Ever practical and caring for the poor, The LORD instructed His people to release debts every seven years (v1-6). They were to cancel loans made to neighbours or brothers. It was to be called The LORD’s release. This did not apply to a foreigner. They did not need to cancel debts owed by a brother where there was no poverty.
The LORD would provide for them provided they were obedient to Him and there would only be extreme poverty if they disobeyed. As a nation they would prosper depending on their obedience to God’s instructions. They could lend to other nations but not borrow from them; they would not be ruled over by the other nations.
One might assume from what has just been said that poverty would be no more but that was not the case. The cancelling of debts every seventh year might discourage some from lending, particularly as the seventh year was approaching (v7-11). They were to be generous to those in need.
The instructions regarding the poor, move on to the slaves. If a Hebrew man or woman has been sold to them a a slave and serves six years, on the seventh year they were to be released and set free, but not empty-handed. They were to be supplied generously with flocks, grain and wine to give them a new start as they had become slaves through their poverty (v12-15). The masters were to give to them as The LORD had blessed them, and out of remembrance that they themselves had once been slaves in Egypt.
However, if the slave, loved their master, he/she could choose to stay and serve their master. Many slaves were in a privileged position, they had food, clothing, accommodation, which they wouldn’t have if they went free. If they wanted to stay, they could do so. When this happened, the master was to take them and pierce their ear against the door frame as a sign of their continued commitment to their master (v16-18).
This is thought to be a picture of The Lord Jesus who was a willing ‘slave’ and was pierced for our salvation. He was obedient to His Father and went all the way to the cross. We, too, are to be willing ‘slaves’ of The Lord Jesus Christ, willing to serve Him in every part of our lives for all our lives (see Galatians 6:17). They were to sanctify (set apart) to God all the firstborn males from the flock and herd (v19) and do no work with them, nor shear them. The firstborn was usually thought to be the best and was to be sacrificed to The LORD at the place directed by Him and eaten by the family in a joyful ceremony. However, if there was a defect in it, they were not to sacrifice it to The LORD but eaten at home by all whether clean or unclean persons. The blood of the animal was not to be eaten but poured on to the ground (v20-23).
