Debt forgiveness. From Google: And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release. Throughout the book of Deuteronomy, the Bible calls for debt forgiveness every seven years.

At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. Deuteronomy 15:1. I think of how expensive everything is in this time – houses, cars, new buildings, new fire engines, new planes, ships, the latest phones…the list is endless. A different world today.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12. The prayer Jesus taught the disciples when they asked how to pray to the Father.

Also in this Chapter, If any of your people – Hebrew men or women – sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today. v. 12-15.

In the commentary below: The Israelites were to release their servants after six years, sending them away with enough food so that they would be amply supplied until their needs could be met by some other means. This humanitarian act recognized that God created each person with dignity and worth. It also reminded the Israelites that they, too, had once been slaves in Egypt, and that their present freedom was a gift from God.

This morning from Hearing God: A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way? Proverbs 20:24.

In trying to pull all of these Scripture verses together, I can’t help but be thankful that God is Creator. He knows our need. He is the great equalizer. We are all debtors. We are all in need of debt forgiveness. Our greatest debt is to God who created us and provides for us and He asks us to be compassionate and giving to others as He gives to us. He directs our steps to love one another generously which is another way of saying as we love ourselves.

Lest we think Jesus taught us not to pay what is owed…Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. Matthew 22:21.

Have you ever been in turmoil from thoughts that seem to bombard you relentlessly? Worry, anger, fear…despair? The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. Psalm 23:1-3. I was in such a place last night and He restored my soul in quiet, in peace. How can I ever repay such a debt that to Him is not a debt, but Who God is. The Restorer of my soul. Throughout the night I’d wake up and cry for help and this morning I felt like I had been in battle all night. Not a restful place!

God cancels our debts that are so much more than any interest owed. He delivers us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13). How? With the full armor only He provides. In addition to all this take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:16-17. God’s words comfort me and provide the hope and direction I need when I can’t understand my own way without Him. With Him, I am gathered and loved. What a blessing our Creator God is! He restores our souls.