In today’s passage we are going to read some commands which made provision for the poor and needy among the Israelites. The passage specifically mentions widows and orphans. This is something we see all through the Bible, including New Testament verses which apply to us. God demands that we take care of those who are helpless.
The 14th chapter of Deuteronomy is part of a long dialogue in which Moses reviewed the law code that governed the Israelites. In the verses we read yesterday, Moses listed the animals that were clean and consumable, and the animals that were unclean and could not be eaten.
Deut. 14:22 ¶ “You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year.
Look at the word “tithe”. The Hebrew word that was used there is a variation of a word that means “ten”. Tithing meant giving a tenth.
Deut. 14:23 And you shall eat in the presence of Yahweh your God, at the place where He chooses for His name to dwell, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear Yahweh your God all your days.
Notice the words “you shall eat”. The pronoun “you” refers to every Israelite. We often picture the sacrifices brought to the tabernacle as something that was either burned or eaten by the priests or Levites. There is a lot of truth to that. However, sometimes the non-Levitical Israelites ate part of the sacrifices. This was one of those occasions.
Deut. 14:24 And if the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where Yahweh your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when Yahweh your God blesses you,
Deut. 14:25 then you shall exchange it for money and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which Yahweh your God chooses.
Deut. 14:26 And you may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of Yahweh your God and be glad, you and your household.
Deut. 14:27 Also you shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no portion or inheritance among you.
The tithing and sacrificial systems were used to provide food and clothing to the Levites since they did not inherit any land. When the Israelites were considering whether or not to go beyond the minimum requirement in offering tithes and sacrifices, they were to remember the benefit to the Levites of doing more than what was required.
Deut. 14:28 ¶ “At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year and shall deposit it within your gates.
Deut. 14:29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow who are within your gates, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Once again we see the word “Levite”. The Levites did not receive an inheritance of land; therefore, the other tribes were required to provide sustenance to them.
Take note of the words “orphan” and “widow”. The Israelites were commanded to take care of the widows and orphans.
After Israel escaped slavery in Egypt and arrived at Mount Sinai, one of the first things Yahweh did was give them the ten commandments (see Exodus 20). Then Yahweh began giving a list of other commands. One of those early commands was “You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.” (Exodus 22:22). That command was given before all the instructions about building and using the tabernacle and ordaining priests. In other words, protecting and caring for widows and orphans is high on Yahweh’s priority list.
There are 6 chapters in Deuteronomy which mention widows and orphans (10, 14, 16, 24, 26, and 27). Six Psalms communicate the value Yahweh places upon protecting and providing for them (10, 68, 82, 94, 109, and 146). They are also mentioned in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Jesus criticized the 1st-century religious leaders for taking advantage of widows (see Mark 12:40). A priority of the early church was feeding the Greek widows (see Acts 6). Paul commanded us to honor widows (see 1 Timothy 5).
Finally, James stated very bluntly, “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction …” (James 1:27). Visiting orphans and widows is pure and undefiled religion.
Deut. 15:1 ¶ “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts.
Deut. 15:2 And this is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother because the remission from Yahweh has been proclaimed.
This rule was designed to prevent people from descending into debt so deep they would never come out of it.
Deut. 15:3 From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother.
Deut. 15:4 However, there will be no needy one among you, since Yahweh will surely bless you in the land which Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess,
The Mosaic Law made provision for needy people, and yet the intent had been that needy Israelites would never exist.
Deut. 15:5 if only you listen obediently to the voice of Yahweh your God, to be careful to do all this commandment which I am commanding you today.
Don’t miss the word “if”. If Israel had obeyed Yahweh, then they would not have had any needy people among them.
Deut. 15:6 For Yahweh your God will bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.
Deut. 15:7 ¶ “If there is a needy one among you, one of your brothers, in any of your gates of the towns in your land which Yahweh your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand from your needy brother;
Deut. 15:8 but you shall freely open your hand to him and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
The general mentality of modern Christianity is that church services are the most important part of being a Christian. We think that God is impressed when we make music together and listen to sermons. However, Yahweh has always placed high value on taking care of widows and orphans. We see this all through the Bible. Furthermore, James makes it clear that taking care of widows and orphans is the purest exercise of religion.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”