Send us a text

For an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere at;
patreon.com/JeremyMcCandless

Subscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.
https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

Study Notes: More Strange Ways to Make a Profit (Deuteronomy 15:12-23)

Key Themes:

• Freedom and Redemption:
  • Every seven years, slaves were set free, debts forgiven, and lives restored. This system highlights God's compassion and wisdom, offering a fresh start.
• Slavery in Ancient Israel:
  • Different from the modern understanding of slavery.
  • Old Testament slavery in Israel was often a result of debt or crime.
  • Slaves worked for a maximum of six years before being set free.
  • The system provided protections and aimed to avoid oppression.
• Release from Slavery (Deuteronomy 15:12-23):
  • Hebrew slaves were to be freed in the seventh year of service.
  • Owners were instructed not to send freed slaves away empty-handed but to provide them with resources.
  • This ensured freed individuals could establish a new life, reflecting God's generosity and desire for social equity.
• God’s Example of Redemption:
  • Israelites were reminded of their own history as slaves in Egypt and God’s redemption.
  • They were called to emulate God’s example of care and provision.
• Generosity and Fairness:
  • Releasing slaves and providing for them was a principle that invited God's blessing.
  • Giving generously, even when counterintuitive, aligns with God’s principles.
• Sanctification of Firstborn Animals (Deuteronomy 15:19-23):
  • Firstborn animals were to be dedicated to God, not used for personal gain.
  • This act recognized God’s provision and reinforced dependence on Him.

Practical Applications:

• Living Out God’s Love:
  • Release others from metaphorical "debts" and offer forgiveness.
  • Extend grace and support to those in need, reflecting God’s heart for justice and compassion.
• Generosity and Provision:
  • Embrace a lifestyle of giving the best of our resources—time, talents, and finances—to God.
  • Trust in God’s promise to bless those who give generously.
• Modern Parallels:
  • Consider voluntary commitments in modern contexts, like military service or professional sports, to understand ancient servitude.
  • Apply the principles of justice and generosity in contemporary settings.
• Blessings Through Generosity:
  • Generous actions are a seed sown into God’s fertile ground, promising a return of grace and provision.
  • The principle of sowing and reaping is echoed in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Philippians 4:15-19).

Conclusion:

Deuteronomy 15:12-23 challenges us to embrace generosity, justice, and compassion. By forgiving debts, freeing those bound, providing for others, and dedicating our best to God, we align with His heart and invite His blessings. These principles are timeless and relevant, encouraging us to reflect God's character in our actions and trust in His promises.

Support the show

Jeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | Patreon

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

For an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere at;
patreon.com/JeremyMcCandless

Subscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.
https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

Study Notes:

Introduction

• Basic financial principles: hard work, saving, spending wisely. Deuteronomy offers unique principles for prosperity, focusing on debt, slavery, and honouring God's gifts.

Counter-Intuitive Principles for Prosperity

• Debt Cancellation (Deuteronomy 15:1-6)
  • Verse 1: Every seven years, debts are to be cancelled.
    • This "sabbatical year" involves total and permanent debt forgiveness.
    • Pertains to fellow Israelites.
  • Five Reasons for Complete Debt Cancellation:
    • Reflects God’s generosity towards Israel.
    • Supported by verses 9-11.
    • Prepares for Jubilee (every 50 years).
    • Prevents extreme poverty.
    • Aligns with the potential for Israel's great wealth.
  • Verse 2: Details on executing debt cancellation.
    • Debt cancellation includes not pursuing repayment from debtors' families.
    • Highlights the complete and permanent nature of the forgiveness.
  • Application Beyond Financial Debt:
    • Parallels with forgiveness of sins (Colossians 2:13, 1 John 1:9).
  • Verse 3: Specifies debt cancellation applies only to Israelites, not foreigners.
  • Verse 4-5: Promise of God's blessing if commands are obeyed, potentially eliminating poverty.
  • Verse 6: God's promise of prosperity and dominance over other nations.
• Generosity and Open-Handedness (Deuteronomy 15:7-11)
  • Verse 7-8: Commands to be generous and not hard-hearted towards the poor.
    • Encourages a spirit of generosity.
    • Proverbs 11:24: Generosity leads to greater gain.
  • Verse 9: Warning against withholding aid due to the approaching sabbatical year.
  • Verse 10: Promise of God’s blessing for generosity.
  • Verse 11: Acknowledges perpetual presence of the poor, emphasizing continuous generosity.

Principles of Giving and God’s Blessings

• Forgiving debts and lending to those in need leads to God’s blessings.
• Generosity fosters a community without poverty.
• God's promises of blessing are tied to obedience and generosity.
• Proverbs 19:17: Kindness to the poor is like lending to the Lord.
• Biblical Principle: The law of sowing and reaping – abundance in giving results in abundance in receiving.

Conclusion

• Living with generosity aligns with God's commands and promises prosperity.
• Forgiving debts, lending freely, and generous giving are key to blessings.
• This divine economy transforms lives and communities.
• Call to Action:
  • Commit to living out these principles.
  • Reflect God’s nature through generosity.
  • Become instruments of His blessings, transforming lives and communities.
• Living generously ensures God’s blessings in all aspects of life, not just financial.

God’s radical generosity serves as a model for us. By living generously, we mirror God’s grace and love. Our generosity creates a ripple effect,

Support the show

Jeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | Patreon

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

For an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere at;
patreon.com/JeremyMcCandless

Subscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.
https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

Study Notes: "The Uniqueness of You" (Deuteronomy 14:1-29)

Introduction

• Spiritually, those who know the Lord are distinct from others.
• In both the Old and New Testaments, God's people are meant to be unique and set apart.
• Today's study focuses on Deuteronomy 14, where God, through Moses, emphasizes Israel's uniqueness.

Context

• Deuteronomy 14 possibly parallels the Ten Commandments.
  • First part may relate to the third commandment: "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."
  • Second part may relate to the fourth commandment: "You shall observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy."

Deuteronomy 14 outlines three key ways Israel was distinct.

1. Pagan Practices

• Verse 1: "Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead."
  • These were mourning rituals linked to idolatry among the Canaanites.
• Verse 2: "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession."
  • Israel was to avoid these pagan practices to remain distinct and holy.

Application for Today

• Christians today are called to be holy and set apart.
• Our behaviors and choices should reflect our unique relationship with God.
• We should avoid worldly practices that conflict with our faith, demonstrating our identity in Christ.

Dietary Laws

• Verse 3: "Do not eat any detestable thing."
  • Certain animals, fish, and birds were designated as detestable.
• Verses 4-8: Lists clean animals (e.g., ox, sheep) and unclean animals (e.g., camel, rabbit, pig).
• Verses 9-10: Clean fish (with fins and scales) versus unclean fish (without fins and scales).
• Verses 11-18: Clean birds versus unclean birds.
• Verse 19-20: Clean versus unclean flying insects.

Symbolic Reasons for Dietary Laws

• Pagan Practice: Avoiding foods associated with pagan worship.
• Hygiene: Some foods may have been prohibited for health reasons.
• Symbolic: Illustrates Israel's call to holiness and distinctiveness.

Application for Today

• Though Christians are not under Old Testament dietary laws, the principle of being distinct remains.
• Our choices and behaviors should reflect our commitment to God and our unique identity as His children.

3. Tithing and Generosity

• Verses 22-23: Tithe a tenth of all produce each year and have a communal meal in the place God chooses.
• Verses 24-27: If the place is too distant, exchange the tithe for silver and spend it on a communal meal before the Lord.
• Verses 28-29: Every three years, bring all tithes to support the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows.

Application for Today

• Tithing in the Old Testament i

Support the show

Jeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | Patreon

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com