Week 32 Monday

Jubilee

Today’s scripture selection: Leviticus 25-27

Key verses: Leviticus 25:11-12

It was called the year of Jubilee.

A great festival, lasting the entire year, held every fifty years – it was a sort of Sabbath for the entire nation.

According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, during this year

“The land was to be fallow, and the Israelites were only permitted to gather the spontaneous produce of the fields.  All landed property during that year reverted to its original owner, and all who were slaves were set free, and all debts were remitted.  The return of the jubilee year was proclaimed by a blast of trumpets which sounded throughout the land.”

What a great idea.  Can you imagine the people’s excitement as the horns sounded?  Freedom from debt; the restoration of family property; freedom from slavery; a restful celebration while gleaning the food God provided – it sounds wonderful to me.

Our world, in contrast, never takes a break.  It’s “dog eat dog” year after year after year.  And there is rarely such an example of total dependence on God.  For us – it’s what you earn – you keep – that is, if you can keep someone from taking it from you.

I know the world is a different place from the one the ancient Israelites inhabited.  I know the idea of taking a year off for Jubilee isn’t practical.

But what if we somehow took smaller Jubilees of our own?  What if we regularly; periodically took a break – and simply trusted God to provide.  It would make for an interesting lifestyle, to say the least.

So, I challenge you.

Find a way to take some Sabbath time off.  Find a way to think about what you “own” in a different way.  Acknowledge, to yourself and to others, that you are merely a grateful steward (manager) of what really belongs to God.

It may change your perspective on who you are and what it is you are to spend your time doing.  It may lower your stress significantly.  It may provide a way for you to commune with God in a new way.

What a cause for celebration – and jubilee.

Prayer: Lord, help me to keep my perspective on things and on you.  Help me to celebrate, year in and year out, my life in your kingdom.  AMEN.