patriarchs and prophets-第138章
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and the people。 The soil； lying untilled for one season； would afterward
produce more plentifully。 The people were released from the pressing labors
of the field； and while there were various branches of work that could be
followed during this time； all enjoyed greater leisure； which afforded
opportunity for the restoration of their physical powers for the exertions
of the following years。 They had more time for meditation and prayer； for
acquainting themselves with the teachings and requirements of the Lord； and
for the instruction of their households。
In the sabbatical year the Hebrew slaves were to be set at liberty； and they
were not to be sent away portionless。 The Lord's direction was： 〃When thou
sendest him out free from thee； thou shalt not let him go away empty。 Thou
shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock； and out of thy floor； and out
of thy winepress： of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou
shalt give unto him。〃 Deuteronomy 15：13； 14。
The hire of a laborer was to be promptly paid： 〃Thou shalt not oppress a
hired servant that is poor and needy； whether he be of thy brethren； or of
thy strangers that are in thy land： 。 。 。 at his day thou shalt give him his
hire； neither shall the sun go down upon it； for he is poor； and setteth his
heart upon it。〃 Deuteronomy 24：14； 15。
Special directions were also given concerning the treatment of fugitives
from service： 〃Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is
escaped from his master unto thee。 He shall dwell with thee； even among you；
in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates； where it liketh him
best： thou shalt not oppress him。〃 Deuteronomy 23：15； 16。
To the poor； the seventh year was a year of release from debt。 The Hebrews
were enjoined at all times to assist their needy brethren by lending them
money without interest。 To take usury from a poor man was expressly
forbidden： 〃If thy brother be waxen poor； and fallen in decay with thee；
then thou shalt relieve him： yea； though he be a stranger； or a sojourner；
that he may live with thee。 Take thou no usury of him； or increase： but fear
thy God； that thy brother may live with thee。 Thou shalt not give him thy
money upon usury； nor lend him thy victuals for increase。〃 Leviticus
25：35…37。 If the debt remained unpaid
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until the year of release； the principal itself could not be recovered。 The
people were expressly warned against withholding from their brethren needed
assistance on account of this： 〃If there be among you a poor man of one of
thy brethren； 。 。 。 thou shalt not harden thine heart； nor shut thine hand
from thy poor brother。 。 。 。 Beware that there be not a thought in thy
wicked heart； saying； The seventh year； the year of release； is at hand； and
thine eye be evil against thy poor brother； and thou givest him nought； and
he cry unto the Lord against thee； and it be sin unto thee。〃 〃The poor shall
never cease out of the land； therefore I command thee； saying； Thou shalt
open thine hand wide unto thy brother； to thy poor； and to thy needy； in thy
land；〃 〃and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need； in that which he
wanteth。〃 Deuteronomy 15：7…9； 11； 8。
None need fear that their liberality would bring them to want。 Obedience to
God's commandments would surely result in prosperity。 〃Thou shalt lend unto
many nations；〃 He said； 〃but thou shalt not borrow； and thou shalt reign
over many nations； but they shall not reign over thee。〃 Deuteronomy 15：6。
After 〃seven sabbaths of years；〃 〃seven times seven years；〃 came that great
year of releasethe jubilee。 〃Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the
jubilee to sound 。 。 。 throughout all your land。 And ye shall hallow the
fiftieth year； and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the
inhabitants thereof： it shall be a jubilee unto you； and ye shall return
every man unto his possession； and ye shall return every man unto his
family。〃 Leviticus 25：9； 10。
〃On the tenth day of the seventh month； in the Day of Atonement；〃 the
trumpet of the jubilee was sounded。 Throughout the land； wherever the Jewish
people dwelt； the sound was heard； calling upon all the children of Jacob to
welcome the year of release。 On the great Day of Atonement satisfaction was
made for the sins of Israel； and with gladness of heart the people would
welcome the jubilee。
As in the sabbatical year； the land was not to be sown or reaped； and all
that it produced was to be regarded as the rightful property of the poor。
Certain classes of Hebrew slavesall who did not receive their liberty in
the sabbatical yearwere now set free。 But that which especially
distinguished the year of jubilee was the reversion of all landed property
to the family of
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the original possessor。 By the special direction of God the land had been
divided by lot。 After the division was made no one was at liberty to trade
his estate。 Neither was he to sell his land unless poverty compelled him to
do so； and then； whenever he or any of his kindred might desire to redeem
it； the purchaser must not refuse to sell it； and if unredeemed； it would
revert to its first possessor or his heirs in the year of jubilee。
The Lord declared to Israel： 〃The land shall not be sold forever： for the
land is Mine； for ye are strangers and sojourners with Me。〃 Leviticus 25：23。
The people were to be impressed with the fact that it was God's land which
they were permitted to possess for a time； that He was the rightful owner；
the original proprietor； and that He would have special consideration made
for the poor and unfortunate。 It was to be impressed upon the minds of all
that the poor have as much right to a place in God's world as have the more
wealthy。
Such were the provisions made by our merciful Creator； to lessen suffering；
to bring some ray of hope； to flash some gleam of sunshine； into the life of
the destitute and distressed。
The Lord would place a check upon the inordinate love of property and power。
Great evils would result from the continued accumulation of wealth by one
class； and the poverty and degradation of another。 Without some restraint
the power of the wealthy would become a monopoly； and the poor； though in
every respect fully as worthy in God's sight； would be regarded and treated
as inferior to their more prosperous brethren。 The sense of this oppression
would arouse the passions of the poorer class。 There would be a feeling of
despair and desperation which would tend to demoralize society and open the
door to crimes of every description。 The regulations that God established
were designed to promote social equality。 The provisions of the sabbatical
year and the jubilee would； in a great measure； set right that which during
the interval had gone wrong in the social and political economy of the
nation。
These regulations were designed to bless the rich no less than the poor。
They would restrain avarice and a disposition for self…exaltation； and would
cultivate a noble spirit of benevolence； and by fostering good will and
confidence between all classes； they would promote social order； the
stability of government。 We are all woven together in the great web of
humanity；
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and whatever we can do to benefit and uplift others will reflect in blessing
upon ourselves。 The law of mutual dependence runs through all classes of
society。 The poor are not more dependent upon the rich than are the rich
upon the poor。 While the one class ask a share in the blessings which God
has bestowed upon their wealthier neighbors； the other need the faithful
service； the strength of brain and bone and muscle； that are the capital of
the poor。
Great blessings were promised to Israel on condition of obedience to the
Lord's directions。 〃I will give you rain in due season；〃 He declared； 〃and
the land shall yield her increase； and the trees of the field shall yield
their fruit。 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage； and the
vintage shall reach unto the sowing time： and ye shall eat your bread to the
full； and dw
