The Lord declared to Israel: "The land shall not be sold forever: for the land is Mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with Me." Leviticus 25:23. The people were to be impressed with the fact that it was God's land which they were permitted to possess for a time; that He was the rightful owner, the original proprietor, and that He would have special consideration made for the poor and unfortunate. It was to be impressed upon the minds of all that the poor have as much right to a place in God's world as have the more wealthy. Such were the provisions made by our merciful Creator, to lessen suffering, to bring some ray of hope, to flash some gleam of sunshine, into the life of the destitute and distressed.

Herren sagde til Israel: "Jorden i landet må I ikke sælge uigenkaldeligt, thi mig tilhører landet, I er kun fremmede og indvandrere hos mig." 3. Mos. 25, 23. Det skulle indskærpes folket, at landet tilhørte Gud, og at de havde fået det midlertidigt i eje. Han var dets retmæssige oprindelige ejer, og han ønskede, at de skulle vise de fattige og ulykkelige særlige hensyn. Alle skulle lære at forstå, at de fattige har lige så megen ret til en plads i Guds verden som de velhavende. Det var de love, vor nådige skaber gav for at formindske de fattiges og ulykkeliges lidelser og bringe dem lidt håb og solskin.