Because the Lord talks in parables, it is useful to examine again the Lord's Jubilee. Leviticus 25 describes in exacting details regarding how this Jubilee was to be observed. Every 50th year, all land was to be returned to the original owners to whom it was allocated after return from Israel. The land belonged to the Lord. Israel was the Lord's tenant.
But then Isaiah throws light at the amazing truth of Jubilee. It was Isaiah 61 that Christ read to the synagogue in Luke 4:18 - 19.
"He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then in John 8: 31 - 36, Christ explains that Israel was indeed in slavery. Not the usual slavery of this world but slavery to sin. He came to bring the Truth and the Truth would set us free. He himself is truth for He said of Himself: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [John 14:6]
But why then observe the Sabbaths of the Lord - the 7th day, the seventh year, the 50th year?
People searched the scriptures for revelation about the mysteries of God. In one scripture it says: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith [Hebrews 12: 2]. This scripture reminds us that the entire scripture is about God and His people; about Christ and the Church.
The Lord chose to write in parables to hide this truth from those He has not chosen to receive it. Now, a look at scripture reveals that the Lord desires honor and dignity.
58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God— 59 the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. 60 He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. 61 The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed. 62 You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number, because you did not obey the Lord your God. 63 Just as it pleased the Lord to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.[Deut. 28:58-63].
Again it says:
4 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the Lord Almighty.[Mal 4:1-3].
Do we need to go any further? The Almighty God, the God of Israel, desires honour and reverence. If the year of Jubilee is the year of liberty from slavery to sin, it represents the Christ whose most precious blood was shed at cavalry as an attoning sacrifice for the sins of Man.
Honouring the Sabbaths of the Lord is honouring and revering the Lord. Dishonouring His Sabbaths is dishonouring Him, despising Him, and treating Him with contempt.
Therefore, this is the conclusion: the year of Jubilee honours the Lord of Glory. It reminds us of the eternal rest into which we shall enter on the last day. It represents the final victory over sin and over the prince of this world who is satan. It represents the final return of the "prodigal sons" to their rightful home: Their Father's House; the New Jerusalem.
The word of God says:
“A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft."[Exodus 22:3]
Again:
Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death.[Lev. 24:21]
Therefore, finally, he who comes to steal, to kill and destroy must himself be destroyed.
But then Isaiah throws light at the amazing truth of Jubilee. It was Isaiah 61 that Christ read to the synagogue in Luke 4:18 - 19.
"He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then in John 8: 31 - 36, Christ explains that Israel was indeed in slavery. Not the usual slavery of this world but slavery to sin. He came to bring the Truth and the Truth would set us free. He himself is truth for He said of Himself: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [John 14:6]
But why then observe the Sabbaths of the Lord - the 7th day, the seventh year, the 50th year?
People searched the scriptures for revelation about the mysteries of God. In one scripture it says: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith [Hebrews 12: 2]. This scripture reminds us that the entire scripture is about God and His people; about Christ and the Church.
The Lord chose to write in parables to hide this truth from those He has not chosen to receive it. Now, a look at scripture reveals that the Lord desires honor and dignity.
58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God— 59 the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. 60 He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. 61 The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed. 62 You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number, because you did not obey the Lord your God. 63 Just as it pleased the Lord to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.[Deut. 28:58-63].
Again it says:
4 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the Lord Almighty.[Mal 4:1-3].
Do we need to go any further? The Almighty God, the God of Israel, desires honour and reverence. If the year of Jubilee is the year of liberty from slavery to sin, it represents the Christ whose most precious blood was shed at cavalry as an attoning sacrifice for the sins of Man.
Honouring the Sabbaths of the Lord is honouring and revering the Lord. Dishonouring His Sabbaths is dishonouring Him, despising Him, and treating Him with contempt.
Therefore, this is the conclusion: the year of Jubilee honours the Lord of Glory. It reminds us of the eternal rest into which we shall enter on the last day. It represents the final victory over sin and over the prince of this world who is satan. It represents the final return of the "prodigal sons" to their rightful home: Their Father's House; the New Jerusalem.
The word of God says:
“A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft."[Exodus 22:3]
Again:
Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death.[Lev. 24:21]
Therefore, finally, he who comes to steal, to kill and destroy must himself be destroyed.
No comments:
Post a Comment