generosity is the habit of our heart 895 00:44:11,679 –> 00:44:13,020 developed over a lifetime. 896 00:44:13,840 –> 00:44:16,659 So we established our giving, 897 00:44:17,959 –> 00:44:20,520 started paying what we needed to on the mortgage, 898 00:44:21,600 –> 00:44:23,639 pulled in our belts 899 00:44:23,639 –> 00:44:26,379 and made a plan to repay the extraordinary kindness 900 00:44:26,379 –> 00:44:29,520 in as short a period as we possibly could. 901 00:44:30,860 –> 00:44:32,000 And in God’s goodness, 902 00:44:32,000 –> 00:44:34,340 we managed to do that in five years. 903 00:44:35,800 –> 00:44:38,739 The joy of inviting a couple 904 00:44:38,739 –> 00:44:41,820 who had shown us such kindness to our home, 905 00:44:41,820 –> 00:44:43,679 to thank them and to repay the money. 906 00:44:45,060 –> 00:44:45,959 A week later, 907 00:44:47,679 –> 00:44:49,899 Unlocking the Bible received a gift 908 00:44:51,199 –> 00:44:54,919 from the same person for $50,000. 909 00:44:54,919 –> 00:44:59,919 It was an early gift that established a new ministry 910 00:45:02,800 –> 00:45:03,659 and I was in awe. 911 00:45:06,360 –> 00:45:10,280 That experience has had a lasting effect on our lives. 912 00:45:11,959 –> 00:45:16,120 Freely, freely you have received. 913 00:45:17,439 –> 00:45:21,479 Freely, freely give. 914 00:45:22,860 –> 00:45:26,040 Father, help us, we pray, to apply your Word wisely 915 00:45:26,040 –> 00:45:28,959 in each of our very different circumstances 916 00:45:28,959 –> 00:45:31,620 for the sake of Christ and for his glory 917 00:45:31,620 –> 00:45:33,939 and everyone said amen.