Old Testament Foundations Old Testament Foundations of Justice of Justice 1. God created 1. God created all things good all things good (Genesis 1) (Genesis 1) 2. 2. Stewardship Stewardship (Genesis 1:26) – we are not (Genesis 1:26) – we are not owners of God’s creation, rather Genesis owners of God’s creation, rather Genesis 1:26 and 28 indicate that humans were put 1:26 and 28 indicate that humans were put on earth, in part, to cultivate it, to on earth, in part, to cultivate it, to make it more productive, to help creation make it more productive, to help creation go on creating. So as stewards managing go on creating. So as stewards managing another’s property, not proprietors, we another’s property, not proprietors, we help carry out God’s intent that the help carry out God’s intent that the earth’s resources benefit everyone. earth’s resources benefit everyone.
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Old Testament Foundations of Old Testament Foundations of Justice Justice
1. God created 1. God created all things goodall things good (Genesis 1) (Genesis 1) 2.2. Stewardship Stewardship (Genesis 1:26) – we are not (Genesis 1:26) – we are not
owners of God’s creation, rather Genesis 1:26 and owners of God’s creation, rather Genesis 1:26 and 28 indicate that humans were put on earth, in part, 28 indicate that humans were put on earth, in part, to cultivate it, to make it more productive, to help to cultivate it, to make it more productive, to help creation go on creating. So as stewards managing creation go on creating. So as stewards managing another’s property, not proprietors, we help carry another’s property, not proprietors, we help carry out God’s intent that the earth’s resources benefit out God’s intent that the earth’s resources benefit everyone. everyone.
3. We 3. We stewards to each otherstewards to each other; life is an ; life is an intricate network of relationships.intricate network of relationships.– We exist not in isolation but within an intricate We exist not in isolation but within an intricate
web of relationships.web of relationships.– We are never separated from these We are never separated from these
relationships and they determine who we are.relationships and they determine who we are.
Just Economics of the Old Just Economics of the Old TestamentTestament
What are some of these principles?What are some of these principles?
Jubilee Principle (Leviticus 25:8-13)Jubilee Principle (Leviticus 25:8-13)– debts to community members were to be debts to community members were to be
cancelled, slaves were to be freed, and each cancelled, slaves were to be freed, and each household was to return to its family property household was to return to its family property
Sabbath Year Sabbath Year – a year of rest for the land, slavesa year of rest for the land, slaves
TithingTithing GleaningGleaning
Jubilee PrincipleJubilee Principle Hebrew Hebrew
Scripture Quiz Scripture Quiz Question!Question!
In Old In Old Testament Testament times, times, ________ ________ was the basic was the basic means of means of producing producing wealth…wealth…
Land!Land!In Leviticus In Leviticus 25 it says that 25 it says that every 50 every 50 years,years, all land all land is to be is to be returned to its returned to its original original owners (Lev. owners (Lev. 25: 10-24)25: 10-24)
This would thus ensure that the gap This would thus ensure that the gap between the rich and poor would between the rich and poor would remain small, because the means of remain small, because the means of producing wealth was equalized producing wealth was equalized regularly…regularly…
How could you lose your land in How could you lose your land in Ancient Israel?Ancient Israel?
Death of Death of BreadwinnerBreadwinner
Act of GodAct of God
DisabilityDisability
Lack of Natural Lack of Natural AbilityAbility
The Sabbatical Year or "Year of the Lord's Favor”
the Old Testament law also provides for liberation of soil, slaves and debtors every seven years.
7
7 77
Land: Every 7 years farmers are not to Land: Every 7 years farmers are not to
Ecological –Ecological – Crop rotation allows for nitrogen to return to the soil – Crop rotation allows for nitrogen to return to the soil –
preserves the fertilitypreserves the fertility
Humanitarian –Humanitarian – "For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its "For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its
yield; but the seventh year you shall yet it rest and yield; but the seventh year you shall yet it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat (Ex. lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat (Ex. 23:10 11). In the 7th year the poor are free to 23:10 11). In the 7th year the poor are free to gather for themselves whatever grows by itself in gather for themselves whatever grows by itself in the fields and vineyards. These are called the fields and vineyards. These are called “volunteers.” “volunteers.”
SlavesSlaves
Hebrew slaves also receive their freedom in the Hebrew slaves also receive their freedom in the sabbatical year (Deut. 15:12-18). Poverty sabbatical year (Deut. 15:12-18). Poverty sometimes forced Israelites to sell themselves sometimes forced Israelites to sell themselves as slaves to more prosperous neighbors (Lev. as slaves to more prosperous neighbors (Lev. 25:3940). But this inequality, God decrees, is 25:3940). But this inequality, God decrees, is not to be permanent.not to be permanent.
However, what would happen almost However, what would happen almost immediately after the slave was freed?immediately after the slave was freed?
In addition, masters are to share the proceeds of their In addition, masters are to share the proceeds of their joint labors with the departing ex-slaves:joint labors with the departing ex-slaves:
"And when you let him go free from you, you shall not "And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed; you shall furnish him let him go empty-handed; you shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of yourand out of your wine press, as the Lord your God has wine press, as the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him" (Deut 15:12-14; blessed you, you shall give to him" (Deut 15:12-14; see also Ex. 21:2-6)see also Ex. 21:2-6)
DebtorsDebtors
$ Every 7 years all Every 7 years all debts are to be debts are to be cancelled...cancelled...(Deut. (Deut. 15:1-6)15:1-6)
$ ……Provided you Provided you were attempting to were attempting to pay – you’d be pay – you’d be excused your debt excused your debt because the loaner because the loaner would have made would have made back his money back his money through an initial through an initial interest that was interest that was very high.very high.
"At the end of every "At the end of every three years you shall three years you shall bring forth all the tithe bring forth all the tithe of your produce in the of your produce in the same year... and the same year... and the sojourner, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within widow, who are within your towns, shall your towns, shall come and eat and be come and eat and be filled: that the Lord filled: that the Lord your God may bless your God may bless you" (Deut 14:28-29; you" (Deut 14:28-29; see also Lev. 27:30-see also Lev. 27:30-32; Deut 26:12-15; 32; Deut 26:12-15; Num 18:21-32).Num 18:21-32).
The Law of TithingThe Law of Tithing The law calls for one-tenth of all farm produce The law calls for one-tenth of all farm produce
and money, whether animal, grain or wine, to and money, whether animal, grain or wine, to be set aside as a tithe.be set aside as a tithe.
68,500/yr (Median Income for 68,500/yr (Median Income for Family of 4 in Portland – 2003, Family of 4 in Portland – 2003,
HAP)HAP)
$68,500$68,500
/52 weeks/year/52 weeks/year
/10% of income/10% of income
=$131.73/wk=$131.73/wk
Gleaning – “This one’s for Gleaning – “This one’s for God”God”
God's law decreed that farmers should God's law decreed that farmers should leave some of the harvest, including the leave some of the harvest, including the
corners of grain fields, for the poor. corners of grain fields, for the poor. For example, grapes that had been For example, grapes that had been
dropped accidentally were to be left.dropped accidentally were to be left.
"You shall leave them for the poor and "You shall leave them for the poor and the sojourners: the sojourners: I am the I am the
Lord your God" Lord your God" (Lev. 19:9-10)(Lev. 19:9-10)
Forgotten by Forgotten by time of time of
Jesus…so Jesus…so when Jesus when Jesus returns to returns to
Nazareth…Nazareth…
“When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’”
