The War on Poverty
“For the poor are with you at all times, but I am not with you at all times.” Matthew 26:11 Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels
Poor – Did Yeshua speak the truth? We will always have the poor. If you answer “Yes,” then why work to eliminate poverty? If you answer “No,” then is Yeshua a liar? The solution to this apparent dilemma is knowing which Hebrew word is translated “poor.” There are four different words and they are not the same. Not knowing the difference can lead to some pretty drastic personal and social mistakes.
Star Parker, a Black syndicated female columnist, points out what we all know is true but are loath to mention. When the government gets involved in raising people out of poverty, the end result is personal slavery and a social nanny-state. You might be interested in her assessment of the great American bleeding heart disaster that began in the 1960’s. If politicians had understood Hebrew, they would never have voted for such crippling programs. But neither politicians nor most believers have any idea what Yeshua is really talking about, and so they act on utopian ideals producing predictable human devastation.
The four choices for Yeshua’s word for “poor” are anaw, dal, rash and ebyon. Anaw is primarily associated with the idea of affliction through oppression. The verbal form (ana) is used more than two hundred times. It describes the action of an enemy, pain inflicted by bondage, suffering through war and the distress of slavery. Theologically, the word is used to describe pain and suffering as the vehicle that leads to repentance. As an adjective, anaw “stresses the moral and spiritual condition of the godly as the goal of affliction implying that this state is joined with a suffering life rather than with one of worldly happiness and abundance.”[1] Anaw is intended to produce humility.
Dal emphasizes the lack of material worth. It is used to describe those who are socially weak and materially deprived. God protects these people and promises them justice. Dal is rarely used to describe spiritual poverty. Coppes provides the following distinctions: “Unlike ani, dal does not emphasize pain or oppression; unlike ‘ebyon, it does not primarily emphasize need and unlike rash, it represents those who lack rather than the destitute.”[2]
Rash (or rush) is used only thirty-two times in Scripture. It describes the common plight of the lower classes – to be without resources or social standing. It is used metaphorically to describe unworthiness. Psalm 82:3 tells us that God will answer the needs of this group and provide them with justice.
Finally, ebyon places significance on need as opposed to affliction or weakness. While there may be a wide variety of reasons for the poverty of these people, their social status is always a concern with God. The Mosaic code protected these people. They are even called God’s favored ones (Isaiah 25:4). The majority of the occurrences of this word are in the Psalms where the word expresses the sense of those whose only remaining help must come from God. Psalm 72:4 tells us that those who are needy in this way are God’s true spiritual people. Their cry is the basis of God’s action (Psalm 12:5 and 70:5).
The Delitzsch Hebrew gospel uses the plural of anaw in this verse, and rightly so for the emphasis of Yeshua’s remark is not about those who lack material resources or who are in the lower social class or who are in need. Anayim is about the oppressed! In the inhuman world of human society, there will always be someone who is oppressed. Why? Because men are evil and men with power are particularly susceptible to evil. Yeshua Himself experienced what it means to be anaw. The persistent poor are apayim because of the lack of personal justice, not compassion. Wars on poverty will do nothing to relieve their oppression until the God of justice brings judgment upon those who abuse and misuse what God has granted to the powerful. And God will bring judgment. You can count on it.
Now the question is much clearer. You and I have power. No matter what our present status, there are others who are being abused, who are being denied justice. The question before us is this: Are we contributing? Are we allowing? Are we tolerating? Providing a material solution to problems of human dignity and identity is not the solution. Give if compassion moves you. Give even if it doesn’t. But do not miss the point of Yeshua’s remark. Oppression is the result of the misuse of power and the only interim solution while we wait for the God of final justice is to be sure that we are stewards, not masters. We don’t need a War on Poverty. We need a war on egomania. The problem, of course, is that the powerful would have to vote for it, and that they will never do.
Topical Index: poor, anaw, dal, ebyon, rash, oppressed, power, Matthew 26:11
“If only” If only we would heed and harken to the word(s) of G-d. All things that pertain unto life and godliness are written and revealed in G-d’s blessing Book. Precept upon precept and line upon line -“we do err not knowing the scriptures nor the power of G-d.”
Is G-d interested in human government? Is G-d interested in our welfare? -in our ‘economy’? in our well-being? in the Shalom of our souls? – He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants. -but His prosperity and our perspective may not be the same, for “it is written” (don’t you love those three words?) “..my ways are NOT your ways!” (Isaiah 55.8)
“Seek ye first the kingdom of G-d and His righteousness” we have been instructed. So what do we do? What are we “seeking?” What are we “after?” G-d? or gold? “Self” or the “Savior?” -Are we living- “He must increase but I must decrease?” O Hallelujah for the instructions of YHVH! Our need is to welcome these Words (His words) into our lives and incarnate them into our daily living. Blessed be the Name. Blessed be Hashem. (Ever) looking unto Yeshua- the Author and the Completer of our faith.
Listen (intently) to the prophetic words of Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; and provide for those who grieve in Zion–to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5.3)
1 Tim. 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all the evils; because of this craving, some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves to the heart with many pains.”
Bravo Skip! Exceptionally well done today. Very helpful to our understanding.
Yes, yes, a real problem is egomania. We do not even realize we are coming from this place when we attempt to interject mankind’s solutions to the problems which cause us so much pain. After we do that a few times (with the best of intentions), we are INVESTED in the outcome, through a manmade solution. We build institutions to make things better, but then we allow them to operate on ‘auto pilot’ and they become too corrupt to fix.
If you think you do not buy in to this mindset, what is your response when someone suggests that government-provided education need not be supported by those who don’t use it? What about people who believe that vaccines are poison, should that be forced on them, for the ‘greater good’? What of those who are required to be members of a union, or they will not be able to work in their field? These are all examples of areas that have used POLITICAL POWER to oppress (help) citizens and benefit a few. Until we know what guidelines our Creator has given us, to structure and govern our own society, we will continue to go there.
Recently, the Torah reading was entitled “Shoftim,” which means judges. I read/heard a few very good teachings on that. It is clear that the Creator expects HIS PEOPLE to choose their ‘judges’ by knowing the people in their midst who UNDERSTAND HIS TORAH, and who will do justice. It is the method by which this world will be returned to wholeness. (I am always reminded of the sons of Issachar)
I have known more “poor” people fixated on the love of money, than I have rich. Maybe it’s just the U.S., but it’s been my experience.
Mine too, around the world. In fact, the idea of the “happy” but poor is a myth. As long as the world (and the Church) endorses the goal of prosperity, the poor will see themselves as cursed because they do not have. And one way to get what I do not have is to take it from those who have it.