Every seventh year special arrangements were made for the poor. At planting time, which followed the harvest, the people were not to sow; they were not to tend the vineyard in the spring; and they must not expect either harvest or vintage. 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 normally produced only enough to meet the needs of the people, how were they to survive during the year when the gathered no crops? The promise of God made ample provision: “I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year,” He said, “and it will bring forth produce enough for three years. And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in you shall eat of the old harvest.” (Leviticus 25:21, 22).
The sabbatical year was to be a benefit to both land and people. The soil, resting for one season, would later produce much more. The people were released from the pressing work in the fields. All enjoyed more free time, more opportunities for restoring their physical strength, more time for meditation and studying the teachings of the Lord, and for teaching their families.
In the sabbatical year the Hebrew slaves were to be given their liberty. “When you send him away free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed; you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress. From what the Lord has blessed you with, you shall give to him.” (Deuteronomy 15:13, 14).
The wages of a worker were to be paid promptly. “Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it.” (Deuteronomy 24:15).
Special directions also were given about how to treat runaway slaves: “You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you. He may dwell with you in your midst, ... where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him.” (Deuteronomy 23:15, 16).
To the poor, the seventh year was a year of release from debt. The Hebrews were to lend money without interest to their needy spiritual brothers and sisters. It was expressly forbidden to require unusually high interest rates from the poor: “If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you. You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit.” (Leviticus 25:35-37). If the debt remained unpaid until the year of release, the principal itself could not be recovered. “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, ... you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother. ... 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.” “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 to your needy, in your land,’” “‘and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.’” (Deuteronomy 15:7-9, 11, 8).
No one needed to be afraid that their generosity would make them poor. “You shall lend to many nations,” God said, “but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.” (Deuteronomy 15:6).
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