August 28 ▪ Day 240

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 22:7
Joshua 21–22
I Corinthians 7–8
Psalms 56

Verse Focus (Proverbs 22:7)

The rich rule over the poor,
      and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Meditation

Today’s proverb talks about the power of money to control society. As Proverbs 22:7 says in the NIV, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” Although having wealth will not in and of itself make one a bad ruler, history has shown how frequently the rich have abused the poor. Since the Bible deplores this kind of oppression, it is a severe warning for those of us who have resources to use them wisely. On the other side of the coin, having struggled with credit card debt in the past, I feel the sting of truth when the proverb says “the borrower is slave to the lender.”

A few days ago (on the 24th of August, Day 236), I quoted the English theologian John Gill’s commentary on Proverbs 22:2. In that excerpt, Gill meditated on how both rich and poor have a purpose that serves and helps the other. For example, the rich need the poor to work the land; on the other hand, the poor need the rich to employ them and enable them to support their families. This was, to me, somewhat of a new idea. God made rich and poor alike, but somehow it never occurred to me that there was real purpose in setting things up that way. I rather just assumed it was happenstance — even, perhaps, a corruption of society from our sinful natures.

But if you apply Gill’s point to today’s proverb, we see that there is purpose in the rich ruling society. There is benefit in that the rich are likely educated, so this would presumably make them better rulers. It also points to a responsibility that the rich have to watch out for the poor and to help them better their circumstances. The fact of the poor leads to a more stable society — if everyone were rich, it might be chaos. No one would submit to anyone else; everyone would just do as he or she sees fit.

So, as usual, there are many layers to this proverb. I see commentary on financial abuses in our society, but I also see that this proverb speaks of the need for government in general. There are also applications when you think of rich and poor in terms of wisdom or spiritual wealth. Haven’t we all borrowed Jesus’ purity and become slaves to Christ?

Father God, thank you for the wisdom in your proverbs. In the ways that we are rich, let us be good rulers — no matter our sphere of influence. Protect us from oppressive rulers in the ways that we are poor. Thank you that no matter the role you have given us, we have ways to bring you honor and glory. Help us to do so in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In Joshua 21, we see the final division of the Promised Land as cities and their surrounding pasturelands are set aside for the Levites. Since the cities are taken from every tribe’s territory, the Levites will live throughout the entire Promised Land. In this way, every part of the country will have access to those representing God’s laws.

The priests and Levites receive 48 cities out of all Israel — including all six of the cities of refuge. As a city of refuge, Caleb’s city of Hebron is given to the priests although he retains ownership of the surrounding fields and villages.

I found it very interesting that, out of all the Levites, it was the priests — the sons of Aaron — who get the lot for territory in Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. For the most part, this is the region that later becomes Judah, the southern kingdom. It was nice to recognize a few of the names of the cities… Gibeon in the tribe of Benjamin was given to the priests (v. 17); this was the city that became King Saul’s base of operations. Verse 18 mentions Anathoth in the tribe of Benjamin being given to the priests; this was the city that later was hometown to the prophet Jeremiah.

The chapter ends, in verse 45, with a remarkable statement: “Not one of the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”

So here we are at the end of the story, right? The Promised Land has been claimed. The fairy tale has ended; they all live happily ever after.

Unfortunately, not so much. In Joshua 22 we read what happens next. The men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh go to return to their lands on the east side of the Jordan. And they make a replica of the altar by the Jordan river. This enrages the other tribes of Israelites and they are ready to go to war. They are convinced that the eastern tribes have turned away from the God of Israel. Fortunately, it’s a big misunderstanding and war gets averted. The eastern tribes had built the altar as a sign for their descendants that they, too, are part of Israel and governed by the Mosaic covenant. The altar is named, “A Witness between Us that the LORD is God.”

Chapter 22 reminds me how easy it is for misunderstandings to occur. We make assumptions as to why something happened instead of just asking, why did you do that? I am also reminded that even though the Israelites are now living in the Promised Land, this does not mean that life will be easy. They have many, many blessings, but it still takes an effort to live in peace with their brothers.

I also think more about how chapter 21 ended, with the triumphant claim that God has fulfilled all His promises to the Israelites. The first time I read that last paragraph about how the Israelites received the land and possessed it, how none of their enemies could stand against them, and how they obtained “rest on every side (v. 44)” — I rejoiced at God’s goodness. I celebrated. But then I read the chapter at another time, and I thought… wait… what? Didn’t we just read about all the Canaanites who were not expelled from the land? The Israelites’ hold on the land seems quite precarious. This is God fulfilling all His promises to them?

And it took a while to sort through my muddled thoughts and feelings. Yes, God fulfilled His promises. He promised to give the Israelites that land. He didn’t promise them they would inherit the land without any trouble or conflict. He promised to go with them and to be with them in battle. He promised that He would be their God if they would obey His ways. When I look at what God specifically promised them, I can see that God did fulfill all His promises to the Israelites.

But somehow I heard something different than what God actually promised. I heard that God was giving them utopia. A land without need for a military, without any problems or conflicts. I heard that all the enemies would be so completely defeated that there wouldn’t be any left at all — yet what God really promised was that their enemies would not be able to stop them or stand against them. Not that the enemies would be non-existent.

So it’s easy for us to fool ourselves, to hear what we want to hear. We want not to suffer. We don’t want any trouble or distress or sorrow or pain. But while we live in this present time, that’s not the kind of life God promises us. One day. In heaven, or when earth is remade. But not now. Now, God is with us. God gives us strength. He gives us joy. And He is with us through trouble and conflict and sorrow.

As I read 1 Corinthians 7 again today, I am struck, once again, by verse 17. Paul writes, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” It resonates with what John Gill was saying about rich and poor: there is purpose in the station of life to which we were each assigned by God.

In past centuries, one’s identity was based on status and the kind of work one’s family did. But that was the whole seduction of America — immigrants were not necessarily limited by how poor they were; instead, they could better themselves and elevate their families. Now we have an entire culture based on the idea that we can make of ourselves what we want to become. And so the idea that there is purpose in the circumstances of one’s life is foreign. We only see purpose in bettering ourselves socially and financially, not in remaining wherever we happen to be.

I see that this is precisely the topic that so captured me the last time I read through 1 Corinthians 7, so obviously I’m still trying to assimilate Paul’s worldview. I’m still trying to see some of the reasons and purposes God has in making me me — letting me be born in this time and place, in this country, with the family I have, and both my weaknesses and gifts. I may never fully understand this while I’m here on earth, but I hope in seeing some of the why that I’ll be better at recognizing the good works He calls me to do.

It occurs to me that it does take years sometimes to process the ideas that Scripture presents to us. When I was younger, I struggled a lot with the idea of marriage and singleness, and this is a significant chapter for those concerns. I remember memorizing verse 34 during that time.

Today I also noticed verse 23. Again, Paul says, “You were bought with a price.” But instead of the command to glorify God with our bodies, this time around Paul follows it up by saying, “Do not become bondservants of men.” I see this as an indirect condemnation of slavery. Of course, Paul was writing to people who may not have had much choice as far as slavery is concerned. However, insofar as it depends on us, we should not become slaves to another. Again, insofar as it depends on us, we should not enslave others either. In our time we might apply this verse as a warning against certain types of employment.

1 Corinthians 8 discusses how we should not let our freedom in Christ ever become a stumbling block to another believer. The issue in Corinth had to do with eating food sacrificed to idols; what those issues are today may vary from church to church and believer to believer. The topic of wearing face masks has become so contentious in our society that I half wonder if this might not be an area where stronger Christians should take care not to damage the faith of weaker Christians.

In verse 2, Paul writes, “If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.” The Holy Spirit has been highlighting this verse to me recently, but I’m still not sure quite what to make of it. Is it a warning? A reminder of the need for humility? An encouragement to go yet deeper into Scripture? An exhortation to marry one’s knowledge with love? I need to mull this over further, but I’d love to hear what you make of this verse!

David wrote Psalm 56 when he had fled from Saul only to end up in front of his enemies in Philistia. If he had known our English proverb, I’m sure he would have agreed that he had gone from out of the frying pan and into the fire.

He asks in the psalm, in verse 4, “What can flesh do to me?” Later, in verse 11, he asks again, “What can man do to me?” The obvious answer is, of course, that David can be killed. It’s curious that he uses the two different words — flesh, and man. Flesh often just refers to mankind, but it also refers to those made with bodies. So potentially animals. But the more important thing is that flesh is mortal. Flesh dies. So the most another mortal can do is kill you. Flesh has no power at all over your soul and what happens to you after death. And that, of course, is David’s point. He might be killed, but there is more to life than what happens on earth to his physical body.

I love the repetition of David’s faith! “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust (v. 4).” “In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust (v. 10-11).” The second time David states his faith he uses God’s personal name. Not just the Almighty. Not just God. But my God. Yahweh — one with whom I’m on a first-name basis.

Father God, thank you that you have revealed your name to us. You want to know us intimately. And you are always there for us to call upon you when we are in trouble or distress. Thank you for this beautiful psalm of faith — it is, after all, an incident that David survived. And it continues to tell the story of your faithfulness to this day.

Thank you for the things that I am learning from your Scripture. Help me to see purpose in where you have placed me in life. Help me to do the good works you call me to do. Thank you for reminding me that life on earth is not meant to be utopia. It will not be perfect. But you will be with me. Thank you for Jesus Christ. I pray in his name, Amen.