Revelation 2:22-27

Regulations Concerning Creditors And The Poor (Exodus 22:25).

In both examples the creditor is to show compassion to the debtor. The examples are too few for a chiasmus.

Exodus 22:25

“If you lend money to any of my people among you who are poor, you will not be to him as a creditor, nor shall you lay on him usury.”

This is not dealing with business interest as a fair return on capital. It refers to exploitation of poor people by charging them interest when ‘helping' them in their need. God expects that His people will help the needy. He also expects that they will not seek to gain from it.

“You shall not be to him as a creditor.” That is, pursuing him relentlessly until he has paid his debt. ‘Nor lay on him usury.' That is, charge him interest.

Exodus 22:26

“If you at all take your neighbour's outer garment as a pledge, you shall restore it to him by the time the sun goes down. For that is his only covering. It is his garment for his skin. In what will he sleep? And it shall be that when he cries to me I will hear, for I am gracious.”

A man who has to pledge his own basic clothing is poor indeed, for it is essential to his well-being. Thus the essential outer garment must only be used as a short term pledge, within the day. It must not be required as a long term pledge, for it is as essential to him as his skin, and protects his skin, especially in the cold of night. Amos 2:8 speaks of breaches of this commandment. Of what use then is the pledge? It prevents him pledging it again to someone else.

“When he cries to me I will hear.” As with widows and orphans the poor are God's special concern, allowed on earth that we may do them good, and He will be directly involved in dealing with those who mistreat them. Man's responsibility for his fellowman comes out strongly in these verses, it is man who has been appointed as God's agent to run the world and he will be responsible for any failure to do it properly, and that includes us.

“For I am gracious.” The word is often paralleled with ‘merciful'. It refers to God as not acting towards us as we deserve but in kindness and love.

The principles behind these provisions apply to us all. They are that God is concerned about the needy and helpless and that we should be equally concerned.