Foundations for Christian Mission, Student Workbook, SW04

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F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

defrauding wages, etc.). The term “the poor” in the Scriptures is linked to a number of different concepts which serve as synonyms, including “the widow,” “the fatherless,” and the “stranger.” God’s covenant standards give witness of his heart for them, including such things as the harvest and gleaning stipulations of the Law, justice in the courts where all matters, measures, and transactions were to be done honestly and rightly, and resources of the people were to be shared in the Sabbatical year, with the poor being provided a share of the produce of the fields and vineyards. The implications of these standards for God’s covenant community are plain: God’s people were in all their actions to reflect God’s identification with the poor, informed by God’s deliverance of them at the Exodus, and were to demonstrate the Lord’s shalom in all their relationships and dealings with others. Our objective for this segment, Shalom in the Covenant Community , is to enable you to see that: • The concept of the poor is built on the biblical vision of shalom , or wholeness: shalom is the Hebrew term for “fullness of human community in fellowship with God and with one another.” • The biblical elements of shalom include the experience of health and wellness, safety and protection from harm, harmony between neighbors, prosperity and material sufficiency, and the absence of malice and conflict–genuine peace. It also includes the idea of shalom as God’s gracious provision, as is connected with the coming of the Messiah who is the Prince of shalom , as well as shalom as the standard for the people of God. • Poverty is the denial of God’s shalom ; his blessing and provision was given to prevent the occurrence of poverty, and the commands to the covenant community were designed to ensure justice and righteousness among Yahweh’s people. Faithfulness to the covenant was designed for the continuation of shalom among Israel as they obeyed his voice and met its conditions. • God identifies with the poor, i.e., it is his design to lift and bless them from their state, to punish those who oppress them, and to demand that his people demonstrate the same concern that he has for the broken, poor, and the oppressed. The Exodus is a key event which embodies God’s identification with the poor and the oppressed, revealing his heart of justice and creating his covenant community which was called to be a reflection of his holiness, a model of justice and mercy, and a beacon for the nations.

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