SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 25
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee both symbolically point to the Lord’s ultimate plan to restore liberation and celebration, once and for all. Everything is moving towards liberation and celebration.
No matter what happens in this life, even when things go wrong and we lose our way or our place, the day is coming when everything will be restored. God’s people may lose their land, their wealth, their freedom, but there is a better day coming! This promise is for God’s children but also for God’s creation. The land looks forward to this day of liberation [Romans 8:19-21].
The promised Sabbath and Jubilee are realized in Jesus. He is the one that removes the barriers to liberation and joy, and sets the captives free: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ [Luke 4:18-21] The year of the Lord’s favour! The year of liberation and celebration!
By His life, death, resurrection and ascension, Jesus has firmly established God’s kingdom. We are now living in the Sabbath and the Jubilee, and we are awaiting its final manifestation. One symbolic reason that we celebrate the first day of the week is because we live OUT OF the victory of Jesus. Though we still look forward to its final unveiling, we are living eternal life now, we are in the kingdom now!
Am I living in the experience of liberation and celebration? Am I refusing to be defeated by what I see right now, knowing by faith that Jesus is Lord, the victory is won, and I am free, no matter what! Does my day to day living reflect this? Am I helping others experience this too?
PRAYER:
Lord, make my life a living expression of Sabbath and Jubilee, freedom, rest and joy. And may others want what I have in You!
This passage reminds me once again, that all I have is the Lord’s. I’m just a steward, a tenant, working in His kingdom. I working for the Lord. Through sinfulness, I mess up and think I’m rich with property and possessions, but here I am reminded, all is His. All will be restored to the original Owner/Creator. This passage also reminds me of how I should live in relationship with His people and not take selfish advantage of them, adopting worldly ways in my business dealings. All what I have is His to be used in His service. That’s how I need to live. It reminds me of the title of the book, When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back Into the Box.
Some people live each day of the week as a Monday. Some others are thankfulful for Fridays. As redeemed and restored in Christ Jesus, I can live each day as a Sonday. PTL!
All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
My life in all its perfect plan
Was ordered ere my days began.