1. "And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. " - Genesis 15:13–14
2. "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool:Where is the house that ye build unto me?And where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, And all those things have been, saith the Lord:
But to this man will I look, Even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit,And trembleth at my word." - Isaiah 66:1–2
3. "Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die):Remove falsehood and lies far from me;Give me neither poverty nor riches—Feed me with the food allotted to me;Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God." (Pr 30:7–9)
4. "The rich and the poor have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all." ......He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor. - (Pr 22:2....9)
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BIBLICAL LIVING 101 : Money (lack of) - Poverty
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We have been talking thus far about the concept of money, and we have seen that the Word views it as a tool for quantifying and acquiring things of value, and not something to be pursued in its own right. We have seen how easy it is to focus on - money - as being what provides for us, as opposed to trusting our Provider, and we have also seen that managing money effectively (investing/giving back to the Lord/His Business) is highly commended.
Why are there poor people then? Why do so many of us lack money? And if I am poor, what does the Bible say about that? Well it may comfort you to know, that the lack of ink in the Word on the subject of -acquiring wealth- is overwhelmingly outweighed by the directions given about what to do about/for those who lack it - and we are happy to be able to present that in this series - after all - its about dealing with real life!
Before we dive in, it may interest you to know, that the word translated as "poor" in the Word actually has multiple shades of meaning... the first of which is:
'Anah : primitive root through the idea of looking down or browbeating ;84 occurrences; AV translates as “afflict” 50 times, “humble” 11 times, “force” five times, “exercised” twice, “sing” twice, “Leannoth” once, “troubled” once, “weakened” once, and translated miscellaneously 11 times.(Strongs Dictionary). The sense of the word is to humble and subdue/oppress.
We see it first used in Genesis, (in the Abrahamic Covenant! & prophecy) referring to the Egyptian captivity (Text 1), and in Isaiah (Text 2). The word for poor in the sentence "poor and of a contrite spirit", is the word Anah - talking about spiritual humility here.
Notice the range of meaning expressed by this one word - from forced sumbission to oppressive human slavery - to humble submission to the Law of God.This is echoed in Christs words on the Mount - "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Mt 5:3, Luke 6:20.
The pathway to covenant blessing goes through the wilderness of subjection to suffering.
Poverty - meaning the lack of wealth is a different word. In text 3, the word for Poverty is "Raysh" in Hebrew, and the related word (also in text 3) is "Yarash" (from the same root). The interesting thing to note is the linkage of this term to possession and in turn, to inheritance.
Yarash - the AV translates as “possess” 116 times, “… out” 46 times, “inherit” 21 times, “heir” 10 times, “possession” six times, “succeed” five times, “dispossess” four times, “poverty” three times, “drive” twice, “enjoy” twice, “poor” twice, “expelled” twice, “utterly” twice, and translated miscellaneously 11 times.to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir. 1a (Qal). 1a1 to take possession of. 1a2 to inherit. 1a3 to impoverish, come to poverty, be poor. 1b (Niphal) to be dispossessed, be impoverished, come to poverty. 1c (Piel) to devour. 1d (Hiphil). 1d1 to cause to possess or inherit. 1d2 to cause others to possess or inherit. 1d3 to impoverish. 1d4 to dispossess. 1d5 to destroy, bring to ruin, disinherit.
Lastly, there are those who are suffering. Further down in the Proverbs 30 chapter we read...
"There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives,To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men." - Pr 30:14
The word poor is the word "anah" (afflicted/oppressed) - the word NEEDY, is a new word "Ebyown" - communicates the sense of want (especially in feeling); 61 occurrences; AV translates as “needy” 35 times, “poor” 24 times, “beggar” once, and “poor man” once.In want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person, subject to oppression and abuse,needing help, deliverance from trouble, especially as delivered by God,general reference to lowest class.
The last word is "Dal". This is the word that is most used when the Word is talking about the poor most of the time. In Text 4 this week, the word for poor in rich/poor is "Roosh" (remember Raysh and Yarash), but the word poor in "bread to the poor" is Dal. Most of the OT injunctions around mistreating the poor refer to them by this word.
Why are we talking about this?
It is important to note, that spiritual and bodily "humiliation" have been decreed for God's creation. "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." - Ro 8:20–21
God does not blame you for your spiritual poverty or suffering (Anah). We see pictures of this in the OT where the provision for atonement was extended to rich and poor alike, with the poor able to offer birds instead of expensive farm animals (Christ's parents offered birds, they were poor). The rich and poor were to be treated with ABSOLUTE IMPARTIALITY under the law, and God Himself undertakes to DELIVER the Anah...(Us!)..
"All my bones shall say, “Lord, who is like You, Delivering the poor (Anah) from him who is too strong for him,Yes, the poor (Anah) and the needy (ebyon) from him who plunders him?" - (Ps 35:10).
The Word takes a very dim view of those squandering property (Yarash/Raysh/Roosh), but a very compassionate view of those who are "Dal","Ebyon" or "Yarash"(economically disadvantaged, disinherited or dispossessed).
Here are some warnings (Poverty = Yarash) - (we strongly recommend checking out the scriptures listed in Naves Topical Index under, POOR, and POVERTY.
The Bible says that sometimes, your poverty is your fault.....and warns against:
1. Laziness :
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,Provideth her meat in the summer,And gathereth her food in the harvest.How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,A little folding of the hands to sleep:So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, And thy want as an armed man. "- Pr 6:6–11)
"Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. (Pr 20:13)
2. Alcoholism, Sensual living, laziness :
"For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty:
And drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags" - Pr 23:21
3. Bad Company
"He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough." - Pr 28:19
But as regards the Anah, the Dal, and the Ebyown.... God's hand is open for mercy... the OT tells us the following:
1.The poor have the right of gleaning. Lev. 19:9, 10; Deut. 24:19, 21. (Ruth!)
2. From the produce of the land in sabbatical years the poor and the stranger were to have their portion. Ex. 23:11; Lev. 25:6.
3. Re-entry upon land in the jubilee year, with the limitation as to town homes. Lev. 25:25–30. 4. Prohibition of usury and of retention of pledges. Ex. 22:25–27; Lev. 25:35, 37, etc.
5. Permanent bondage forbidden, and manumission of Hebrew bondmen or bondwomen enjoined in the sabbatical and jubilee years. Lev. 25:39–42, 47–54; Deut. 15:12–15.
6. Portions from the tithes to be shared by the poor after the Levites. Deut. 14:28; 26:12, 13.
7. The poor to partake in entertainments at the feasts of Weeks and Tabernacles. Deut. 16:11, 14; see Neh. 8:10.
8. Daily payment of wages. Lev. 19:13. Principles similar to those laid down by Moses are inculcated in the New Testament, as Luke 3:11; 14:13; Acts 6:1; Gal. 2:10; James 2:15.
Begging was not common under the Old Testament, while it was so in the New Testament times (Luke 16:20, 21, etc.). But begging in the case of those who are able to work is forbidden, and all such are enjoined to “work with their own hands” as a Christian duty (1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:7–13; Eph. 4:28). This word is used figuratively in Matt. 5:3; Luke 6:20; 2 Cor. 8:9; Rev. 3:17.
But why is there poverty? The only two clues we have are here:
"If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become sin among you.
You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.
For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’ " - (Dt 15:7–11)
"And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.
For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.
For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” - (Mt 26:6–13)
The issue is clear if we understand that the Word is talking about a practical reality. There will ALWAYS be economic disparity - " except when there may be no poor among you; for the Lord will greatly bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance — only if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today." - (Dt 15:4–5)
Blessing the poor in turn pours out Gods blessing on you!
While disparities might exist, obedience to the Law of God would eradicate them - because the ones who had economic wealth would obey the dictates of the Law as re: their duties toward the poor (Dal, Ebyon, Yarash). This is not "Socialism, or Welfare." This is about compassion for those who are the most needy amongst us, and you know what, that's where He is!
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me. To preach the gospel to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind,To set at liberty those who are oppressed;To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Lk 4:18–19).
The poor are His priority!
Hallelujah!