Daily Thoughts from Deuteronomy 15:1-5: Release (Sh’mittah)

17. Release (Sh’mittah)

At the end of every seven years you are to have a sh’mittah. Here is how the sh’mittah is to be done: every creditor is to give up what he has loaned to his fellow member of the community — he is not to force his neighbor or relative to repay it, because Yahweh’s time of remission has been proclaimed.  You may demand that a foreigner repay his debt, but you are to release your claim on whatever your brother owes you.  In spite of this, there will be no one needy among you; because Yahweh will certainly bless you in the land which Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess — if only you will listen carefully to what Yahweh your God says and take care to obey all these mitzvot I am giving you today.

(D’varim 15:1-5)

His progress was not impressive.  His energy level was low and he stopped often to rest.  He had found the road and was heading to Ein Gedi.  It was certainly not hot, but as he went further south it became much more balmy and he was perspiring quite a bit from the effort, something that concerned him since he had brought no water and was losing what he could not afford to lose.

“Father, I am your servant.  Like Abraham I am traveling at Your bidding.  You know my needs before I even speak them, so I am eager to see how you will meet them.  I thirst.”

Even as he addressed his Father he took note of a bush with surprisingly bright yellow flowers standing upright on their substantial stems.  “Thank you, Father, for this beautiful sight.”  He was moved to touch a flower, to feel its texture, to look at it more closely and see God’s finesse in creating such a delicate beauty.

It was full of water!  How could this be?  Was this his Father’s provision?  He tentatively took a sip from the cup of the flower and it was as if energy were pouring into him.  It was so refreshing that all his tiredness left him.  There were several more blooms.  Should he examine them?  They were all full of water just like this bloom.  “Should I drink them, Father?  I do not want to be greedy.”

“Drink, my son.  Enjoy this supply from My hand.  This is how I want to meet your needs.”

He drank eagerly, getting his fill.  He felt like Elijah, ready to run from Mount Carmel to the Negev.  How could the liquid from this plant be so empowering?  Perhaps it was more than just water.  Maybe it was simply a gift from his Father.

He walked until dark.  He found a shrub to lie down under, arranging his mat.  He did not feel the need of a fire but he longed to read his scroll so he found some brush and started a fire.  He unrolled his scroll to the next portion of Moshe’s words and read about the seasons of release from debt and bondage.

Why was it so hard for his people to observe this mitzvot?  It struck against taking care of oneself.  It was so other-serving.  It was hard to put someone’s needs above your own.  He had never had anyone indebted to him.  He had no servants.  How did this apply to him?

As his fire died his heart was drawn to the obligation his people had to Yahweh and His care and how they had struggled to fulfill that obligation.  The people of the land struggled to keep mitzvot and seemed like sheep without a shepherd, helpless and hapless.  Those who should have been teaching them seemed incapable of genuinely caring for them or shepherding them with any of the grace his Father had for His sheep.  Their attempts at keeping obligation to Yahweh seemed to come generally with a sense of now obligating the Father to them.

“Father, can I release them from their debt?  I must and I do.  Make me a good shepherd who knows his sheep and whose sheep hear his voice and follow him with eagerness and the comfort of security in him.”  He went to sleep praying for his people and their redemption.