“Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” Deuteronomy 4.6

Having addressed, if only in outline, the teaching of God’s Law on the “problem” of poverty and poor, we now take up a related concern. What does the Law of God teach about the presence of foreigners, or “sojourners,” among the people who walk according to the Law of God? What is the responsibility of those who live within the framework of the divine economy for those among them who are from a different social structure?

Foundational to God’s Covenant is the promise that His people would be a blessing to all the nations of the earth (Gen. 12.1-3). Another way of saying this is that, while God chose to work through a single nation throughout the period of the Old Testament, His concern has always been that the blessings of life should be extended to all peoples in all nations and cultures. We see this hinted at in the Old Testament by the inclusion of Gentiles such as Rahab and Ruth into the covenant people of God, as well as the numerous prophetic promises of a coming day when the light of God’s truth and love would extend to all peoples.

As the Apostles were able to discern, in line with God’s promises to Abraham, those who have faith in God through Jesus Christ are the chosen means whereby He intends to bring the blessings of life to the world. This is accomplished supremely by the people of God being ambassadors of His Kingdom and heralds of His salvation through Jesus Christ. However, God intends His people to bless the nations in other than spiritual ways as well, although never completely apart from spiritual objectives (cf. Jer. 29.7).

The economics of justice encoded in the Law of God was designed to lead to public policies that would promote love for God and neighbor. Righteousness, meekness, justice, and equity obtain where God rules over His people by His Word and Spirit (cf. Pss. 45.6; 99.4). This is the way people were meant to live together in community, and this is what the Holy Spirit comes to do as He redeems those whom God has chosen and builds them together into a holy temple unto the Lord (Ezek. 36.26, 27; Eph. 2.19-22). When God’s people fulfill this calling, wisdom and understanding prevail, and the steadfast love of God, which sustains all things, comes to the surface in all human roles, relationships, and responsibilities.

All people have the works of God’s Law written on their hearts, where it can be read by their consciences, either to condemn or confirm them in their actions (Rom. 2.14, 15). It is thus inherent in what it means to be human to seek justice and to long for righteousness, equity, and neighbor-love.

Certainly the human conscience can become immune to such longings, after years of suppressing the knowledge of God and worshiping idols (Rom. 1.18-32); nevertheless, in most people this desire to live safely, securely, in peace and prosperity represents a perpetual longing and hope.

It is thus to be expected that, in any community, any nation where justice is the prevailing virtue, people from other places will take note, the longings of their hearts will be plucked, and their souls will stir with the prospect of realizing such hope for themselves. And in the case of many people, this will mean moving toward the source and context of such hope, transplanting themselves from their native country or present community and seeking relocation in those places where the justice of God obtains (cf. Mic. 4.1-5).

T. M. Moore

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