Friday, February 9, 2018

Together

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
TOGETHER

Prov 29:13
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
NIV


In the Hebrew it is more like when the poor man and the oppressor come together or meet, the Lord enlightens them both. It may be or may not be implied that the oppressor is engaged on injuring the poor man. What is implied is they have something in common. The Lord works within all men, whether they are poor or are oppressive type individuals. But there is this idea conveyed by the Hebrew they are meeting together. However there is some difference in the interpretation of the words translated poor and oppressor. Some of the earlier manuscripts use debtor and usuer, some use poor and lender, others use the poor and the rich. But the idea is the same. The Lord has made them both and he gives insight to anyone who seeks it. It matters not the station in life, God sees all men as equal. He is not a respecter of persons, he does not show favoritism. A person may be extremely wealthy and still have insight into the word of God. A man may be extremely poor and also have great insight into the word of God. Where the challenge is in the meaning of the words in common. In the Hebrew it means to meet, to encounter, or to meet each other. This is more than just having the same thing in common, as being of the same language, or country, or ethnic group, or for that matter, saved. This is having some kind of business dealings with each other, borrower and lender. Just because a man is of means and can lend does not mean he is a mean or vicious character and lends with exorbitant interest. It merely is implied that the Lord may well use this person to enhance the life of the poorer one. It also may mean the poor person by borrowing enhances the life of the lender. God blesses both persons in the common exchange. Is that God giving approval to the system of credit? Doubtful as he also says we should owe no man anything. Of course that is difficult in the modern era for we would never be able to buy a home or a car, or a college education for that matter, without incurring debt. But the main point here is that God blesses all people who come to know him. This should give us the insight that we too should see all people as equal, not prejudging them because of either their wealth or poverty. We all have one thing in common, that is we all meet together in our humanity, created by God, and we all are sinners. It is just right now some of us are sinners saved by grace, and other sinners have not accept that grace yet. But we are all in common in the fact we are not perfect, but rather sinners. God offers grace to all class of people and this proverb tells us we all come together at the cross. 

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