Rules for Lending & Giving

God gave specific rules to Israel regarding lending to members of the Covenant Community including the principle that every seven years there was to be a Sabbath year in which all debts were to be forgiven (remitted). The rules were designed to prevent the presence of grinding poverty in the nation, and if Israel had obeyed them along with the rest of God's commandments, she was told she would have blessings, be a great creditor nation, and not have the poor living in her midst.

Unfortunately, God knew that Israel would consistently fail to keep his commandments, and that the poor would always be in their midst.

America, while not a covenanted nation like Israel can learn much from the rules God gave and in particular the general rule that 'righteousness exalts a nation'. If a nation consistently ignores God and His Word and does not strive for righteousness, then it should not be surprising when she finds herself in terrible debt to other nations.