November 21, 2008
Jubilee
In
the ministry this year there were two of us who turned 50. This was a year of
proclamation of a biblical concept that isn't often spoken of... the year of
Jubilee.
Leviticus
25:8-12 NET
“'You must
count off seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, and the days of the
seven weeks of years will amount to forty-nine years. You must sound loud horn
blasts - in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, on the Day of
Atonement - you must sound the horn in your entire land. So you must consecrate
the fiftieth year, and you must proclaim a release in the land for all its
inhabitants. That year will be your jubilee; each one of you must return to his
property and each one of you must return to his clan. That fiftieth year will be
your jubilee; you must not sow the land, harvest its aftergrowth, or pick the
grapes of its unpruned vines. Because that year is a jubilee, it will be holy to
you - you may eat its produce from the field.
The balance of
Leviticus 25 goes on to describe very specific ways to deal with the year of
jubilee, including equitable ways to return property to the original owners,
free slaves and forgive debt. It is a wonderful idea but there is no evidence
that the people of Israel ever actually celebrated a year of jubilee and
followed the Lord's direct command in this area.
While the people
apparently proved faithless in following, we know the God they were supposed to
be listening to is faithful. The year of jubilee is like many things in the
Scripture, it was to be an actual practice to be followed but it also points us
to Christ.
The jubilee was to
follow seven periods of seven years. Seven is the biblical number of God and
perfection. Seven sevens (or forty-nine years in this case) is an allusion to
the fullness of time.
It starts on the Day of
Atonement, the day set aside for national repentance and the forgiveness of the
sins of each person and the nation as a whole.
The year of jubilee is
a celebration of faithfulness, God's goodness and freedom.
Jesus proclaimed the
start of the jubilee in the early days of His ministry
Luke
4:16-21 NET
Now Jesus
came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on
the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the
prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place
where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has
anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free
those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Then he
rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of
everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to tell them,
“Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.”
Jesus Himself made the
atonement on us on the cross at Calvary. He will bring full restoration to us of
all that has been lost at just the perfect time. That process begins here on
earth and will be completed fully at the appointed hour in glory.
His jubilee brings
healing; hope; joy; peace; comfort and blessing. The Jewish people of old did
not partake of the jubilee and many in our world will choose not to as well.
That is sad, but it is true. While the jubilee of Christ is offered to all, only
a few will accept it, the remainder will choose to remain in bondage.
The jubilee has been
announced, the atonement sacrifice offered and the blessing has begun pouring
out. Jesus the Christ offers far greater blessings than any sacrificial year. He
is faithful even when we are not. He will not renege on the jubilee that He has
proclaimed.
Praise God for His
mercy and faithfulness. Thank God for His offer of jubilee.
Until next time, you
don’t have to wait all those years to celebrate. Your day, your month and your
year and “Praise God” even a lifetime of Jubilee is here. May you rejoice in
the jubilee starting right here and right now.
Blessings
to all of you!
Darrel
Mason