Embracing the Year of Jubilee: Forgiveness and Renewal

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting in God's Sovereignty and Provision

Description: The Year of Jubilee, as described in Leviticus 25, is a profound reminder of God's ultimate ownership of all land and resources. It calls us to trust in His provision and sovereignty, recognizing that He will take care of us just as He did for the Israelites. This trust is a fundamental aspect of our discipleship and obedience to God. By observing the Year of Jubilee, the Israelites were reminded that their security and sustenance came from God, not from their own efforts or possessions. This principle challenges us today to live with open hands, trusting that God will provide for our needs and guide us in His wisdom. [57:07]

Leviticus 25:23-24 (ESV): "The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the country you possess, you shall allow a redemption of the land."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust in God's provision? How can you actively surrender this area to Him today, trusting in His sovereignty and care?

Day 2: Embracing Radical Forgiveness

Description: The Year of Jubilee is a powerful reminder of the importance of forgiveness. Just as debts were forgiven and slaves were freed, we are called to forgive others as we have been forgiven by God. This act of forgiveness brings freedom and healing, both for ourselves and for those we forgive. Forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a continual process that requires us to trust God and grow in our dependence on Him. By practicing radical forgiveness, we reflect God's grace and mercy in our relationships, fostering a community of love and reconciliation. [01:13:47]

Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV): "Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?

Day 3: Finding Rest and Renewal in God

Description: Observing a Sabbath and a Sabbath year teaches us the importance of rest and renewal. We do not work to rest; we work from a place of rest, specifically from God's rest. This practice requires intentional planning and preparation, allowing us to experience unhurried time with God. By setting aside regular times for rest, we acknowledge our dependence on God and create space for spiritual renewal. This rhythm of work and rest helps us to maintain a healthy balance in our lives and to draw closer to God. [01:01:42]

Exodus 31:15-17 (ESV): "Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."

Reflection: How can you intentionally plan for a time of rest and renewal this week? What steps can you take to ensure that this time is protected and dedicated to God?

Day 4: Promoting Social and Economic Justice

Description: The Year of Jubilee promotes social and economic justice by ensuring that no family becomes permanently landless or impoverished. It provides a system of restoration, not just redistribution, ensuring that future generations have the means to provide for themselves. This principle challenges us to consider how we can contribute to a more just and equitable society. By advocating for policies and practices that promote fairness and opportunity for all, we reflect God's heart for justice and compassion. [01:07:13]

Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Reflection: What is one practical way you can promote social and economic justice in your community? How can you advocate for those who are marginalized or oppressed?

Day 5: Living Out Grace in Our Daily Lives

Description: Both the practice of gleaning and the Year of Jubilee illustrate a society built on grace. These practices ensure that even the poor and marginalized have opportunities to work and provide for themselves. This reflects God's desire for a just and compassionate society. By living out grace in our daily lives, we create an environment where everyone can experience God's love and provision. This involves being generous with our time, resources, and forgiveness, and seeking to build relationships that reflect God's grace and truth. [01:08:43]

2 Corinthians 8:13-15 (ESV): "For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, 'Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.'"

Reflection: How can you show grace to someone in your life today? What specific action can you take to reflect God's love and compassion to them?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we are taking a brief departure from our summer series, "Teach Us to Pray," to discuss a special topic that aligns perfectly with my milestone 50th birthday: the Year of Jubilee. This concept, rooted in Leviticus 25, is a profound manifestation of God's providence and sovereignty. The Year of Jubilee, celebrated every 50th year, is a time of liberation and restoration. It involves the return of family property, the freeing of slaves, and a year of rest for the land. This radical idea underscores God's ownership of all land and His desire for social and economic justice.

The Levitical law, often seen as antiquated, actually sets the stage for understanding our need for a Savior. It shows us the impossibility of achieving holiness on our own, pointing us to Jesus, who fulfilled the law and redefined our relationship with God and each other. The Year of Jubilee is not just about rest but about trust in God's provision. It challenges us to live in a way that reflects God's grace and justice.

In our modern context, the principles of the Year of Jubilee can still apply. It calls us to practice forgiveness, release debts, and trust in God's provision. This is not just a financial or social practice but a deeply spiritual one. It challenges us to forgive others as we have been forgiven, to trust in God's sovereignty, and to live out His grace in our daily lives.

As I reflect on my 50 years, I see the importance of this practice. Forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a continual process that brings freedom and healing. It is a discipleship challenge that requires us to trust God and grow in our dependence on Him. This year, I challenge you to proclaim your own Year of Jubilee, to forgive, to release, and to trust in God's provision and grace.

###

Key Takeaways

1. God's Sovereignty and Provision: The Year of Jubilee underscores that God is the true owner of all land and resources. It calls us to trust in His provision and sovereignty, recognizing that He will take care of us as He did for the Israelites. This trust is a fundamental aspect of our discipleship and obedience to God. [57:07]
2. Radical Forgiveness: The Year of Jubilee is a powerful reminder of the importance of forgiveness. Just as debts were forgiven and slaves were freed, we are called to forgive others as we have been forgiven by God. This act of forgiveness brings freedom and healing, both for ourselves and for those we forgive. [73:47]
3. Rest and Renewal: Observing a Sabbath and a Sabbath year teaches us the importance of rest and renewal. We do not work to rest; we work from a place of rest, specifically from God's rest. This practice requires intentional planning and preparation, allowing us to experience unhurried time with God. [61:42]
4. Social and Economic Justice: The Year of Jubilee promotes social and economic justice by ensuring that no family becomes permanently landless or impoverished. It provides a system of restoration, not just redistribution, ensuring that future generations have the means to provide for themselves. [67:13]
5. Living Out Grace: Both the practice of gleaning and the Year of Jubilee illustrate a society built on grace. These practices ensure that even the poor and marginalized have opportunities to work and provide for themselves. This reflects God's desire for a just and compassionate society. [01:08:43]
### [68:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[55:05] - Introduction and God's Providence
[55:47] - The Significance of the 50th Birthday
[56:25] - Overview of Leviticus 25
[57:07] - The Year of Jubilee Explained
[58:16] - The Purpose of Levitical Law
[59:39] - Jesus Fulfilling the Law
[61:13] - The Importance of Sabbath
[61:42] - Working from Rest
[63:14] - The Challenge of Keeping the Sabbath
[64:14] - The Sabbath Year
[65:42] - The Radical Concept of Jubilee
[67:13] - Social and Economic Implications
[68:43] - Living in a Society of Grace
[73:47] - Forgiveness and the Year of Jubilee
[79:40] - Becoming an Expert Forgiver
[80:09] - Proclaiming Your Year of Jubilee
[81:45] - Living as Children of the King
[83:22] - Quiet Time and Response
[87:26] - Benediction and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What specific practices were commanded during the Year of Jubilee according to Leviticus 25:8-17?
How does Jesus describe His relationship to the law in Matthew 5:17?
What does Philippians 1:9-11 say about the growth of love and knowledge in believers?

Interpretation Questions

How does the Year of Jubilee reflect God's sovereignty and provision? ([57:07])
In what ways does the Year of Jubilee challenge us to practice radical forgiveness? ([01:13:47])
How does the concept of working from rest, as discussed in the sermon, change our understanding of Sabbath? ([01:01:42])

Application Questions

Reflecting on God's sovereignty and provision, how can you trust God more in your daily life, especially in times of uncertainty? ([57:07])
Think of a person you need to forgive. What steps can you take this week to begin the process of forgiveness and experience the freedom it brings? ([01:13:47])
How can you intentionally plan and prepare to observe a Sabbath in your weekly routine? What changes do you need to make to ensure this time is unhurried and dedicated to God? ([01:01:42])
In what ways can you contribute to social and economic justice in your community, reflecting the principles of the Year of Jubilee? ([01:07:13])
How can you live out grace in your daily interactions, ensuring that even the marginalized have opportunities to thrive? ([01:08:43])
What specific actions can you take to proclaim your own Year of Jubilee, focusing on forgiveness, release, and trust in God's provision? ([01:20:09])
How can you become an "expert forgiver" in your relationships, and what impact do you think this will have on your spiritual growth and your community? ([01:19:40])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We must actually prepare. We must work at our rest. Meaning, we must plan and prepare errands, appointments. Those things must be handled on other days so that the Sabbath, so that time with God in worship and prayer, it can be unhurried." [01:02:14] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "How good would it feel? To be released and resolved of all of these debt obligations. How wonderful and liberating would it feel to have those past hurts healed. To have those broken relationships mended. To have our own hearts made whole. By putting into practice this kind of liberty, this kind of liberating forgiveness." [01:17:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Live in such a way that you can experience your soul connected to God in such a powerful way. That you can echo Jim Elliot, the American missionary martyred in Ecuador. He had said that he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." [01:21:45] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Be quick to forgive. Slow to anger. Proclaim liberty and jubilee in your family, in your relationships, with your children, with your co-workers, with one another, with your rising prayer." [01:22:15] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you are holding on to debts, having grudges against others, living in that prison, God is calling us to forgive those things. To experience the liberation, the freedom that that is involved. It's as much for us as it is for the others, for anyone else." [01:19:07] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "The Levitical law, it provides a framework. It provides language and visible examples to the extent of what holiness is as well as what is sinfulness. And so it actually provides an understanding that it's utterly impossible for any of us to attain the level of holiness required by a holy and just God." [58:59] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We do not work so that we can rest. But we work from our rest. More specifically, we work from God's rest. The rest that we receive from God." [01:01:42] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jubilee affirms that God is the true owner of all of Israel's land. He's the true owner of all land throughout the world. He's sovereign over time and of nature, and in rescuing his people from slavery in Egypt and bringing them to this land, he's demonstrating that he is their master and that he will take care of them." [01:10:14] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "In both the practice of gleaning and in the year of Jubilee, God is setting up a society that ran on grace. It was not actually a handout when you think about it. The poor and the widows, they still had to do work, right? They still had to go out there. They had to pick up the leftovers. They needed to glean in order to eat." [01:09:13] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Do you want to be forgiven by God for your sin? Of course. But do you want to be forgiven to the same extent as we forgive others? Others who sin against us. That's not so clear cut anymore, is it? Most of us we're not so excited about that, are we?" [01:14:19] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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