patriarchs and prophets-第110部分

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would　be　honored；　and　many　more　souls　would　be　won　to　Christ。

The　plan　of　Moses　to　raise　means　for　the　building　of　the　tabernacle　was
highly　successful。　No　urging　was　necessary。　Nor　did　he　employ　any　of　the
devices　to　which　churches　in　our　day　so　often　resort。　He　made　no　grand
feast。　He　did　not　invite　the　people　to　scenes　of　gaiety；　dancing；　and
general　amusement；　neither　did　he　institute　lotteries；　nor　anything　of　this
profane　order；　to　obtain　means　to　erect　the　tabernacle　for　God。　The　Lord
directed　Moses　to　invite　the　children　of　Israel　to　bring　their　offerings。　He
was　to　accept　gifts　from　everyone　that　gave　willingly；　from　his　heart。　And
the　offerings　came　in　so　great　abundance　that　Moses　bade　the　people　cease
bringing；　for　they　had　supplied　more　than　could　be　used。

God　has　made　men　His　stewards。　The　property　which　He　has　placed　in　their
hands　is　the　means　that　He　has　provided　for　the　spread　of　the　gospel。　To
those　who　prove　themselves　faithful　stewards　He　will　commit　greater　trusts；
Saith　the　Lord；　〃Them　that　honor　Me　I　will　honor。〃　1　Samuel　2：30。　〃God
loveth　a　cheerful　giver；〃　and　when　His　people；　with　grateful　hearts；　bring
their　gifts　and　offerings　to　Him；　〃not　grudgingly；　or　of　necessity；〃　His
blessing　will　attend　them；　as　He　has　promised。　〃Bring　ye　all　the　tithes　into
the　storehouse；　that　there　may　be　meat　in　Mine　house；　and　prove　Me　now
herewith；　saith　the　Lord　of　hosts；　if　I　will　not　open　you　the　windows　of
heaven；　and　pour　you　out　a　blessing；　that　there　shall　not　be　room　enough　to
receive　it。〃　Malachi　3：10。




　　　（530）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　51

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　God's　Care　for　the　Poor


To　promote　the　assembling　of　the　people　for　religious　service；　as　well　as　to
provide　for　the　poor；　a　second　tithe　of　all　the　increase　was　required。
Concerning　the　first　tithe；　the　Lord　had　declared；　〃I　have　given　the
children　of　Levi　all　the　tenth　in　Israel。〃　Numbers　18：21。　But　in　regard　to
the　second　He　commanded；　〃Thou　shalt　eat　before　the　Lord　thy　God；　in　the
place　which　He　shall　choose　to　place　His　name　there；　the　tithe　of　thy　corn；
of　thy　wine；　and　of　thine　oil；　and　the　firstlings　of　thy　herds　and　of　thy
flocks；　that　thou　mayest　learn　to　fear　the　Lord　thy　God　always。〃　Deuteronomy
14：23；　29；　16：11…14。　This　tithe；　or　its　equivalent　in　money；　they　were　for
two　years　to　bring　to　the　place　where　the　sanctuary　was　established。　After
presenting　a　thank　offering　to　God；　and　a　specified　portion　to　the　priest；
the　offerers　were　to　use　the　remainder　for　a　religious　feast；　in　which　the
Levite；　the　stranger；　the　fatherless；　and　the　widow　should　participate。　Thus
provision　was　made　for　the　thank　offerings　and　feasts　at　the　yearly
festivals；　and　the　people　were　drawn　to　the　society　of　the　priests　and
Levites；　that　they　might　receive　instruction　and　encouragement　in　the
service　of　God。

Every　third　year；　however；　this　second　tithe　was　to　be　used　at　home；　in
entertaining　the　Levite　and　the　poor；　as　Moses　said；　〃That　they　may　eat
within　thy　gates；　and　be　filled。〃　Deuteronomy　26：12。　This　tithe　would
provide　a　fund　for　the　uses　of　charity　and　hospitality。

And　further　provision　was　made　for　the　poor。　There　is　nothing；　after　their
recognition　of　the　claims　of　God；　that　more　distinguishes　the　laws　given　by
Moses　than　the　liberal；　tender；　and　hospitable　spirit　enjoined　toward　the
poor。　Although　God　had　promised　greatly　to　bless　His　people；　it　was　not　His
design　that　poverty　should　be　wholly　unknown　among　them。　He　declared　that
the　poor　should　never　cease　out　of　the　land。　There　would　ever　be　those　among
His　people　who　would　call　into　exercise

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　531

their　sympathy；　tenderness；　and　benevolence。　Then；　as　now；　persons　were
subject　to　misfortune；　sickness；　and　loss　of　property；　yet　so　long　as　they
followed　the　instruction　given　by　God；　there　were　no　beggars　among　them；
neither　any　who　suffered　for　food。

The　law　of　God　gave　the　poor　a　right　to　a　certain　portion　of　the　produce　of
the　soil。　When　hungry；　a　man　was　at　liberty　to　go　to　his　neighbor's　field　or
orchard　or　vineyard；　and　eat　of　the　grain　or　fruit　to　satisfy　his　hunger。　It
was　in　accordance　with　this　permission　that　the　disciples　of　Jesus　plucked
and　ate　of　the　standing　grain　as　they　passed　through　a　field　upon　the
Sabbath　day。

All　the　gleanings　of　harvest　field；　orchard；　and　vineyard；　belonged　to　the
poor。　〃When　thou　cuttest　down　thine　harvest　in　thy　field；〃　said　Moses；　〃and
hast　forgot　a　sheaf　in　the　field；　thou　shalt　not　go　again　to　fetch　it。　。　。　。
When　thou　beatest　thine　olive　tree；　thou　shalt　not　go　over　the　boughs　again。
。　。　。　When　thou　gatherest　the　grapes　of　thy　vineyard；　thou　shalt　not　glean
it　afterward：　it　shall　be　for　the　stranger；　for　the　fatherless；　and　for　the
widow。　And　thou　shalt　remember　that　thou　wast　a　bondman　in　the　land　of
Egypt。〃　Deuteronomy　24：19…22；　Leviticus　19：9；　10。

Every　seventh　year　special　provision　was　made　for　the　poor。　The　sabbatical
year；　as　it　was　called；　began　at　the　end　of　the　harvest。　At　the　seedtime；
which　followed　the　ingathering；　the　people　were　not　to　sow；　they　should　not
dress　the　vineyard　in　the　spring；　and　they　must　expect　neither　harvest　nor
vintage。　Of　that　which　the　land　produced　spontaneously　they　might　eat　while
fresh；　but　they　were　not　to　lay　up　any　portion　of　it　in　their　storehouses。
The　yield　of　this　year　was　to　be　free　for　the　stranger；　the　fatherless；　and
the　widow；　and　even　for　the　creatures　of　the　field。　Exodus　23：10；　11；
Leviticus　25：5。

But　if　the　land　ordinarily　produced　only　enough　to　supply　the　wants　of　the
people；　how　were　they　to　subsist　during　the　year　when　no　crops　were
gathered？　For　this　the　promise　of　God　made　ample　provision。　〃I　will　command
My　blessing　upon　you　in　the　sixth　year；〃　He　said；　〃and　it　shall　bring　forth
fruit　for　three　years。　And　ye　shall　sow　the　eighth　year；　and　eat　yet　of　old
fruit　until　the　ninth　year；　until　her　fruits　come　in　ye　shall　eat　of　the　old
store。〃　Leviticus　25：21；22。

532


The　observance　of　the　sabbatical　year　was　to　be　a　benefit　to　both　the　land
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

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　533

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