Post on 27-Dec-2015
Old Testament Ethics: Principles of Living for the People of GodEcology and the Land
© 2010 David W. Opderbeck
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution / Share-Alike
The OT Ethical Triangle
Source: Christopher J.H. Wright, “Old Testament Ethics for the People of God”
God
Israel
The Land
The Church koinonia
OT
NTTypological
Paradigmatic
Eschatological
Humanity(fallen)
Redeemed Humanity
The New Creation
The Earth(cursed)
ANE, Modern, and Biblical Views of the UniverseAttribute / Relation
ANE Modern Biblical
Origin A product of divine struggle
Ownership Managed chaos
Essential Nature
Unpredictable and dangerous
Purpose Cyclical struggle
Contingent on God
God; human vice-regencyGood but fallen
God’s glory, shalom
No metaphysical origin (truly “random”)None or human
Lawlike, deterministic or probabilistic
Ateleological
ANE, Modern, and Biblical Views of Humanity
Attribute / Relation
ANE Modern Biblical
Origin Divine tears, blood or semen spilled in struggle
Ownership Slaves of the gods
Essential Nature
Little intrinsic value
Purpose Serve the whims of the gods, cyclical
No metaphysical origin (truly “random”)Self or truly deterministic
Lawlike, deterministic or probabilistic
Ateleological
God’s creative act
God, but with moral freedomGood, but fallen
God’s glory, shalom
ANE, Modern, and Biblical Views of Human Relationship With CreationAttribute / Relation
ANE Modern Biblical
Natural Resources
Belong to the gods / the divinized King
Purpose Cyclical struggle
No metaphysical distinction between humanity and non-human nature
Humanity uniquely endowed with imago Dei and uniquely responsible for cultivation (“creation care”)
God’s glory, shalom; eschatological
Nature for its own sake?
The Jubilee LawEconomic Stage
Action of Landowner
Continuing Rights of Landowner
Rights and Responsibilities of Kinsman
Exceptions
“So poor that he has to sell part of his property” (v. 25)
Sell part of the property
Reversionary purchase interest (v.26-27)
Absolute reversionary interest in Jubilee year
Pre-empt sale through purchase; or
Redeem from purchaser
Not applicable to dwellings in walled cities, except for Levites (who were allotted towns rather than land shares)
“becomes poor and his means with regard to you falter” (v. 35)
Mortgage remaining property
Repayment of debt interest-free
Sustain as a dependent laborer and through interest-free loans (v. 35-37)
“becomes so poor with regard to you that he sells himself to you”
Indentured Servitude
Release from obligations in Jubilee year. (v. 40)
“You shall not subject him to a slave’s service. He shall be with you as a hired man.” (v. 39)
Applies only to Israelites, not to foreign slaves or resident aliens
Interpretations of the Jubilee LawTypological Paradigmatic Eschatological
Luke 4:16-30: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
• The jubilee and economic justice
• The jubilee and the family
• The jubilee and faith in God’s sovereignty, providence, provision and forgiveness
Is. 35:10: “the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”