Praise God! Jubilee has arrived

Day 25: Leviticus 23-27

The first time I ever remember hearing about the Day of Jubilee is in the song called, "Days of Elijah."

Here are the lyrics to the song, "Days of Elijah":
These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the word of the Lord:
And these are the days of Your servant Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
'Prepare ye the way of the Lord!' 

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh;
And these are the days of Your servant David,
Rebuilding a temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in Your world,
And we are the labourers in Your vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord! 

There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!

That song gives me the chills, especially the chorus when you loudly sing about the year of jubilee and salvation coming. Here's an online version if you're interested in hearing it.

But, although I've sung the "Days of Elijah" song often, I'm still not too clear what the year of jubilee is. The concept comes out of Leviticus 25. Basically, it's a year of rest that was observed every 50th year by the Israelites. The year was to be a holy year, a year of freedom for the Israelites. During this year, slaves were set free, the lands were left fallow, property was restored to former owners, and all work on the land was suspended. The year of jubilee was established by God for the Israelites.

I wonder what the Israelites thought about this year. Did they think God was crazy for not allowing them to till and work their land? Did they appreciate the fact that they could rest for a year and dedicate their lives to holiness? I don't know, of course, but I think asking these types of questions is fun and interesting.

I do find the ending organization of the book of Leviticus somewhat curious. Most of the book focuses on teaching the Israelites how to be holy--how to live live a holy life during these appointed times. Then, Leviticus 25 talks about the Year of Jubilee in which the order of things turns upside down so that slaves are freed and people rest. God saves his people during this year and brings them blessings--without their help. Finally, the last two chapters of the book address what will happen to the Israelites if they don't obey God's commandments--if they don't live holy lives--and what will happen if they do.

Leviticus 26:12 says, "I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people." God is going to dwell with Israel. He will be their God, and they will be His people. Today, Christians have entered into this covenant promise that God made with the Israelites. We, too, have been saved. However, instead of one year of jubilee, we have a life filled with days and moments of jubilee. We have Jesus. God sent his son Jesus to turn things upside down. Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins, and Jesus gives us rest. Praise God for Jubilee!