Psalm 37:25

[David_McQueen]

I have been young and now I am old; but I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

I have been stewing over this text the last couple of days. Some people claim this as a promise, but I don't quite see it that way. I am curious. Israel always had poor people, even when before they reached Canaan (tithe was to given to the poor as well as Levites) so what is the psalmist saying? How does this relate to many righteous Christians around the world who are dying from starvation and poverty?

[Ron Lambert]

Israel was set up to provide for the poor. They could freely reap the corners of fields, etc. As long as the laws were followed, no one starved. Today's societies tend to ignore or stigmatize the poor, and provisions made for them are uneven and often temporary. At least in Christian nations efforts are made to provide for the poor; but churches should not be leaving to the government this responsibility. Some churches do help the poor, others ignore them and have no programs of their own.

[olger]

This is a great question.

It's still true today.

You will never see a righteous person come to your church asking for money or food. Many of them come to our church and each of them have unresolved sin issues that they haven't dealt with.

Our job is to not only help them practically, but help them resolve the spiritual issues in their life. Loving people is much more than handing food to them. For instance, what good have we done if we help someone stop smoking so they can live seven more years in sin, in alienation from God & others? Or feed someone, who will spend that day/night in moral failure?

Unresolved moral issues, for instance, will lead to finhancial loss--it's one of the Biblical consequences (Proverbs 6:26). I have seen this verse literally fulfilled, and I have seen repentance & confession from sin lead to purpose & fulfillment.

I am amazed at how accurate the Bible is, to deal with everything that we face in life.

bro. gcw

[Stan]

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David_McQueen said:

I have been young and now I am old; but I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Israel always had poor people, even when before they reached Canaan (tithe was to given to the poor as well as Levites) so what is the psalmist saying?

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I read in a Jewish Handbook for planned giving that the 2nd tithe in the 2nd and 6th year of a 7 year cycle was given to help the poor, it was not the first tithe..

[David Koot]

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olger said:

You will never see a righteous person come to your church asking for money or food. Many of them come to our church and each of them have unresolved sin issues that they haven't dealt with.

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I couldn't agree with that statement. I have known of good people who suffered unexpected and catastrophic loss. Whether or not they ask for help or not, they need help. Sometimes, I believe Jesus sends people in need to His church, to see how His people will respond. There are worthy poor, as Sister White points out.

Dave

[olger]

Dear David. All are worthy of hope, and we must offer them hope beyond bread.

I agree that catastrophic losses seem to have little discrimination in our world. The gel point in our discussion may be the word "begging." Perhaps we should unify our understanding of this word.

At any rate, thanks for your thoughts. I understand your point and somewhat agree.

olger