PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Leviticus 25-26
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths.” (Leviticus 26:34)
God’s original and ultimate desire for creation is sabbath rest.
A realm of peace and joy, with harmony between God, people and creation.
The sabbath days and years (ch.25) were scheduled reminders that the best was yet to come.
The warnings abouts sin and disobedience (ch.26) are not mean, but warnings of love.
God wants us free misery, poverty, slavery, bondage, sickness, injustice, despair, death.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18?-?19)
Jesus fulfills the sabbath/jubilee dream; He brings us sabbath rest (Matthew 11:28).
Jesus fulfills the curse of sin and disobedience by taking the curse for us (Galatians 3:13).
Currently creation and humanity still groans under the curse, but ‘sabbath’ is coming!
We anticipate the day when all creation, and all people, will be restored to God’s rest!
Jesus is our Jubilee; he invites us to enter his rest and enjoy his peace!
Will we receive this blessing, or will we remain hostile or closed (Leviticus 26:21)?
PRAYER
Lord, I long to know this rest and peace of God’s sabbath. Help me not to resist your offer, but to surrender to you in love, and to share this blessing with others.
Jubilee: ‘The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers.” The whole stewardship principle is written here – all the resources I have are not mine – they are entrusted to me. I am free to use them but I must give account – and I must be ready to give – not only to give back to God but also to those who are in need. “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you.” I am to have the attitude of Jubilee – to free people from the burdens of poverty and debt – to freely give as I have been given. Lord, help me to be more generous – you gave me so much – help me to give! God is the one who provides the rain and the sunshine – it is He who enables me – for His purposes – that I may be blessed to be a blessing!
This is my Father’s world. It is He Who is able to give the land rest and peace for me. God is in charge even today and we need to return to Him. He has promised to be our God if we but serve Him. Even our times are in His hands today as I see His mighty power. That power can and will restore the creation. The people, His children, need to live for Jesus also today and serve Him and obey His commands. This is the only way that here can be peace in the land today and the only way that the creation be restored to the way it is supposed to be. It has to be God’s way and my way needs to be aligned to His Way.
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands
For it’s only in Your will that I am free
For it’s only in Your will that I am free
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be