Leviticus 25 -27

The Jubilee Year
NOTE: Today marks the end of the third book of  the Bible and third book of our daily reading.  We are in our fifth week.  If you have been following the plan, congratulations! If not, I pray you still read your Bible daily.

Chapter 25 speaks about the year of Jubilee - the 50th year. This was a year of rest and redemption.  Every seventh year, the Israelites were commanded to let the land rest, let the land lay fallow and only eat from the harvest of the sixth year and what the land voluntarily produced in the seventh year.  In addition to the practical value of not over-farming the land, this also allowed for those who farmed to focus on other things.

After seven sets of seven years, there was the year of Jubilee.  This year was special because it provided for the release of Israeli slaves and the redemption of land back to the original owners.

The book of Leviticus ends in a non-dramatic, matter-of-fact way - similar to how it starts.  It is the book of Law, the spiritual law given to the children of Israel.  It provides the ritualistic guidelines for worship, sacrifice, interactions in business, moral law, treatment of slaves, etc.

Chapter 26 is particularly chilling, in that it describes in harrowing detail what will happen if the children of Israel do not obey the Law.  However, the grace of God is always present even when His children disobey and dishonor Him. I found 26:44 poignant, "But despite all this [the curses of disobedience previously spelled out in this chapter], I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out, for I am the Lord their God."  Praise the Lord for His unending Grace!

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.