The Year of Jubilee
Leviticus 25 outlines the Year of Jubilee. It’s an interesting subject to think about. Consider that every 7 days was a Sabbath. Every 7 years was a sabbatical year and after 7 cycles of this (49 years) came the year of Jubilee on the 50th year. The sabbatical year was a rest for the land. They were not to cultivate crops that year, but allow it to rest and they could harvest what grew naturally. This same restriction applied for the Year of Jubilee as well, but it was also much more. It added 2 more things regarding debts and land. If someone sold a piece of land, it was to be returned to them in the year of Jubilee. Also, if someone had indentured themselves, they were to be freed and any remaining debt was to be forgiven. It was like a fresh start for everyone. I think there are some similarities to that which we have in Christ that are worthy of some consideration.
The Year of Jubilee represented freedom and liberation. For one who had been indentured or had sold their land and had nothing at this time, it was a renewal and a chance at a “new” life. In Christ, we hear the good news proclaimed and realize that we are in bondage to sin and the outcome of that bondage is death (Rom 6:23). The good news reveals a liberation from this bondage (see Luke 4:18-19). We can be free to live for Christ. It is a new start and a new walk. We are renewed to a clean state, just as when we were innocent, as children. We embrace this new life and work to never go back to that bondage to sin.
Both the sabbatical year and the Year of Jubilee required a trust in God. The Israelites went from sowing and reaping on their land, to just letting it rest and waiting for what grew to sustain them. There were practical applications here in regards to productivity in the land, but this trust was even more important. The Israelites struggled with trusting God as He wanted them to. They would grumble and complain instead of trust and wait. Sometimes that even led to rebellion. Letting the land rest and trusting that God would sustain them was an act of faith. Likewise, we must act in faith. We must trust the Lord. Over and over in the Psalms, statements of trusting in God are expressed. Do we trust Him at all times, even the uncertain times?
The Year of Jubilee was important. It’s worthy of our consideration even though we do not live under the Old Law. Trust in the Lord and find freedom from sin and death in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior!