DBG - February 12 - Leviticus 24-25

This chapter contains directions for the priests and a case of blasphemy.

vs. 1-4 – The people were to supply pure olive oil made from beating olives with a mortar.  The High Priest would see that this oil was used for the Golden Candlestick in the Tabernacle/Temple, checking the state of the Candlestick every morning and evening.

vs. 5-9 – Here are the directions for the shewbread placed in the Tabernacle/Temple.  There were twelve loaves to be made and placed in two stacks on the Table of Shewbread.  Each loaf was made from 2 omers of flour, which is about a dry gallon.  According to the rabbis, each loaf was 10 fingers (8 inches) x 5 fingers (4 inches) by 7 fingers (5.6 inches).  New cakes were placed each Sabbath, and the old ones were eaten by the priests.

vs. 10-16 – Here is a real case and subsequent commandment regarding blasphemy.  A man that was born to a Jewish woman, but whose father was an Egyptian, fought with an Israelite man and amidst their combat he blasphemed God.  Blasphemy is defined as speaking evil against God.  The penalty is pronounced as death, and the accusers were to solemnly attest to the guilt of the man.

vs. 17-22 – Further punishments are listed according to the lex talionis.  Punishment was to match the crime.

vs. 23 – The execution of the blasphemer is performed.

In this chapter are introduced the Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee, along with various regulations regarding enslaved Israelites.

vs. 1-7 – Here is established the Sabbatical Year.  Every seventh year the land was to be left fallow.  More directions are later in this chapter and in Deuteronomy 15.

vs. 8-22 – Here is established the Year of Jubilee.  Its name comes from the Hebrew word for ram, referring to the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn trumpet).  This occurred every 50^th year and was also a Sabbatical Year for the land.  Various customs went along with this year, including the freeing of Jewish slaves and the return of plots of land to their original owner’s family.

vs. 23 – Land transactions were not to be permanent.  The families of Israel were to have their ancestral lands returned to them at some point, usually the Year of Jubilee.  Because of this land was not truly to be sold, but rather “leased” until it was returned to its original owners.

vs. 24-25 – Here is the introduction of the kinsman redeemer.  A near kinsman could buy back the land that was sold, returning it to the family earlier than the Year of Jubilee.

vs. 26-28 – Here is how land that was sold was to be returned in the Year of Jubilee.

vs. 29-30 – Houses in walled cities could only be bought back after one year, after that they became permanent property of the new owners and did not revert back during the Year of Jubilee.

vs. 31 – Houses outside of walled cities were subject to return to their ancestral owners at the Year of Jubilee.

vs. 32-34 – Because of the unique arrangement made for the Tribe of Levi to be spread throughout the other tribe, special regulations are given for their property.  Houses in cities could be redeemed at any time and were to be returned in the Year of Jubilee.  The fields surrounding the cities could not be sold.

vs. 35-38 – Special kindness and aid was to be given to fellow Israelites that fell into financial problems.  Israelites could not charge each other for interest on loans.

vs. 39-43 – Israelites that are sold into slavery to other Israelites were to be treated as hired servants and not slaves.

vs. 44-46 – Slaves that were not Israelites were not subject to be released at the Year of Jubilee.  They were held by their owners in perpetuity.

vs. 47-54 – Israelites that were sold into slave to non-Israelites could be redeemed by a kinsman at any point.  They would then serve their new master until the Year of Jubilee.

I think the Sabbatical Years and Year of Jubilee are two of the most amazing commands in the Law.  The Sabbatical Year prevented the land from being overused.  The Year of Jubilee helped families maintain their ancestral possessions in the land.  They were also tests of faith in that God promised to supply enough food preceding them to last the year without a harvest.  Rest and restoration are good both for the land and for man.    

Our hymn today, “The Jubilee”, was written by Charles Wesley in 1750.  It links the Year of Jubilee with the proclamation of the Gospel, tying together the shared pronouncement of freedom for the enslaved.

Blow ye the trumpet, blow
The gladly solemn sound,
Let all the nations know,
To earth's remotest bound,
The year of jubilee is come;
Return ye ransom'd sinners, home.

Jesus, our great High Priest,
Hath full atonement made;
Ye weary spirits rest,
Ye mournful souls be glad:
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.

Extol the Lamb of God.
The all-atoning Lamb;
Redemption in his blood,
Throughout the world proclaim,
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.

Ye slaves of sin and hell,
Your liberty receive,
And safe in Jesus dwell,
And blest in Jesus live,
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.

Ye, who have sold for nought
Your heritage above,
Shall have it back unbought,
The gift of Jesu's love,
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.

The gospel-trumpet hear,
The news of heav'nly grace,
And sav'd from earth, appear
Before your Saviour's face.
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.