We are in chapter twenty-two of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. חָבַל impound, bind, seize a pledge, pledge, require a pledge. It is used 13 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Let’s look at these in our chapter. Exodus 22:26-27 If ever you תַּחְבֹּ֖ל [Literally require a pledge or collateral. Here it is just translated take because our word is used again later in the sentence.] take your neighbor's cloak in חָבֹ֥ל pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. This is interesting to me because God is not saying don’t require collateral from a poor person which would make things simpler but to not keep it overnight. So it seems that God wants even the poor to understand that things have costs and responsibilities to them. God is always trying to teach us all that regardless of our socio-economic situation. But God also wants to make sure that people have what they need. In this case the need to have something to sleep with to keep warm overnight. We see both God’s compassion and firmness about being responsible consistently seen in his instructions about this throughout the Bible. God again is always trying to mature us into people that are trustworthy and responsible. One of the ways to do this is to not let others take advantage of our compassion for their situation. While also reminding the poor that they need to learn responsibility as well. This is seen a lot in Proverbs 20:16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in חַבְלֵֽהוּ pledge if it is done for a foreigner. Notice how both the word for security which we have already looked at previously is closely related to pledge our word for today. It is interesting that God is saying that we should get collateral when we loan something to someone that we don’t know. Why because again he doesn’t want us to be taken advantage of and he wants to continue to help others learn responsibility. Proverbs 27:12-13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in חַבְלֵֽהוּ pledge if it is done for an adulterous. Did you catch that so not only get collateral from people you don’t know but also from people who are known for making sinful choices. Here we see again God balancing his compassion for everyone with everyone’s need to become more responsible in following him. Here are some more examples. Deuteronomy 24:17 Do not...take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Here God’s compassion is seen in not even asking for collateral from a widow when all she has to put up is her cloak that she needs to keep warm. Another good example is when the collateral takes away their means to make a living. Deuteronomy 24:6 Do not take a pair of millstones...as יַחֲבֹ֥ל security for a debt, because that would be taking a person’s livelihood as חֹבֵֽל security. Jesus shows us that God loves everyone regardless of how much or how little they have on this earth. Jesus hung out with the poorest and the wealthiest and everyone in between (Zacchaeus Rich Tax collector, Luke 19:5-8) Mark 5:25-29, 33 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. Jesus also taught this love for everyone. Luke 14:12-14 When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” This reminds me of a Proverb that I’ll close with. Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
