MERCY TO THE POOR

 The goal of this bible study is to highlight a significant principle which I believe has been so ignored in the body of Christ. As it has been well noted both by experience and observation, one would agree that we have heard so many sermons on giving that the very word ‘seed’ seems to stimulate instant repulsion or nausea.

The scriptures do teach on offerings and tithes, but the aim of this writing is not to direct the reader to splashing some so called ‘anointed minister’ with money, but to help perceive and comprehend the heart and mind of God regarding how resources were to be used in his house to execute true righteousness and judgment.

My desire is for the reader to possibly bridge whatever gaps may exist in their understanding of biblical principles and perhaps discern the missing links to seeing divine results in their financial lives. 

As Apostle Paul declared, we know in part, and prophesy in part. This writing is only a portion of revelation and not a full exposition of divine counsel. Its focus is on ‘Mercy to the Poor.’  

Pro_22:2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

1Sa 2:6-8 The LORD kills, and makes alive: he brings down to the grave, and bringsup. The LORD makes poor, and makes rich: he brings low, and lifts up. He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. 

I truly believe God has a special place in his heart for the impoverished across the earth. The scriptures reveal something about his ability to literally make the poor rich. Making implies a process by which raw materials are processed into a finished product. This reminds me of Christ’s exhortation in the book of John, that he who is both the Son and the Truth, ‘makes free’ those who continue in his word. (John8:31-34) When we abide in what he teaches and reveals through the Holy Spirit, we set ourselves up for divine liberation.

The psalmist declares;

Psa 68:8-10  The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. 

Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor. 

God truly has his goodness reserved for the poor, and it is his pleasure to bless those in need. However, he needs men on the earth to do his bidding, because the earth was given to the stewardship of man and God will not violate that principle. (Psa115:16). 

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he defines a unique ministry of mercy or compassion, which describes a special divine enablement that can empower a believer to minister mercy not just to others but also, to the poor.

Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 

We also see the heart of God expressing that which he deems more desirable and preferable, from his people;

Hos_6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Listen to Jesus’ words;

Mat 23:23 “Great sorrow awaits you religious scholars and Pharisees—frauds and pretenders! For you are obsessed with peripheral issues, like insisting on paying meticulous tithes on the smallest herbs that grow in your gardens. These matters are fine, yet you ignore the most important duty of all: to walk in the love of God, to display mercy to others, and to live with integrity. Readjust your values and place first things first. 

Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 

The prophet Malachi spoke of the tithes of the Israelites harvest to be brought to the storehouse, why? So that there would be food therein. Was that food just for the ministers in the temple? (Malachi3)

The books of Deuteronomy and Nehemiah reveal that the tithes didn’t just feed the men of God, but in due season, the very ones that offered it. This illustrates that the house of God was to be a sanctuary and refuge of supply and blessing.

Deu 14:22-29  Every year be sure to save a tenth of the crops harvested from whatever you plant in your fields. 

Eat the tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil, and eat the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats in the presence of the LORD your God in the place he will choose to put his name. Then you will learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live. 

But the place the LORD your God will choose to put his name may be too far away. He may bless you with so much that you can't carry a tenth of your income that far. 

If so, exchange the tenth part of your income for silver. Take the silver with you, and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 

Use the silver to buy whatever you want: cattle, sheep, goats, wine, liquor-whatever you choose. Then you and your family will eat and enjoy yourselves there in the presence of the LORD your God. 

Never forget to take care of the Levites who live in your cities. They have no land of their own as you have. 

At the end of every third year bring a tenth of that year's crop, and store it in your cities. 

Foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your cities may come to eat all they want. The Levites may also come because they have no land of their own as you have. Then the LORD your God will bless you in whatever work you do. 

Neh 13:5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. 

Carefully note that ‘singers or musicians’, porters or janitors also partook of the tithes. In simple terms, money or food was to be allocated to them and not just the priests, for their service in God’s house.

Notice also strangers, orphans and widows, also were to be served in due season, the blessings of the tithes of harvest brought to the storehouse of God.

With regards to seed sowing, Apostle Paul reveals that the purpose of the giving of the Christians in Macedonia, was to help minister and meet the needs of not just the Apostle (Philippians 4:10-20), but also to the Christians in Jerusalem. (See 2Corinthians8 and 9, 1corinthians16:1-3). Their generosity would then procure a divine harvest based on their giving.

Remember, as it was in the book of Acts, true Apostolic government ensured, that none lacked in the church. (See Acts4:32-35)

Kingdom mandate

I am fascinated by the story of the rich young ruler that sought to decipher the mystery of eternal life. When asked by Jesus what he should do, in the subconscious minds of many overhyped and error prone Christians, many would assume a ‘fat prophetic offering’ to tap the Man of God’s dimension. Instead Jesus’ reply would leave many a prosperity preacher shocked and disappointed.

He instead established the necessity of keeping God’s commands and if the ruler desired to come to a place of maturity, rather than give the Son of God an offering, sell his possessions, give alms then follow Jesus.

Luk 18:18-30 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 

And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 

For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 

And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. 

When we explore Jesus’ judgment towards nations, we see the things he esteemed dear to his heart.

Mat 25:31-40  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 

And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Whilst many in the body of Christ seek to build their own kingdoms, Jesus provides a clue towards seeking his Father’s kingdom and anchoring our hearts therein.

Luk 12:31-34  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Why does then the Holy Ghost anoint men?

Luk 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 

Isa 52:7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says unto Zion, Thy God reigns! 

Alms giving 

Luk 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. 

Mat 6:1-4 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 

Cornelius was a gentile whose alms giving caught the attention of heaven, so much so that an angel had to be assigned to divinely connect him to the Apostle Peter whose Ministry procured not just salvation to Cornelius’ house, but the in-filling of the Holy Ghost.

Act 10:1-4  There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. 

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 

Act 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 

Act 10:45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Job’s secret

Psa 41:1-3  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considers the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 

The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 

The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. 

The scriptures testify of Job as a righteous man that feared God and eschewed evil. Like many, I have been curious to know, what really was the secret to his wealth and influence. Amazingly, Job reveals this mystery in a parable.

Job 29:1-25  Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, 

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; 

When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; 

As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; 

When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; 

When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; 

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! 

The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. 

The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 

The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: 

Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. 

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. 

And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. 

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. 

My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. 

My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. 

Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. 

After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. 

And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 

If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. 

I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners. 

Pure religion and Righteous Judgment 

Jas 1:26-27  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 

Matthew 6 is a continuation of Jesus’ sermon on the mount; he teaches on the principles of prayer, fasting, alms giving and pursuing the kingdom. One would assume that as he taught these things, he had Isaiah 58 in mind.

Isa 58:3-12  Why have we fasted if you are not aware of it? Why have we inflicted pain on ourselves if you don't pay attention? Don't you see that on the days you fast, you do what you want to do? You mistreat all your workers. 

Don't you see that when you fast, you quarrel and fight and beat your workers? The way you fast today keeps you from being heard in heaven. 

Is this the kind of fasting I have chosen? Should people humble themselves for only a day? Is fasting just bowing your head like a cattail and making your bed from sackcloth and ashes? Is this what you call fasting? Is this an acceptable day to the LORD? 

This is the kind of fasting I have chosen: Loosen the chains of wickedness, untie the straps of the yoke, let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke. 

Share your food with the hungry, take the poor and homeless into your house, and cover them with clothes when you see them naked. Don't refuse to help your relatives. 

Then your light will break through like the dawn, and you will heal quickly. Your righteousness will go ahead of you, and the glory of the LORD will guard you from behind. 

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer. You will cry for help, and he will say, "Here I am!" Get rid of that yoke. Don't point your finger and say wicked things. 

If you give some of your own food to feed those who are hungry and to satisfy the needs of those who are humble, then your light will rise in the dark, and your darkness will become as bright as the noonday sun. The LORD will continually guide you and satisfy you even in sun-baked places. He will strengthen your bones. You will become like a watered garden and like a spring whose water does not stop flowing. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live. 

Fasting and prayer combined with these principles revealed through the Prophet Isaiah, will always yield supernatural results. These instructions are part of the process of exercising righteousness and judgment.

Pro 21:3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 

Have we often wondered why some churches are void of God’s presence? Why we can have a mechanical order of service, but like the story of Cain and Abel, God doesn’t seem to have any respect for our gatherings or orders of service?

The Prophet Isaiah delivers a message that answers this question.

Isa 1:11-29  To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 

When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 

Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 

Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 

But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it

King David filled with the Holy Ghost, prayed a special prayer for his son Solomon. He prayed that his son would have God’s divine perspectives; the result would enable him to render righteous judgments for the poor and oppressed. 

Psalm 72:1-20  A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. 

He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. 

The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. 

He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. 

They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. 

In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. 

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 

They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. 

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 

Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. 

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 

He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 

He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. 

And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. 

There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 

His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. 

Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. 

And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. 

The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. 

What about the children of God, who are supposed to represent him on the earth?

Psalm 82:1-8  A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. 

How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 

Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 

They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 

But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. 

Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. 

Remember when Jesus was baptized, the Holy Ghost came upon him as a dove. Isaiah reveals a deeper experience of what took place.

Isa 11:1-4  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 

But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 

The result was that Jesus became a supernaturally empowered Judge, executing justice for the poor and meek of the earth.

Solomon’s wisdom

God answered the prayer of David for his son Solomon. We can see some of the unique divine insights he received from the Spirit of Wisdom. 

Pro_13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

Pro_14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

Pro_17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Pro_19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Pro_21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

Pro_22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Pro_22:16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

Pro 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 

Pro 22:23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 

Pro_28:3  A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

Pro_28:8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

Pro_28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

Pro_28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Pro_29:7  The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

Pro_29:13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.

The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you and keep you, make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, lift his countenance over you and give you peace. 

Victor Smith Jr