Read Deuteronomy 15:1-18 at Bible Gateway.
Previously: deuteronomy 15:1-16:7, honor the sabbath day
(Please review the teaching tools of scripture, especially the Hebrew paragraph divisions and chiastic structures. The paragraphs marked by an “s” at their close are weak paragraphs, which indicate a change of facet but not a change of theme or topic. The paragraphs marked by a “p” at their close are strong paragraphs, which indicate the completion of a theme or topic. The paragraph divisions reveal the chiastic structures: narratives which zero in on the main point of the narrative at its center, like a bull’s eye at the center of a target. The main point is revealed, because the narrative elements before the main point (or central axis) are repeated after the central axis, in reverse order, while the central axis itself is not repeated.)
This section, Deu 15:1-18, is the first section explaining the fourth commandment, Honor the Sabbath day. (The fourth commandment is explained in Deu 15:1-16:17, and this is my summary of it.) These are the Hebrew paragraph divisions:
Deu 15:1-6 {s} Seventh (Sabbath) year release of debts
Deu 15:7-11 {s} Lend generously to the poor even when the Sabbath year approaches
Deu 15:12-18 {p} Seventh (Sabbath) year release of servants
There is nothing about resting on the seventh day in this section, but rather the instruction is about resting in the seventh year … more specifically, releasing men from debt and bondage – that which enslaves. Last time we saw that the seventh day Sabbath was a picture of the gospel of grace, for we do not engage in painful labor (the result of sin and the fall) on the day of rest. As soon as God’s people were set free from slavery, He taught them to rest on the seventh day. Rest on the Sabbath is the occupation of the free men of His kingdom and not slaves! Likewise, in the seventh year, His people who have become enslaved again, are to be released from their slavery and set free. Being in debt, and being the servant of another instead of your own free man, is a slavery from which we are to seek freedom. His people are to honor that Sabbath, that freedom and that rest, by releasing debts owed to us and service owed to us, in the seventh year.
The strong paragraph from Deu 15:1-18 forms a chiastic structure:
Deu 15:1-18
1a) Deu 15:1-3, The seventh year release of debts;
1b) Deu 15:4a, When the poor will cease from the land;
1c) Deu 15:4b-6, The LORD will greatly bless you;
1d) Deu 15:7, You shall not shut your hand to your poor brother;
central axis) Deu 15:8, “…but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs;”
2d) Deu 15:9-10a, You shall not shut your hand to your poor brother;
2c) Deu 15:10b, The LORD will greatly bless you;
2b) Deu 15:11, The poor will never cease from the land;
2a) Deu 15:12-18, The seventh year release of servants.
Isn’t it interesting that when we shut our hand to the poor, we dishonor the Sabbath day and break the fourth commandment? Even God’s own people who love Him and who are called by His name, have reason to repent of and turn from their wicked ways, so that He may hear from heaven and heal their land.
Continued: deuteronomy 15:19-23, the firstborn and sabbath rest
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