The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 270

11 person sl10nl<l 80metimes lend, "expecting nothing agnio." With foreigners, that is those no! of "the household of faith," it might be different; the debt need not in thi~ case he cancelled; the year of release was a Divine institution for the people of God. The Jc~n were intended, if obedient, to he creditors of the world, and debtors to none• aud the poor brother was to have the joy in the sabbatic year of being forgiven. ' I. THE DUTY OF FORGIVENESS WAS P~ESCRIBED TO ALL THE DRETHREN. In fact, thie poor law was the proclamation of the "brotherhood" of believers in the one G<.id. Upon this forgiYcness of debt was based. The creditor was to realize how much more blessed il is t,, girn than to receive (Acts xx. 35); how blessed it is to be able to help a brother! Bad the Jews been faithful, the parable of the good Samaritan would not haw been such a wonder. It was just the spirit fostered by this institution of the year of release. Km,·, this duty of forgiveness of the debts of brethren arises out of the forgiving character of God. As the common Father of these brethren in the faith, he inculcates for,-ri Yeness because he practises it. The experience of Israel in the wilderness was of a series of Di.-ine forgi'l'enesses, even though in forgiving them he took vcnc,eance on their inYentions (Ps. xcix. 8). And the beautiful parable about the two debt~rs (Matt. X'l'iii. 23-35) is really meant to bring out the truth that unforgivingness is a violation of the family spirit encouraged by the king, and is the unpardonable sin. II. 'l'ITT. IDEAL SET BEFORE THEM WAS TO BE THE EXTIBPATION OF POVERTY IN TITE FHmT OF Goo. It would most probably never be reached, but it is well to be aiming at the high and the noble, even though it may not be all attained. The marginal reading in ,er. 4, which has received the imprimatur of Jonathan Edwards (' ""orks,' Tcgg's edition of 1860, ,ol. ii. p. 164), brings out the beautiful aim thus set before Israel. The effort was to be to make Jewish poverty impossible. The same idea seized on the mind of the Church after Pentecost, leading to the trial of a (Jhristian commune, wherein for a time it could be said, "Neither was there any among them that lacked,. (Acts iv. 34). Po,erty was for a time at least banished from the Christian Clrnrch. These stri,ings after an ideal shall be crowned at last with success when under the new regime, "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat" (Rev. vii. 16). III. THE OBEDIE:ls""T ARE INTENDED TO MAKE ALL MEN THEm DEBTORS. The Lord promises his people, if they arc only obedient, that they shall lend to many nations, but shall not borrow (ver. 6). It is sometimes thought to be a special benefit when a person can contract debt from all and sundry, his credit being so good. But it surely is a higher benefit to be in a position t-o oblige everybody. This is what God meant bis people to be. Surrounding nations were to borrow from them, and own their indebted- ness. And bas not this a moral and spiritual side? The religious spitit is the obliging spirit, the spirit which hails with llelight the opportunity of" doing good unto all men, especially unto such as are of the household of faith." IV. IT IS THE SECRET OF SOVEREIGNTY TO BE ABLE TO OBLIGE OTHERS. For it is significant surely that the Israelites are told, immediately after the promise of being able to lead unto many nations, "and thou sbalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee" (ver. 6). Rule arises out of obligation. Influence is acquired "·hen we are able to befriend others. Doubtless many of the conquests of Israel were b, force rather than by finance; but it is the peaceful acquisition of power that a Di,iue promise contemplates, and we begin to rule as "kings and priests unto God" when we become thoroughly obliging. It is thus love and loyalty are secured among men. Thus we have in this arrangement of the year of release principles laid down that God has illustrated himself in his considerate and forgiving conduct towards us, and in which we are to try to follow bim.-R. M. E. Vers. 7-11.-0pen-liandedness. Having inculcated the forgiveness of a brother's debts during the sabbatic year, Moses now proceeds to speak of the open-handedness which should precede that year. It might be made a pretext for refusing a poor brother e. helping hand that the year was almost on when the debt would be cancelled legally; bnt to make this e. pretext for niggardliness would only betray wickedness of heart. The most beautiful consideration is thus inculcated for the poor ; and e.s "the poor Cl-t. xv. 1-23.] Tim BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 205