Old Testament Foundations Of Justice

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 owners of God’s creation, rather Genesis 1:26 and 28 indicate that humans were put on earth, and 28 indicate that humans were put on earth, in part, to cultivate it, to make it more productive, in part, to cultivate it, to make it more productive, to help creation go on creating. So as stewards to help creation go on creating. So as stewards managing another’s property, not proprietors, we managing another’s property, not proprietors, we help carry out God’s intent that the earth’s help carry out God’s intent that the earth’s resources benefit everyone. resources benefit 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 principles of just economics in the OT?What are some principles of just economics in the OT?

Jubilee PrincipleJubilee Principle (Leviticus 25:8-13) (Leviticus 25:8-13)debts to community members were to be cancelled, debts to community members were to be cancelled,

slaves were to be freed, and each household was to slaves were to be freed, and each household was to return to its family property return to its family property

Sabbath YearSabbath Year a year of rest for the land, slavesa year of rest for the land, slaves

TithingTithingGleaningGleaning

Jubilee PrincipleJubilee Principle The Book of Leviticus says that The Book of Leviticus says that every 50 years,every 50 years, all land is to be all land is to be

returned to its original owners (Lev. 25: 10-24)returned to its original owners (Lev. 25: 10-24)

This would thus ensure that the gap between the rich and poor This would thus ensure that the gap between the rich and poor would remain small, because the means of producing wealth would remain small, because the means of producing wealth was equalized regularly.was equalized regularly.

It assured the long-term survival of households, preserved It assured the long-term survival of households, preserved ancestral property, and served to check the concentration of ancestral property, and served to check the concentration of wealth in the hands of a rich few. wealth in the hands of a rich few.

It emphasized the need for each household to maintain a It emphasized the need for each household to maintain a strong, extended families strong, extended families

What was the primary means of What was the primary means of wealth in biblical times?wealth in biblical times?

LANDLAND

How could you lose your land in How could you lose your land in Ancient Israel?Ancient Israel?

Death of family Death of family breadwinnerbreadwinner

Lack of Natural Lack of Natural AbilityAbility

Physical Physical disabilitydisability

Act of GodAct of God

The Sabbatical YearThe Sabbatical Year : : "Year of the Lord's Favor” "Year of the Lord's Favor”

The Old Testament law also provides rest for the The Old Testament law also provides rest for the soil, slaves and debtors every soil, slaves and debtors every se7ense7en years. years.

7

7 77

"At the end of every three "At the end of every three years you shall bring forth years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your all the tithe of your produce in the same produce in the same year... and the sojourner, year... and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the the fatherless, and the widow, who are within widow, who are within your towns, shall come your towns, shall come and eat and be filled: that and eat and be filled: that the Lord your God may the Lord your God may bless you" (Deut 14:28-bless you" (Deut 14:28-29; see also Lev. 27:30-29; see also Lev. 27:30-32; Deut 26:12-15; Num 32; Deut 26:12-15; Num 18:21-32).18:21-32).

The Law of TithingThe Law of Tithing The law calls for one-tenth of all farm produce and The law calls for one-tenth of all farm produce and

money, whether animal, grain or wine, to be set aside money, whether animal, grain or wine, to be set aside as a tithe.as a tithe.

In PORTLAND:In PORTLAND: Median Income for Family of 4 in Portland Median Income for Family of 4 in Portland

(Housing Authority of Portland, 2003)(Housing Authority of Portland, 2003)

$68,500$68,500/52 weeks/year/52 weeks/year/10% of income/10% of income

= $131.73 = $131.73

a weeka week

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)

This was This was forgotten by forgotten by the time of the time of

Jesus so… Jesus so…

“…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.’”

To be continued…To be continued…