By Ben Quine
**This article is part of a series written by Ben Quine that takes us through the whole of Scripture to discover how God set up an economy for His people, and how His timeless economic principles apply to us today.

Join Ben Quine, the author and Christians Engaged Vice President Scott Jones on Thursday nights starting 10/6 as they go through the final book in the series, Answers for Difficult Days: 7 Vital Worldview Questions. Check out all of the information and to sign up here. We will ship out the book for free. Jump in at any time.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

Maps show us the best way to get to where we want to go. They show us potential dangers to avoid. And without maps we might get terribly lost or delayed.

In the previous article we looked at God’s economic principles for individuals and businesses from the Mosaic law. In this article, we will look at the Torah’s principles for government. 

Low, Equal, and Constant Tithes and Taxes

The tribe of Levi (Israel’s third son) did not receive a family allotment of the land inheritance in Canaan. They were instead given the job of teaching the people God’s Law and conducting the running of the Tabernacle, and in turn were financially dependent on the people. They were permitted to live in a few select cities and partake of the burnt offerings, and the Levites were to receive the following tithes (“one-tenth”) and taxes: 

To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting… It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the people of Israel they shall have no inheritance. For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel. (Numbers 18:21,23-24)

At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)

God ordained two means of providing for the poor: first, gleaning work in the fields, and second, turning to the spiritual leaders (Levities) to receive the food tithes from the people. 

The Lord said to Moses, “When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the Lord. Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord offering. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the Lord’s offering to make atonement for your lives. (Exodus 30:11–15)

In the wisdom of God’s Law, the basic taxes were an unchanging flat-percentage tithe, and flat-rate poll taxes. Property was so sacred that there is a complete absence of any land or property taxes in Biblical law. This low and consistent taxation placed such a minimal burden on the people that God later starkly contrasts with the amount a king would impose (I Samuel 8:6-18). 

Limited Role

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. (I Peter 2:13-14)

God’s plan for society provided extremely limited funding for government, but this is consistent with the limited role God gave to the government in His Law. Government’s primary role, as given by God, is to enact justice — punishing those who do wrong and commending those who do right.

Enact Justice

You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge (Deuteronomy 24:17)

You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. (Exodus 23:2-3)

God made clear His expectation that the court system under His Law would be just: treating all equally (showing no partiality to either the rich or the poor), requiring equal restitution, and enforcing individual responsibility. He knew that prejudice, sympathy, greed, and envy can easily lead to unequal treatment of rich or poor, so He expressly forbade His judges from showing any partiality whatsoever.

You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15) 

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s. (Exodus 20:17)

The Israelites were not to begrudge their neighbors’ wealth or covet their property, and they were not to oppress those in poverty. In fact, the Bible never authorizes taking money or property from a neighbor based on whether they are rich or poor. Biblically, this is considered theft. 

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7–11)

Over and over again in the Bible, the Holy Spirit — who inspired the authors (II Peter 1:21) — extols the merits of God’s Law. He says it is perfect, right, pure, true, and righteous. Looking at the Economic principles laid down through Moses, it is easy to see why:

God’s economics provides justice, freedom, and dignity for all, while also encouraging individuals to care for their families and the poor.

Furthermore, God makes two bold claims for His economic system:

First, that if it is followed, it will work — if His people obey, no one should be left poor (Deuteronomy 15:4).

Second, He claims that His system is moral and loving (Leviticus 19:9-18). What an astounding combination!!

Believers today are not required to follow the Mosaic law, and in this series we are not seeking to reimplement God’s Old Testament statutes. But wisdom requires that we learn from the principles of God’s Word. If we are to thrive economically, we must learn from the guidelines God laid down in the Pentateuch.

Join us Thursday evenings starting July 14th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm CST for a look at what God’s Word says about Economics, how it should be applied to society and government, as well as the ultimate cure for injustice. We will explore these subjects as we work through the Answers for Difficult Days Bible study series by Ben Quine. Jump in anytime each class runs for 8 weeks.

Click here to register today for this class with Ben Quine and Susan Wright and get the book for free.

Or check out our Christians Engaged Store to purchase all 4 of the books - Answers for Difficult Days. (4-Book Bundle $40 , shipping not included).

ABOUT BEN

Connect with him at Cornerstone Curriculum

Ben Quine, the second son of David and Shirley Quine, was blessed to grow up with a Charlotte Mason/Dr. Schaeffer/Biblical Worldview education -- a tremendous gift! Through the years, Ben has served as a Cornerstone consultant, assistant, and co-author. He has written several Bible studies for the Answers for Difficult Days series, which equips churches to address the issues our culture is wrestling with today, from the foundation of Scripture. Ben is also the editor of The Worldview Library, editions of classical literature with student helps that afford the reader a deeper understanding of the concepts presented in each work.

Trained as a classical pianist and instructor, Ben is committed to inspiring his students with the love of great music and equipping them with the tools to perform at the highest level. This training has resulted in his students' successful performances from local festivals and competitions to Carnegie Hall.

Ben loves Shakespeare, Dickens, photography, listening to recordings of "the great pianists", running, biking, and spending time with his wife Julie and their three sons.