Indentured Servants Indentured servitude has its roots in the Law of God. Exodus 21:2-6 “When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his ...

Slavery Slavery was allowed in the beginning, but carefully regulated. Leviticus 25:44-46 “As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans ...

Rest for the Land Even the earth needs a Sabbath, as farmers today understand. Exodus 23:10, 11 “For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they ...

The Third-Year Tithe Communities are responsible to care for their own poor. Deuteronomy 14:28, 29 “‘At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance ...

Workfare The poor must be willing to work for their relief. Leviticus 23:22 “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: ...

The Economics of Love Love of neighbor is a driving force in the economy of God’s Law. Deuteronomy 15:9-10 “‘Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, “The seventh year, the year of release is near,” and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you ...

The Disabled We must be especially careful to love our disabled neighbors. Leviticus 19:14 “You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.” Communities in ancient Israel were expected to “go the extra mile” with those in their midst ...

“With Us” Really Caring for the poor can mean having them with us, literally. Leviticus 25:35-38 “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, ...

Justice for the Poor The poor deserve the full protection of all the Law. Exodus 23:6-8 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. And you shall ...

Widows and Orphans Love requires that we care for the widows and orphans in our community. Deuteronomy 24:17, 18 “‘You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge, but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the ...