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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；〃 〃and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need； in that which he
wanteth。〃 Deuteronomy 15：7…9； 11； 8。
None need fear that their liberality would bring them to want。 Obedience to
God's commandments would surely result in prosperity。 〃Thou shalt lend unto
many nations；〃 He said； 〃but thou shalt not borrow； and thou shalt reign
over many nations； but they shall not reign over thee。〃 Deuteronomy 15：6。
After 〃seven sabbaths of years；〃 〃seven times seven years；〃 came that great
year of releasethe jubilee。 〃Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the
jubilee to sound 。 。 。 throughout all your land。 And ye shall hallow the
fiftieth year； and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the
inhabitants thereof： it shall be a jubilee unto you； and ye shall return
every man unto his possession； and ye shall return every man unto his
family。〃 Leviticus 25：9； 10。
〃On the tenth day of the seventh month； in the Day of Atonement；〃 the
trumpet of the jubilee was sounded。 Throughout the land； wherever the Jewish
people dwelt； the sound was heard； calling upon all the children of Jacob to
welcome the year of release。 On the great Day of Atonement satisfaction was
made for the sins of Israel； and with gladness of heart the people would
welcome the jubilee。
As in the sabbatical year； the land was not to be sown or reaped； and all
that it produced was to be regarded as the rightful property of the poor。
Certain classes of Hebrew slavesall who did not receive their liberty in
the sabbatical yearwere now set free。 But that which especially
distinguished the year of jubilee was the reversion of all landed property
to the family of
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the original possessor。 By the special direction of God the land had been
divided by lot。 After the division was made no one was at liberty to trade
his estate。 Neither was he to sell his land unless poverty compelled him to
do so； and then； whenever he or any of his kindred might desire to redeem
it； the purchaser must not refuse to sell it； and if unredeemed； it would
revert to its first possessor or his heirs in the year of jubilee。
The Lord declared to Israel： 〃The land shall not be sold forever： for the
land is Mine； for ye are strangers and sojourners with Me。〃 Leviticus 25：23。
The people were to be impressed with the fact that it was God's land which
they were permitted to possess for a time； that He was the rightful owner；
the original proprietor； and that He would have special consideration made
for the poor and unfortunate。 It was to be impressed upon the minds of all
that the poor have as much right to a place in God's world as have the more
wealthy。
Such were the provisions made by our merciful Creator； to lessen suffering；
to bring some ray of hope； to flash some gleam of sunshine； into the life of
the destitute and distressed。
The Lord would place a check upon the inordinate love of property and power。
Great evils would result from the continued accumulation of wealth by one
class； and the poverty and degradation of another。 Without some restraint
the power of the wealthy would become a monopoly； and the poor； though in
every respect fully as worthy in God's sight； would be regarded and treated
as inferior to their more prosperous brethren。 The sense of this oppression
would arouse the passions of the poorer class。 There would be a feeling of
despair and desperation which would tend to demoralize society and open the
door to crimes of every description。 The regulations that God established
were designed to promote social equality。 The provisions of the sabbatical
year and the jubilee would； in a great measure； set right that which during
the interval had gone wrong in the social and political economy of the
nation。
These regulations were designed to bless the rich no less than the poor。
They would restrain avarice and a disposition for self…exaltation； and would
cultivate a noble spirit of benevolence； and by fostering good will and
confidence between all classes； they would promote social order； the
stability of government。 We are all woven together in the great web of
humanity；
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and whatever we can do to benefit and uplift others will reflect in blessing
upon ourselves。 The law of mutual dependence runs through all classes of
society。 The poor are not more dependent upon the rich than are the rich
upon the poor。 While the one class ask a share in the blessings which God
has bestowed upon their wealthier neighbors； the other need the faithful
service； the strength of brain and bone and muscle； that are the capital of
the poor。
Great blessings were promised to Israel on condition of obedience to the
Lord's directions。 〃I will give you rain in due season；〃 He declared； 〃and
the land shall yield her increase； and the trees of the field shall yield
their fruit。 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage； and the
vintage shall reach unto the sowing time： and ye shall eat your bread to the
full； and dwell in your land safely。 And I will give peace in the land； and
ye shall lie down； and none shall make you afraid： and I will rid evil
beasts out of the land； neither shall the sword go through your land。 。 。 。
I will walk among you； and will be your God； and ye shall be My people。 。 。
。 But if ye will not hearken unto Me； and will not do all these
commandments； and 。 。 。 ye break My covenant： 。 。 。 ye shall sow your seed
in vain； for your enemies shall eat it。 And I will set My face against you；
and ye shall be slain before your enemies： they that hate you shall reign
over you； and ye shall flee when none pursueth you。〃 Leviticus 26：
4…17。
There are many who urge with great enthusiasm that all men should have an
equal share in the temporal blessings of God。 But this was not the purpose
of the Creator。 A diversity of condition is one of the means by which God
designs to prove and develop character。 Yet He intends that those who have
worldly possessions shall regard themselves merely as stewards of His goods；
as entrusted with means to be employed for the benefit of the suffering and
the needy。
Christ has said that we shall have the poor always with us； and He unites
His interest with that of His suffering people。 The heart of our Redeemer
sympathizes with the poorest and lowliest of His earthly children。 He tells
us that they are His representatives on earth。 He has placed them among us
to awaken in our hearts the love that He feels toward the suffering and
oppressed。 Pity and benevolence shown to them are accepted by
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Christ as if shown to Himself。 An act of cruelty or neglect toward them is
regarded as though done to Him。
If the law given by God for the benefit of the poor had continued to be
carried out； how different would be the present condition of the world；
morally； spiritually； and temporally！ Selfishness and self…importance would
not be manifested as now； but each would cherish a kind regard for the
happiness and welfare of othe