The goal of this course is for the scriptures to inform, conform and strengthen our hearts and minds to the heart of God for individuals in need of mercy. Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. The goal of this lesson is to grasp the heart of God in the Old Testament for marginalized people as revealed in the law, and His response to the way people treated marginalized individuals. I. Review from last week Working definitions of mercy a. General mercy (goodwill): occurs when an individual with power chooses to meets the need(s) of powerless individual(s) to move them out of their condition in order to live an unrestricted life. b. Mercy(biblical definition): kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them c. Mercy of God: is his goodness toward those in misery and distress to act on their behalf to deliver them, so that they will live for the praise of His glorious name. d. Post cross mercy ministry: Mercy ministry is the natural action of a believer to sacrificially meet the spiritual and felt needs of a believer or unbeliever for the joy of the LORD 1. Believers should be the conduits through which mercy flows because they are recipients of God s mercy in salvation. (Romans 15:8 & 9; 1 Timothy. 1:12-14; Titus 3:4) 2. Believers should be the conduits through which mercy flows because they are recipients of God s mercy every moment of every day. (2 Corinthians 4:1; Hebrews 4:16) a. Name some ways believers daily experience the mercy of God? 3. Believers should be the conduits through which mercy flows because God by the Holy Spirit is conforming them into the image 1
of Jesus Christ who is full of mercy. (Romans 8:29&30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Timothy 1:2) Mercy ministry is directed toward individuals who are in misery or distress. In the Old Testament, these individuals are to be given special care or what we call mercy ministry. Collectively these individuals have been labeled by some as Marginalized people. Marginalized people are those that have been pushed to the side and overlooked by society because of their miserable and sad condition. Marginalized to place in a position of marginal importance, influence, or power; not considered central or important. Who, from the Old Testament, would be included under the heading Marginalized? II. Created in the image of God What do all human beings have in common despite their economic, political or social status? Regardless of our political views, it is indisputable that millions of people who once looked to the government will now need service and aid from churches and other agencies. The church will be forced by demographics to see what the Bible has always said. Love cannot be only expressed through talk, but through word and deed (1 John 3:17) - Mercy Ministry Tim Keller Pg. 26 Created in the image of God Genesis 1:27 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 9:6 6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man. John 1:3 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. * It is very important that we think biblically as it relates to doing mercy ministry. III. The purpose of God for Israel towards the marginalized in the Old Testament a. The people of God in bondage for 400+ years Genesis 15:13-14 3 Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 2
Exodus 12:41-42 41 At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations. b. God s purpose for Israel Exodus 19:4-6 4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel." Because God brought Israel out of bondage He was already in a relationship with them. Therefore, the Israelites were to obey God s voice and keep His covenant so that they would: 1. Display that they were God s treasured possession 2. Be to God a kingdom of priest 3. Be a holy nation What did God provide for the Israelites to enable them to be His treasured possession, kingdom of priest, and a holy nation when they had been under Egyptian bondage, and culture for 400+ years? Exodus and Leviticus instruct the Israelites on how they will be God s treasured people, a kingdom of priest, and a holy nation. Obedience to the commandments is demanding but will make Israel into the upright people they are meant to be (Theological Interpretation of the old Testament-Moberly Pg. 46) God had to reveal to His chosen people how they were to relate to marginalized people within their community and outside of it. The Israelites could not treat people like the Egyptians had treated them for 400 years. For our purposes in this class we will focus specifically on the voice of God revealed in the law to understand the heart of God for marginalized/poor people. IV. Verses on marginalized people in the Old Testament a. 6 statements that can be deduced from the law i. The Israelites came out of 400+ years of bondage with an Egyptian worldview. The law was the schoolmaster that taught them how to be Gods treasured possession, kingdom of priest, and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:5-6) ii. The law of God included specific instructions for the care of the poor and needy iii. The laws toward the poor were not restricted to Israelite countrymen, but applied to the alien in the camp, and temporary resident in the land. 3
Variations existed for the treatment to be given for those who were not Israelites. (Exodus 23:9-11; Lev. 25 47; Deut. 15:3, 7-11, 24:14-15) iv. The care of the poor/needy/oppressed were to be on the heart and mind of the Israelites, because they were on the heart and mind of God. (Exodus 23:9-11) v. God did not allow the Israelites to decide how they would treat the poor, needy, and oppressed. vi. The Priest had the responsibility to teach the law to the people and fathers were to teach the law to their families. If the law was faithfully taught the poor would be cared for by those who were true Israelites. (Lev 10:11) Law Exodus 23:2-3 2 "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, 3 and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit. Exodus 23:6 6 "Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Exodus 23:9-11 9 "Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt. 10 "For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. Stipulations for the poor concerning offerings Exodus 30:15 15 The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives. Leper-Leviticus 14:21-22 21 "If, however, he is poor and cannot afford these, he must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for him, together with a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, and two doves or two young pigeons, which he can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. Stipulations for the poor to have food Leviticus 19:10 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God. Stipulations for the poor to be judged fairly 4
Leviticus 19:15 15 "'Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. Leviticus 23:22 22 "'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.'" Year of Jubilee-Leviticus 25:25 25 "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his countryman has sold. Stipulations for the poor unable to support themselves Leviticus 25:35-38 35 "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. 36 Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. 37 You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit. 38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God. Leviticus 25:39 39 "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. Moses includes in his sermons to the descendants of the first-generation, their need to care for the poor as they enter the promised land. The context for the verses from Deuteronomy 15 that we are going to look is Deuteronomy 15:4-11 4 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, Why should the land have no poor people? Because God is going to provide a harvest of crops that will enable all people to have their needs met (Ex 23:9-11; Lev 23:22). Why is God able to richly bless His people? God is able to richly bless because he is sovereign over all. Everything the Israelites needed for a harvest would come from the Lord. Good ground, seed, rain, sun etc. all were under the control of God. Even though an Israelite could have all the resources mentioned above along with good weather, he is still dependent on the Lord to bless the work and cause the growth. Deuteronomy 28:11-12 11 And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the 5
LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The LORD will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend too many nations, but you shall not borrow. 5 if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. 6 For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you. 7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. How is the Israelite not to respond to a poor man among them? What is the proper response an Israelite is to have toward his poor country? What kind of heart did the Israelite need to have towards the poor? 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. Even though God set up a system, within his law, the Sabbath rest (Ex. 23:1; Lev. 25;1-7) that would ensure that no poor would be among God s people, the system was to be lived out by sinful people. In order for the poor to be cared for during Moses time and beyond the Israelite must live in the fear of the Lord, which is worship, and not be tightfisted (Lev. 25:36). In the real world of fallen humanity there will always be the poor, but there must also always be, among God s people, a spirit of generosity to them-the New American Commentary, Deuteronomy: Eugene Merrill Pg. 245 The way to determine if the nation of Israel as a whole and individuals were being a holy nation and a royal priesthood, is to examine their lives against the law especially Deuteronomy. If they were fulfilling Exodus 19:4-6, by obeying the law they would be blessed if not they would be cursed. An individual who obeyed the law from the heart was a true Israelite. They worshiped God. One of the indictments God makes through his prophets is the unjust treatment of the Israelites toward the poor and needy. The God-fearing just treatment toward the poor was to be taught by the priest, the father and read by the King as they were faithful in their responsibility to the law. The lack of obedience to the laws concerning the poor revealed that the fear of God had not 6
found room in the hearts of many of the Israelites. Not only did God discipline his chosen people for their treatment of the poor, it was one of the sins that caused Sodom to be destroyed (Ezekiel 16:48-49). The Israelites were to be taught on how the poor and needy were to be treated. The Israelite or alien in the camp who treated the poor and needy with justice feared the Lord and was a true Israelite. Worship of the LORD not only took place during the festivals and the offering of sacrifices, but in the just treatment of human relationships. The poor are to receive just payment for their work Deuteronomy 24:14-15 14 Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. 15 Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. Historical Books 1 Samuel 2:7-8 7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world. Esther 9:20-22 20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. Wisdom Literature Psalm 14:6 6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. Psalm 34:5-6 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 35:10 10 My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them." Psalm 37:14 14 The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. 7
Psalm 49:1-3 For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, 2 both low and high, rich and poor alike: 3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding. Psalm 68:5-6 5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. 6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalm 69:32-33 The poor will see and be glad-- you who seek God, may your hearts live! 33 The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Psalm 82:3-4 3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 112:1&9 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands 9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. Psalm 113:5-7 5 Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, 6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? 7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; Psalm 140:12-13 12 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. 13 Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you. Proverbs 10:4 4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 10:15 15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor. Proverbs 13:8 8 A man's riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat. Proverbs 13:23 23 A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away. Proverbs 14:20-21 20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. 21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. Proverbs 14:31 31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 17:5 5 He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. 8
Proverbs 18:23 23 A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly Proverbs 19:1 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. Proverbs 19:4 4 Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him. Proverbs 19:7 7 A poor man is shunned by all his relatives-- how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found. Proverbs 19:17 17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done. Proverbs 20:13 13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. Proverbs 21:13 13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:17 17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich. Proverbs 22:2 2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all. Proverbs 22:7 7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:9 9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 22:16 16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich-- both come to poverty. Proverbs 22:22-23 22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, 23 for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them. Proverbs 28:3 3 A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. Proverbs 28:6 6 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse. Proverbs 28:8 8 He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. Proverbs 28:11 11 A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him. 9
Proverbs 28:27 27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. Proverbs 29:7 7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Proverbs 29:13 13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both. Proverbs 29:14 14 If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure. Proverbs 31:9 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:20 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. Ecclesiastes 5:8 8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. Ecclesiastes 9:15-16 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. Major and Minor Prophets The prophets or the twelve stand as representatives of Gods law to the Northern and Southern Kingdom calling the people to repent of their ways and return to Yahweh. The people had entered the promised land, but had not fully obeyed the command to drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, and to not worship other gods etc. The ultimate act of discipline would be for God to remove His people from the land and send them into bondage. Isaiah 3:14-15 14 The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: "It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. 15 What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?" declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. Isaiah 10:1-2 Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, 2 to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. Isaiah 41:17 17 "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 10
Isaiah 58:1-6 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. 3 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? 6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Isaiah 58:7 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Jeremiah 5:27-31 27 Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful 28 and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor. 29 Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this? 30 "A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? Jeremiah 22:16 16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD. Ezekiel 16:48-49 48 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done. 49 "'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. Amos 2:6-7 6 This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. 11
Amos 5:11-12 11 You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. 12 For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts. Amos 8:4-6 4 Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, 5 saying, "When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?"-- skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, 6 buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat. Zechariah 7:8-11 8 And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: 9 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.' 11 "But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. 1. The individuals work ethic Reasons for people being poor in the Old Testament Proverbs 10:4 4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 20:13 13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. 2. Injustice Psalm 14:6 6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. Proverbs 13:23 23 A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away. 3. Love of pleasure. Proverbs 21:17 17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich. 4. The sovereign hand of God. 12
1 Samuel 2:7-8 7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world. 1. Oppressed Negative treatment of the poor in the OT Proverbs 14:31 31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 22:16 16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich-- both come to poverty. Proverbs 28:3 3 A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. 2. Mocked Proverbs 17:5 5 He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. 3. Not shown mercy Proverbs 18:23 23 A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly. 4. Shunned by relatives and friends Proverbs 19:7 7 A poor man is shunned by all his relatives-- how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found. 5. Exploited and crushed Proverbs 22:22-23 22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, 23 for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them. 1. Kindness Positive treatment toward the poor in the OT Proverbs 19:17 17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done. 13
Proverbs 29:7 7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. 2. Generous Proverbs 22:9 9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 28:27 27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. 3. Speak up for the poor Proverbs 31:9 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." 14