Thursday, December 8, 2005
Isaiah 60:1-2 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD'S favor . . .
THE YEAR OF JUBILEE
Believers in Old Testament times didn't have Christmas every year like we do. But God did give them the year of Jubilee to long for. Isaiah refers to it as "the year of the LORD's favor".
The Jubilee came along once every fifty years. During this year God commanded the people of Israel not to plant, reap, or harvest in their fields. They were simply to eat what grew in their fields. God promised He would provide more than enough (Leviticus 25). When the LORD divided up the Promised Land and gave each tribe its own land, each person could sell the land they were given. But in the year of Jubilee, all people were to return to the family property. Also, an Israelite who had become a slave to pay for debt would be released in the year of Jubilee. It's not hard to see why the people would long for the year of Jubilee.
The beginning of the year of Jubilee was announced with a trumpet blast throughout the land. To the people that trumpet blast meant:
Stop working and watch the LORD provide.
Now you may return to the land of your father, which was lost.
Now you are free from your chains.
Jesus' preaching announced the beginning of the greatest "year of Jubilee" ever (Luke 4:18-21). And indeed throughout the land the trumpet of Christ's preaching was heard, it said:
Stop trying to pay for your sins, you CAN'T.
Stop and watch the LORD provide payment.
Now you may return to the land of God's favor which once belonged to your father Adam.
Now you are free from your chains of sin.
In the blood of the Son, they are dissolved and bind you no more.
