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seven year debt cycle

Deuteronomy 15:1 “At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.

Deuteronomy 15:2 This is how to cancel debt: Every creditor is to cancel what he has lent his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because Yahveh’s release of debts has been proclaimed.

Deuteronomy 15:3 You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.

seven year debt cycle

It can be extremely discouraging to know that no matter how hard you work, there is no way possible to pay your debts. Some debts are like that, and when they are actually someone else’s debts you have inherited, you can be tempted to just give up.

The same loving God who initiated the third-year tithe for the poor— also initiated the seven year debt cycle. The cycle took debt seriously, but made sure that it would not become a life sentence.

The cycle was also intended to work for creditors because it ensured short term repayment limits. But most importantly, the cycle was a reminder that God cared about those trapped in the bondage of debt and wanted to free them.

Lord, thank you for caring about all our lives— not just a narrowly defined religious part.