Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 25:35-37
"And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase."
As I'm reading this chapter on the Sabbath year and the 50th Jubilee year and releasing people from their debt or bondage I wondered how that would be helpful to anyone that made a loan to them. The borrower would only turn around later and have their debt removed and you wouldn't get your money back. Then with the matter of usury, I could not understand how someone would lend and not get interest back. What would be the incentive to lend to someone? Then with these verses I realized this is pertaining to the poor or a family member. It is in these conditions that you do not require usury on what you lend to them. Now that is compassionate. Not profiting of the backs of the poor fits, and settles this whole matter in my mind. Paying interest on a loan is not a bad thing. It is the profiting off of the poor that needed one to exist that is.
Day 690
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