“Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things”

(Pro 23:1-16)

[Study Aired December 25, 2025]

Pro 23:1  When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
Pro 23:2  And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
Pro 23:3  Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
Pro 23:4  Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
Pro 23:5  Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Pro 23:6  Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
Pro 23:7  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Pro 23:8  The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
Pro 23:9  Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Pro 23:10  Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
Pro 23:11  For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
Pro 23:12  Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
Pro 23:13  Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Pro 23:14  Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Pro 23:15  My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
Pro 23:16  Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

God’s joy is fulfilled when we are of the same mind and speaking the same “right things” (Php 2:2, 1Jn 4:17, Php 4:4-9), and it is by the “faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” that God’s purpose of taking us from being all the things we read of in (1Ti 1:13-14) to become His children who have lips that “speak right things”.

Php 2:1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

1Ti 1:13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1Ti 1:14  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

The devil’s goal is to do the diametric opposite of all these points found in (Php 4:5-7), taking away our peace, our joy, and ability to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. If we’re granted to do these things, the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. The world’s idea of ‘peace, peace when there is no peace’ is what currently makes up the companion of fools that in time will be destroyed (Pro 13:20, Rev 14:8, Rev 18:2).

Php 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Pro 13:20  He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

It is through the life of continual prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving to God that the groundwork in our hearts can be laid for us to fulfill the following verses which will reassure us that our “reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things”:

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Php 4:9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

The principle point being made in this first section of the proverbs we will look at tonight gives us instruction on how to keep ourselves unspotted from this world as we visit the fatherless and the widow in their affliction, which is what pure religion is (Jas 1:27).

Jas 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The affliction of the widow represents the cross that the elect are called to bear in this life through the “faith and love which is in Christ Jesus”(1Ti 1:14). This abundance from God is what is needed in order to overcome the adversary, which we will do by the grace of God (Gal 2:20, Eph 6:16).

1Ti 1:14  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  (the “faith and love which is in Christ Jesus”)

It was after Christ explained to his disciples the degree of forgiveness that is needed in order to follow him that they said unto the Lord, “Increase our faith”. Iniquity is going to abound at the end (Mat 24:11-13) of this age and we are going to have greater and greater need of God’s love and faith which He will supply to the body of Christ ‘exceedingly and abundantly’ so that His love does not wax cold within us. This is how God is going to witness to the world of those who are His (Joh 13:35), those whose “reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things” (Gal 5:6, Rom 8:39, 1Ti 1:14, 2Ti 1:13).

Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Luk 17:3  Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
Luk 17:4  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. [iniquity shall abound Mat 24:11-13]
Luk 17:5  And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Luk 17:6  And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Gal 5:6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Col 1:27, Col 1:24)

1Ti 1:14  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2Ti 1:13  Hold fast the form of sound words (Rev 3:11), which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Pro 23:1  When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
Pro 23:2  And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
Pro 23:3  Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

These first three proverbs are talking about how we are to walk in and out and amongst so great a people (Psa 86:11-15, 2Ch 1:10, 1Ki 3:7-9), which is accomplished by the faith of Christ and God’s love being shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:10). The “deceitful meat” being talked about is all the lies of Babylon that we need to be washed of so we can know how to “behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth”(1Ti 3:15)

1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Psa 86:11  Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
Psa 86:12  I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
Psa 86:13  For great is thy mercy toward me:(Rom 11:30-32) and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell^{H7585 = sheol}. [my own abussos, grave, pit, sheh-ole’, my carnal nature]
Psa 86:14  O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
Psa 86:15  But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

2Ch 1:10  Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

1Ki 3:7  And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
1Ki 3:8  And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
1Ki 3:9  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

Our battle is not against flesh and blood as it sounds like it is talking about in these opening proverbs. No, it is rather speaking against the powers and principalities that are proceeding forth from the ruler of this world, Satan the devil (Eph 6:12), and therefore we must always “consider diligently what is before thee” and destroy our old man’s carnal appetite with the word of God, which is likened unto a sword or knife (Heb 4:12) that can cut. This is the knife we need to put to our throat – “put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite”. Thank God He has promised that sword won’t depart from our house (2Sa 2:10, 1Pe 4:17)

We are called to not love the world (1Jn 2:15-17), which is what we are doing when we are “desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat” (Heb 12:16).

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat [“deceitful meat”] sold his birthright.

Pro 23:4  Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

When we are trying to figure life out by our own wits, we can be assured as God’s elect that a trial is on the horizon, which will bring suffering in our life that will cause us to “cease from thine own wisdom” as we’re brought to our wits’ end (1Pe 4:1, Psa 107:25-30, 1Co 2:4-7).

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh (Heb 5:8-9), arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.(1Jn 2:17)

Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:(1Co 2:13)

So, yes, we are being admonished to not be obsessed over making it our goal to be physically rich in this world, and that thought parallels with the idea of the rich young ruler whose physical riches are a representation of his self-righteous and iniquitous heart which was not given at that time to see that he was wretched, miserable, poor and blind (Rev 3:17, Mat 19:16-22).

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mat 19:22  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. (“I am rich, and increased with goods” Eze 33:13)

Pro 23:5  Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Pro 23:6  Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
Pro 23:7  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Pro 23:8  The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

Paul’s estimation of the world and all that is in it should be ours (Php 3:8), and therefore God asks us, “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?” [the temporal world that is passing, not losing our life so we can gain it (Mar 8:36, Mat 10:39)], or will you do this, (Php 3:13-15), and in so doing overcome the riches that “make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven”.

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

When we set our eyes upon that which is not, “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?”, we are being seduced by Babylon which has nothing to offer us but empty spiritual calories. We are commanded therefore, “Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats”.

A spiritual harlot’s heart is not with us when we join ourselves unto her, (Pro 30:20), is what we are learning when we read: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee”, and such a resultant act of eating will cause us to vomit up the vomit we returned to (2Pe 2:21-22), losing “thy sweet words” which are the words of God that we are to protect at all cost.

Pro 30:20  Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Pro 23:9  Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

In the early immature stages of our walk we tend to not believe that people will trample under their feet the things we have come to see as being precious, and certainly did not expect that they would turn again and rend us.

Mat 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Pro 23:10  Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
Pro 23:11  For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

“The old landmark”, as we looked at last week, is the word of God ‘that changes not and therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed’ (Mal 3:6, Joh 6:68). God tells us in His word that the whole world is deceived and we are not to try to remove their old landmarks of deception, which is the negative example of that point, any more than we are not to remove the positive spiritual landmarks of God’s truths that have been proven and are being held fast to (1Th 5:21).

Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Entering not into the field of the fatherless is another reminder for us that we are not to try to change this world, but rather remember that God is a father to the fatherless (Psa 68:5-6, Mal 3:5) and He is their mighty redeemer who will plead their cause, as we see in these verses:

Psa 68:5  A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
Psa 68:6  God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

Mal 3:5  And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

The vulnerable in the world are not forgotten by God, their fatherless plight that God ministers to is a shadow of the pure religion being formed in the elect who are first to be the true fatherless ones in the spirit, no longer being of our father the devil, and having come out of Babylon which was our first mother (Jas 1:27).

Jas 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (1Jn 4:17, Psa 68:5)

Pro 23:12  Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

(Rom 2:13) says “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” God is after our hearts and ears, and will have us receive His instruction and His words of knowledge because of the new heart that He has given us (Joh 4:23, Eze 36:26).

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (Php 2:12-13, Luk 17:10)

Pro 23:13  Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Pro 23:14  Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

The child is us, the children of God who must be received through correction (Heb 12:6). God loves us and will not withhold correction with those who are being judged in this age because He does not want us to die spiritually and then have to be judged in the lake of fire, second death, great white throne judgement (Act 14:22, Rev 3:18-19, 1Pe 4:17).

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

The rod is the word of God that convicts us of our wrong doing (Rom 2:4-5) and will deliver our “soul from hell”^H7585, from the valley of the shadow of death, the abussos, the grave, the flesh and blood part of us that cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50).

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Luk 12:32)
Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Pro 23:15  My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
Pro 23:16  Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

God will rejoice when our hearts are no longer hardened and impenitent (but rather contrite and broken Isa 66:2). It will be by His mercy, which is shown in His judgement upon the body of Christ in this life, that we are going to be able “speak right things” and God’s “reins shall rejoice” in His workmanship that we are (Psa 107:2, Mal 3:16-18).

Psa 107:2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; (our carnal minds)

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (primarily seen within as our old man decreases and Christ increases Joh 3:30)

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 148

“The Lord’s release”

January 26, 2019

In old testament, specifically in Deuteronomy, we have been given instructions on how to release our brothers from debt to us. Though we are not operating our lives in the physical ways that the Israelites were in the Old Testament, we still follow the spirit behind the words found in Deuteronomy 15.

In our study this evening, we will be looking further into the concept of forgiving our brothers debt to us.

Forgive to be forgiven

A lot of the Christian world is familiar with the so called “Lord’s prayer”. In fact, it is a popular set of verses which is usually memorized due to its popular concepts.

Specifically for this study, we will find a very instructive phrase contained within the verses referred to as the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6.

Mat 6:5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Mat 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Our study today finds us looking into the next mentioning of the word yad, which is found in several different verses in this chapter. It is with these verses that we will connect the Lord’s prayer with parts of Deuteronomy 15.

Deu 15:1  At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.
Deu 15:2  And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release.
Deu 15:3  Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;
Deu 15:4  Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:
Deu 15:5  Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.

There are a few interesting things that are happening at the beginning of Deut 15 as it pertains to the Lord’s prayer.

It is at the end of seven years that we are to make a release of our brother’s debt according to Deut 15.

The judgment of our brother’s debt has met its completion at this point. It is notable that a foreigner’s debt is not forgiven during this time.

We also learn that the Lord tells us that we will not have poor among us, and there are a few reasons for this.

In the OT, the Lord’s blessing upon you and your household was often seen in your wealth and well-being. If we carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord, to observe all His commandments, then we will not be poor.

For us today, we are looking at these words through spiritual eyes. So, we want to observe the commandments of the Lord for the Lord’s release, but we want to do so in a spiritual way that glorifies the Lord.

Matt 6 and the Lord’s prayer are how we do that in a general sense, but how do we do it practically?

The simplest way is usually the easiest, so we don’t need to over complicate this.

Let us look to scripture for the answer. Please bear with me as we go through these verses to find the answers we seek.

Mat 18:21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Mat 18:23  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

The first thing to note is that forgiveness comes with repentance. Without repentance, we do not have the first ingredient needed for forgiveness that frees the other person. What do I mean by that?

Well, a big part of Deuteronomy 15 is slavery versus freedom. Debt is a form of slavery because you have to serve your debt in order to resolve it.

When I forgive someone, that is always good for my own heart and mind. However, it is also very freeing to a person who has received that forgiveness and knows about it, especially when they are seeking said forgiveness.

Mat 18:27  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Our spiritual application of forgiving our brothers their debts comes in the form of forgiveness of sins against us.

Anyone of the household of faith should be willing to forgive so that we receive forgiveness from the Lord. Likewise, the children of the Lord should also be seeking to repent when needed due to the trespasses we commit against others.

Additionally, and not the least among consideration, is forgiveness that we grant to ourselves. Guilt is a very powerful deterrent or motivator depending on how guilt affects a person.

Forgiving ourselves for past actions or inactions is very important for our walk with the Lord. He is not able to forgive us if we do not forgive ourselves because we are an extension of Him.

Think about it this way. We are the body of Christ. Therefore, if we do not forgive ourselves, then we are not forgiving a part of who He is. Therefore, we are not forgiving Christ in us. That simply will not do.

That of course doesn’t mean we continually do what we know to not do, but that is also where Godly repentance comes in. That is why forgiveness and repentance are important compliments to one another.

Deu 15:6  For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.
Deu 15:7  If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
Deu 15:8  But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
Deu 15:9  Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
Deu 15:10  Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
Deu 15:11  For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

The first point taken from these verses is that we do not owe any nation anything, but we are owed by many nations. We of course are spiritual Jews, and we have many nations within us.

We will not borrow anything from those nations. This is a spiritual statement. We are able to sell our goods to other nations, but we never borrow of their goods. These goods are speaking of doctrine.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

When we are “of the beast”, which we all start off from and as, then we buy and sell in the wares and goods of the world.

Once we are adopted as sons of God, we can deal in and trade the goods of God, His gold tried in fire so to speak.

The next point of these verses is to recognize that there will be “poor among us”. You might be thinking that we were just told, “Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it”.

However, this happens because being poor happens from not obeying, “Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day”.

The poor among us are those who need the gold tried in fire. This is how we sell to the nations in others. This is what being a light to the world is all about.

We all still have lands, giants and cities in our heavens that need to be conquered by Christ. It just so happens that Jesus Christ is in all of His body, so we fill the role of Christ for everyone around us especially those of the household of Faith.

A very important point for us to understand when speaking about forgiving sin or trespasses, is that we cannot hold anything back. We cannot hold grudges or things against those of whom we have given forgiveness to.

We see this in the form of, “Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.”

Seeing that the sabbatical year is all about releasing debt to our brothers at the end of the seventh year, it would be easy to see why we naturally wouldn’t want to let someone take on debt from us if it were near the end of that seven year cycle. After all, they would gain from us near the time that they would be freed from that debt to us.

We are warned of the Lord not to think this way. We need to offer “complete forgiveness”, signified by the number 7.

The last point to take away from Deut 15, as it pertains the word “yad” or hand is found in verses 12 to 18.

Deu 15:12  And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
Deu 15:13  And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
Deu 15:14  Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.
Deu 15:15  And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.
Deu 15:16  And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;
Deu 15:17  Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.
Deu 15:18  It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.

When someone has been given our forgiveness, we cannot simply forgive with a “cold” heart. Cold heart is my phrase, but it is a concept that portrays a heart which is not really sincere.

Given the verse we just read, this concept can be seen in telling someone we forgive them and they should be happy that we did or be thankful to us that we are being so kind to them, or any other reason that that proves we do not fully forgive.

Instead, we should be letting them know that we forgive them and then following that up with kind words of our Lord which let them know that they have a place to turn to when they need help in the form of spiritual guidance, etc.

Something along the lines of the thought process of, “I forgive you, but it is all of the Lord that He has given me the heart of forgiveness”, is an example of this mindset. If that thought or comment leads into further conversation, etc., then the Lord will be glorified in the process.

It may be that certain situations calling for forgiveness leads into someone wanting to find out more about the Lord and what He has done for you in order for this forgiveness to happen in your life.

This can be seen in the form of the slave who doesn’t want to leave your side after being given their freedom. Again, debt is a form of slavery. When someone has trespassed against us, and against the Lord in the process, the Lord is going to require an accounting for the trespass.

Therefore, when we offer forgiveness / freedom from that debt, to the person on the receiving end, they may want more of that “good stuff”. In that case, we will have another blessing of the Lord seeing that the Lord has used the situation as a way to welcome another one of His flock into the fold.

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 75

“The judgments” Part F

February 25th, 2015

Today, we are continuing our series with the judgments the Lord has given us as admonitions on how to live our lives. While some of the examples given to us in the judgments in Exodus 22 do not apply to us in the physical today, all of those same judgments apply to us spiritually.
In the study today, we are going to cover the next few verses concerning how to treat strangers and how to deal with the poor, widows and fatherless.

“Strangers in the land”

The first verse we are covering today is found in  Exodus 22:21.

Exo 22:21  Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

One of the more easily forgotten aspects of the Israelites being strangers in the land of Egypt is that it was due to them needing help so they didn’t perish and being welcomed in due to one of their own family members. Here is a short recap on why they were strangers in the first place.

Gen 41:56  And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:57  And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

Gen 45:17  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
Gen 45:18  And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.
Gen 45:19  Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
Gen 45:20  Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
Gen 45:21  And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
Gen 45:22  To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

Pharaoh typifies our Lord and King, and as such, we should recognize that all strangers are in their particular situations due to the Lord working all things out after the counsel of His own will.
A stranger naturally has a huge disadvantage in a strange country as it pertains to communication, knowledge of surroundings, customs of the people, etc.
We, as strangers seeking our “home country,” should take this to heart and remember that we too know the heart of a stranger.

Exo 23:9  Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

However, what is not easily gleaned from reading the words in the letter, about why it is that we shall no oppress a stranger, can be found in what a stranger lacks.
When we meet strangers, they do not know they are speaking with the Christ, but they should SEE the Christ in our ACTIONS and DEEDS. We should be disciples IN DEED, in doing what the Lord commands us and in living our lives as unto Christ Himself.
Before we are given the “land” to possess, we are strangers to that land.
Before the war with Egypt can be won, before the red sea can be parted, before the Hivites, Canaanites, Hitites, Amorites, Jebusites, Perizzites and Philistines are driven out, before the giants in the land can be conquered and killed, we are strangers.

Exo 23:20  Behold, I send an Angel before thee, TO KEEP thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Exo 23:21  Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
Exo 23:22  But if thou shalt indeed OBEY HIS VOICE, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Notice, it is the voice of the Lord which SPEAKS through the MOUTH of His angel.

Exo 23:23  For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
Exo 23:24  Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Exo 23:25  And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
Exo 23:26  There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.
Exo 23:27  I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
Exo 23:28  And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
Exo 23:29  I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
Exo 23:30  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
Exo 23:31  And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

Why do I mention these things in the context of speaking about not oppressing a stranger?

Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.
Heb 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Heb 13:3  Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

A stranger could very well be an angel of the Lord, and a stranger could also just as easily be someone who the Lord is working with but has not yet been given the Lord’s heart and mind.
Notice that we strangers to the land, when our enemies possess the land. Yet, the Lord will send ANGELS before us to guide us. Why do strangers in this state of mind need guidance and direction?

Exo 22:21  Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Exo 22:22  Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
Exo 22:23  If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
Exo 22:24  And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and YOUR wives shall be widows, and YOUR children fatherless.
Exo 22:25  If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

Zec 7:9  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
Zec 7:10  And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

In a negative application of these verses, each of these groups is lacking something. Widows lack their spouse, the fatherless lack a Father, the poor lack riches and strangers lack their country.
If you apply these things in the Spirit, we should be the MESSENGERS of the Lord to represent our Father and our Lord to these strangers who NEED HIM. He is the spouse they want, the Father they need, the riches they desire and the country they seek.
Do we know and remember the heart of a stranger? Do we not also seek the same country as some of them? We are of the household of Faith.

Heb 11:14  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

For those who are of the household of Faith, it is important to recognize that the Lord is telling us ahead of time that “he who is given much is expected much”.

Luk 12:46  The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luk 12:47  And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luk 12:49  I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

To be as blunt as possible, you are NOT of the household of Faith unless you are a THANKFUL stranger. Being thankful is in your ACTIONS as well as your words, but only words is NOT what the Lord seeks. We must worship in Spirit and Truth and NOT in lip service alone.

Luk 17:11  And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed THROUGH THE MIDST of Samaria and Galilee.
Luk 17:12  And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
Luk 17:13  And they lifted up their VOICES, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Luk 17:14  And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
Luk 17:15  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a LOUD VOICE glorified God,
Luk 17:16  And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luk 17:17  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
Luk 17:18  There are not found that RETURNED to give glory to God, save this STRANGER.
Luk 17:19  And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: THY FAITH hath made thee whole.

Notice, the other 9 lepers were cleansed, and the other 9 lepers were healed, but only ONE was made WHOLE.
James tells us this about our Faith:

Jas 2:12  So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Jas 2:13  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Jas 2:14  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James tells us that to claim the Faith of Christ alone is DEAD and VAIN. Do you believe him? If we claim the Faith of Christ and do not operate that same Faith by DOING, acting, living and breathing it, then we are only fooling ourselves.

Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Jas 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Jas 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Look at why the Lord tells His people in Exodus they should be concerned with listening to Him diligently when handling strangers, widows, fatherless and the poor.

Exo 22:23  If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
Exo 22:24  And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and YOUR wives shall be widows, and YOUR children fatherless.
Exo 22:25  If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

Also notice, that our voice or their voice will be heard.
If we operate in Faith in all things covered by Exodus 22:21-25, then we will not have the hot wax of God’s wrath poured out on us.
However, we also know that we must live by every word, so we all at some point do the EXACT OPPSOSITE of what we are told not to do here in Exodus.
If what is being presented to you today makes any spiritual sense to you, then you will recognize that it is at times that you are the stranger, the widow, the poor and the fatherless who CRY OUT to the Lord and are heard of Him.
While later down the path with Christ, you become the angel sent ahead of others and to them to be the voice of the Lord. Unbeknownst to those strangers, widows, poor and fatherless is that their old man is being burned up by the presence of His coming!

2Sa 22:7  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
2Sa 22:8  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
2Sa 22:9  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
Rev 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

Do these verses in Jeremiah not say it all about who a stranger is?

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
Jer 5:15  Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

It should be becoming clearer that we are a positive and negative type of “stranger, widow, poor, and fatherless”.
We first start off seeking the Lord and we are in great need. We are sent angels of the Lord, that we know not at first, and they help us by BURNING us up, burning away the old man that needs to go for that time.
Later, we become the stranger seeking a country, living by Faith, being poor, meek and humble in spirit, having written of the first man Adam and His Father the devil knowing the first man Adam must die.
Lastly, in this physical world we should be looking to help those who need it the most in this world, notwithstanding we are to help the household of Faith first and foremost.
We should physically help the widows, strangers, poor and fatherless that we know need help and as the Lord permits. Likewise, we need to be careful to always remember those which are spiritually widows, fatherless, poor and strangers.
We have to do both and find the balance the Lord would have us to seek.

Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 6:27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

And:

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

 

Mike,

I am trying to understand naturally and spiritually why a distinction is made in Deuteronomy here between the Israel and the stranger in the gates. Israel is commanded not to eat of that which dies of itself, but it is okay to give or sell to the stranger in the gates. In Lev 17:15 the thing that dies to itself is considered unclean. The stranger is permitted to eat what Israel is not, but the stranger that dwelleth is suppose to be considered as one born among Israel. Seems contradictory to give that which dies of itself to a stranger in the gates when one would not give it to an Israelite. Maybe the difference is in stranger simply in the gates vs stranger that sojourneth or stranger that dwelleth.

Deu 14:21 Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.
Exo 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 
Exo 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Lev 19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Lev 17:15 And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall be unclean until the even: both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and then shall he be clean.

The more I looked into it, there does appear to be a difference between a stranger simply in the gates vs. a stranger that dwelleth/ sojourns (same Hebrew word). Also, the stranger that does not sojourn is oft mentioned with Levites, fatherless and widows relating to not having an inheritance or not have a head of household to provide.

Thanks,
D____

Hi D____,
It is so good to hear from you. You ask:

Why [ is] a distinction made in Deuteronomy here between the Israel and the stranger in the gates? Israel is commanded not to eat of that which dies of itself, but it is okay to give or sell to the stranger in the gates. In Lev 17:15, the thing that dies to itself is considered unclean. The stranger is permitted to eat what Israel is not, but the stranger that dwelleth is suppose to be considered as one born among Israel. Seems contradictory to give that which dies of itself to a stranger in the gates when one would not give it to an Israelite. Maybe the difference is in stranger simply in the gates vs. stranger that sojourns or stranger that dwelleth?

You notice in your next e- mail that there is a difference between a stranger who sojourns or dwells with you, and a stranger in thy gates. You are right, there definitely is a vast difference. A stranger who sojourns with you, and a stranger that dwells with you, are one and the same. They are essentially proselytes who have converted to the laws of Israel and want to become an Israelite. There is to be no discrimination towards a convert and a free born Israelite. They are both one Israelite, and there is one law for both.

Exo 12:49  One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

The word stranger means an outsider who has no interest in converting or changing his ways and being assimilated into Israel and Israel’s laws. As a convert we may not be native Israelites, but we are to be considered as such. Here is the law as it concerns a convert.

Exo 23:9  Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Israel had lived in Egypt for nearly 400 years, and the Egyptians still did not consider the Israelites to be Egyptians with “one law for both him that is ‘homeborn’, and… the stranger that sojourns among you.” That was a big mistake on the part of the Egyptians, and God wants His nation to be careful never to make the same mistakes that the Egyptians made. Here it is again in even clearer language:

Lev 19:34  But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

A “stranger that dwells with you” is a stranger who should no longer be considered a stranger, but “as one born among you.”
Giving and selling that which dies of itself to the stranger that is within your gates is just spiritual type and shadow for these New Testament words:

Mat 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

If we “give not that which is holy to the dogs”, and we “cast not our pearls before swine,” then this is what we are doing:

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

The Levites who were not priests were themselves counted by God as being unworthy to handle the holy implements of the temple. If the priests allowed a Levite who was not a priest to touch the holy things, then the priest and the Levite were both to be put to death.
Read the series on The Temple, The Court and The Camp on iswasandwillbe. com All of these things, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs; He which is filthy, let him be filthy still; Let not a Levite who is not a priest touch the holy things, and sell that which is unclean to the stranger that is in your gates, is all saying one and the same thing, and that one and the same thing is that God’s elect are never under any circumstance to ever allow the Truths with which they have been entrusted to be contaminated by that which is not Truth. They are not to allow that which is holy to be contaminated by that which is not holy. Let the stranger that is in your gates have the unclean, but see that you “touch not the unclean thing, and I will be your God…”
I hope this has helped you to understand that “we brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise,” and that these promises made to Israel are really made to you and to me if we are in Christ.

Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

You have hit the nail on the head with this statement:

The more I looked into it, there does appear to be a difference between a stranger simply in the gates vs a stranger that dwelleth/ sojourns (same hebrew word). Also, the stranger that does not sojourn is oft mentioned with Levites, fatherless, and widows relating to not having an inheritance or not have a head of household to provide.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike