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Leviticus 25 - Rests
Leviticus 25 - Rests
The word ‘sabbath’ means rest. God covenanted with Israel the weekly rest on the 7th day but also a ‘yearly’ rest every 7th year and a great rest every 50th year. Thus, God provided a rest for the individual, for the land, and for the nation. This national rest is referred to as the ‘jubilee’. Vine’s expository comments:
“As far as was possible, the year of jubile(e) restored the people to the original standing which they had had fifty years previously. Property was to be recovered by its original owners, and each man returned to his own family and possessions. Debtors were to be released from their debts, slaves from their bonds, and no property could be sold. If a man, through poverty, were forced to sell part of his property, it was the duty of his kinsman to redeem it, or, if there were no kinsman, the original owner might buy it back (Leviticus 25:25-27). The one exception was in the case of houses built in walled towns, thus making a distinction between houses, which were built by man, and the land, which was God’s (25:29-31). The celebration of jubilee in the fiftieth year prevented a man from accumulating too much land, while it saved others from destitution; it was a constant reminder that the Lord had brought His people out of slavery to the Promised Land, of which He was the supreme Owner.”(1)
This required great faith on the part of Israel, a faith that sadly they failed to hold.
Wenham wrote: “But as a social institution the jubilee year remained an ideal, which was rarely, if ever, realized. Rabbinic literature says that it was reckoned to be obsolete in postexilic times. Chronicles may imply that not even the sabbatical year was observed in preexilic times (2 Chr. 36:21). But failure to implement an ideal does not mean it could not have been realized had the will been present.” (2)
How different their history would have been if only they had trusted God enough to follow His instructions.
It is fascinating to see how God provided for the nation of Israel as He prepared for the coming of Jesus the Messiah. He gave them instructions (laws) that protected the poor, the land, their health, their families, etc. Surely God is good and God’s instructions are for people’s good. Would you have had enough faith to follow these instructions?
Being disciples of Jesus, we have a new and better covenant because of Him: a better covenant, a better hope, a better priesthood, a better sacrifice, a better rest (read Hebrews 4). We have been freed from a greater slavery. In fact, the book of Hebrews points out that everything about this new covenant is ‘better’. Hence the admonition: “ Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11).
Do you have enough trust in Jesus to “observe all that He commands” (cp. Matt. 28:18-20). Where are you headed?
Hugh DeLong
(1) Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, pgs 86-87, Logos Edition
(2) Gordon Wenham, The Book of Leviticus, New International Commentary on the Old Testament , pg 319; Logos Edition
