Day 52 – Leviticus 24-25

Talking Points

• More ordinances and commands are given to the Israelites. It is important to try not to get lost in the volume or intense detail of the commands, or you might fail to see the reasons why they are given:
  1. to protect and bless God’s people
  2. to set God’s people apart from the pagan world
  3. to honor and revere God as the one, true, holy God.
• God’s commands are grounded in who He is and what He is doing.
• In this account, a man curses God and is sentenced to public death. He is an example of the serious judgment of God. The people could hardly bear up under the reverence that God commands. Also, we see the serious weight God gives to those who discredit or disparage Him.
• Further Sabbath laws are explained. The Year of Jubilee is introduced and explained.
• Again, in God’s system we see His provision for the poor, oppressed, and troubled.

Thoughts

God introduces the strangest thing: the Year of Jubilee. After seven cycles of seven years, the fiftieth year was to be an entire year of Sabbath rest. In this year, the land would be rested and all labor would cease. All debts were forgiven and all slaves were freed. Property that had been purchased or traded for reverted back to the original owner.

God’s instituting this Year of Jubilee reveals many things about His nature and His work in His people. The word that comes to mind for me is “restoration.” As things once were, so they were returned. Debts that had accumulated were set aside. Slaves that were indentured were freed. The land was rested and strengthened. It was a time of great renewal. Can you imagine the people’s anticipation as the year approached? Can you imagine their joy as it became a reality? Clean slates. Emptied records. Freedom. Rest. Restoration!

Get this today — that is the same promise of the gospel! Yet, in Jesus, it is not a year of jubilee. It is an eternity! In Him, debts are forever erased. In Him, slates are forever wiped clean. In Him, there is permanent rest; there is freedom. As believers, we live in jubilee! Oh the joy!

“And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new…'” Revelation 21:5