THE STORY OF JESUS: Leviticus 25-27
“Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.” (Leviticus 25:10)
The sabbath cycle (working 6 days, then resting) looks forward to God’s rest.
It is a ‘not yet’ reality, something we look forward to.
Human life in God’s creation begins with rest; Adam’s first full day was God’s seventh day.
We were made to live in, work in, and enjoy the rest and liberty and blessing of God.
Sin ruined that cycle, and we became slaves to restlessness, caught in a world of hate and greed.
Slavery and servitude become normal, even finding its way into God’s covenant through Moses (ch.25).
But God also institutes the hope of jubilee, the promise of God’s rest restored.
The land itself, as well as the people, can look forward to a time of creation rest.
There are things in the Law of Moses that make me uncomfortable… but hope runs through it.
God wants to bless us, God wants us to enjoy His creation peace, but we need Him to do that (ch.26).
When we turn our backs on God, we turn our backs on life, hope, joy, love, peace… rest.
We cannot afford to redeem ourselves (ch.27), our actual redemption price is beyond us.
But God sends Jesus to pay that ultimate price for us, and to set us free from the bondage of sin.
“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, quoting Isaiah 61:1-2, 58:6)
The year of the Lord’s favor is the year of Jubilee, when God sets all people free.
Because we could not attain God’s blessing through obedience, He offers it to us through faith.
By trusting Jesus’ obedience, by accepting Jesus’ redemption fee, we are freely and fully restored!
We now live in the assurance of God’s rest, and our Sabbath (Sunday) begins our week.
We now live in the blessing of God’s jubilee, in the loving liberty of God!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I am free because of You, and yet I often live as if I’m still under the burden of Satan, sin and death. Proclaim Your liberty in my soul, that I actually start to live in the spirit of Jubilee each day!
Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.
Rules for LIFE.
I am not my own but belong to Him. All is for Jesus. All that I have is a gift from Him and must be used in His service. As in the garden Adam followed His decrees so too today I must follow His decrees. Do what the Master says. Obey. He has given rules for living. Do this and live, that’s what the Master said. Love God. Love neighbour. All my doings must be governed by that love. That is only a possibility if I have accepted Jesus as my Saviour. Help me daily Lord to walk in Your WAY.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.