The Year of Jubilee is a topic in our study today.
You will learn in this blog that the Bible tells us the entire creation
is waiting for liberation!
February 28
Before finishing the blog, I took a walk on
this blustery, snowy morning. (If I allow the weather to hinder my walk, I tend
to find other excuses not to walk even in good weather.) During my walk, I
heard an unfamiliar “squawk” as I made my way up a hill, and then a loud swooshing
of wings. As I looked up, I saw wild turkeys leaving the tops of the trees.
These trees are very tall. I know turkeys roost at night, but had no idea how
high. I watched as the large birds flew out of sight and had never seen them
fly such a long distance. This brought
to mind one of the subjects of today’s study—that of liberty.
The year of Jubilee (the 50th year) was to be
consecrated and liberty proclaimed throughout the land for all its
inhabitants. This 50th year was to bring freedom from debt and the bondage
of servitude, and land was restored to its original owners. God told Israel in Leviticus
25:23, “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you
are strangers and sojourners with Me”.
God is working out a plan that will restore not only man,
but the entirety of creation. We see in Romans 8:19-23, that God’s creation is waiting
for something. Verses 19, 21 say, “For the earnest expectation of the creature (the
Greek word for creature can be translated “creation”) waits for the
manifestation of the sons of God.. . .Because the creature itself also shall be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God”. (Isaiah 11:6-9 tells of a time of peace in the future when the wolf will dwell with the lamb and there will be an unprecedented time of peace for man and beast.)
God’s Feasts that were covered in the previous chapter are
a type of God’s plan from start to finish—from Passover to the 8th day--the "last great day"
of the Feast of Tabernacles, spoken of by Jesus in John 7:37. Verse 22-23 of Romans 8 continues, “For we
know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is,
the redemption of our body”.
It is questionable whether a Jubilee year was ever observed
in Israel. Most Bible scholars seem to believe that it was never celebrated. Israel
struggled with unbelief and disobedience leading to their 40 year trek in the
wilderness and was unable to follow God after their entrance into the Promised
Land. Our flesh, as theirs, is corrupt and it is impossible to experience true
liberty without the new birth. And as it says in Romans 8, even we who are born
again groan as we wait for the redemption of our bodies.
We are living in a time when things are being shaken. During
our study in Leviticus, the phrase “I am the Lord Your God” appears over and
over. In the days ahead, we would do well as believers to keep this truth in
the fore front of our minds. God says that He will shake everything that can be
shaken—“that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:27). This
study helps root us and ground us in the Word of God, which can never be shaken.
It gives us hope and comfort to know that God has a plan of
liberation for all His creation. We briefly get a glimpse of this need as we
see fear reflected in the eyes of a rabbit as he flees for safety. And to think
that that little rabbit “waits for the manifestation of the sons of God”! He doesn’t
this, but God does. As we live in anticipation of this day, may we be reminded not
to oppress one another, as God instructed in Leviticus. God is aware there is a
tendency in human nature to do just that. God specifically mentions not
charging a brother interest (usury), but to “fear the Lord”.
The Psalmist asks God to, “Save Your people, and bless Your
inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever” (Psalm 28:9). Proverbs
10:19-21, certainly applies today, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but
he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice
silver…the lips of the righteous feed many”. As we continue to live in a world
held in bondage, may we follow Jesus’ example of getting alone with God. We are
not without a Shepherd! There is safety and rest when we dwell in the secret
place of the Most High and abide under His shadow (Psalm 91:1).
Even as Jesus suggested to the disciples, we have the capacity
to give the worn-out multitude “something to eat”. Living in bondage is
demoralizing. We notice the sad faces around us every where we go. God has liberated
us to give the hope of the Gospel to our fellow man—the Good News that
liberation is possible! He has left us in the world (John 17:15), to spread the
good news and share this hope with others until He returns. As the day approaches, may we
see ourselves sojourning with God in the land that belongs to Him. May we be
faithful in telling others that the day of spiritual Jubilee has dawned
and the day of complete liberation for all creation is coming!
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