July 22, 2014

It was a seventh year reminder to be generous and forgiving. "At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. 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 LORD’S remission has been proclaimed.” (Deuteronomy 15.1-2)

Every seventh year was a not-business-as-usual year. Debts and loans were freely forgiven. Burdens were relieved. Everyone could enjoy a fresh start. It was a year of outrageous generosity, backed by a divine promise: “For the LORD 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.” (Deuteronomy 15.6) There would be abundant material blessings, and a prosperous people who would impact other nations. The promise that they would “rule over many nations” is a promise that even extended beyond this life to the age to come.

We enjoy the seventh year blessings every day. We enjoy forgiveness of debt, and release from bondage. We are set free from that which captivates and enslaves us. We are beginning to enjoy the benefits of ruling over the nations as we are generous and forgiving of one another in the body of Christ.

Generosity ought to beget generosity. The seventh year commands of Deuteronomy 15 are not a legalistic obligation, but rather an opportunity to respond in grace to grace. The God who has been abundantly generous expects His people to exhibit the fruit of grace. True appreciation of grace is exhibited through expressed grace to others.

May the seventh year reminder of Deuteronomy 15 prompt us to savor and administer abundant grace to today.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2014
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