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.”