WEEK 07, DAY 044; TODAY’S READING: LEVITICUS 25—27

OVERVIEW:

Laws concerning personal property; the sevens of rest and liberty; the blessing of obedience and the cursing of disobedience; vows and tithes explained.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

From a strictly practical standpoint, the weekly sabbath (the seventh day of the week) was intended by God to give “REST” to both MAN and BEAST. Also, from a strictly practical standpoint, the sabbatical year (the seventh year in a week of years) was intended by God to give “REST” to the LAND. (Leviticus 25:1–7) From a prophetic (futuristic) standpoint, whether it be God’s system of working according to a pattern of seven DAYS, seven WEEKS, seven MONTHS, seven YEARS, seven WEEKS of YEARS, or seven DECADES, it all points to the fact that after six millenniums (6000 years) the seventh MILLENNIUM will be 1000 years of “REST” on this planet (Revelation 20:1–6), when our Lord Jesus Christ rules and reigns on the earth, finally receiving “the glory due unto his name.” (1^st Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2; 96:8)

The year of jubilee, at the end of seven weeks of years (7×7 = 49 – Leviticus 25:8), the 50^th year, was intended by God to allow any of the children of Israel who, because of their debts, had been forced to sell their land and/or sell themselves into servanthood, to RETURN to their FAMILY and REGAIN the POSSESSION of their PROPERTY. Note that this JUBILANT RELEASE and PROCLAMATION of LIBERTY just happened to be enacted by the sounding of a trumpet, and on, of all days, the day of atonement! (Leviticus 25:9)

Because of the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ (obviously, pictured in the day of atonement), Paul talks in 1^st Corinthians 15:52 about the trumpet sounding in the very near future, proclaiming the release from our corruptible bodies, when we are finally “delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:21) Paul likewise tells us in Ephesians 1:14, that we are given the indwelling Holy Spirit inside of our mortal bodies as the down payment, guaranteeing “our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,” when we will receive, as he goes on to tell us in Philippians 3:21, a body “like unto his (Christ’s) glorious body”! This is the “jubilee” for which every child of God is presently “groaning” (Romans 8:23), and the “jubilee” being pictured in Leviticus 25.

Chapter 26 is very clear and direct. The simple reality is, obeying God’s word brings BLESSING, and disobeying God’s word brings CURSING (conflict). The New Testament equivalent is Galatians 6:7–8: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Not understanding this inviolable biblical principle, many believers in the 21^st century don’t seem to connect the circumstances of their lives to the choices they have made in terms of the word of God. For God’s glory’s sake, let us always choose OBEDIENCE!

Looking back through the book of Leviticus we can see two clear divisions:

1. Chapters 1–10 describe our POSITIONAL STANDING before God. (SALVATION)
2. Chapters 11-27 describe our PRACTICAL STANDING before God. (SANCTIFICATION)

As we close today, let’s remind ourselves of the high points of Leviticus:

First, REMEMBER that the path to peace and fruitfulness starts with WORSHIP.

Next, REJOICE that through Jesus Christ’s finished work, God has made us a SACRIFICE (Romans 12:1–2), a PRIEST (1^st Peter 2:5), and a PLACE (Ephesians 2:22).

Finally, REALIZE that God’s calling on our lives is that we be holy, for He is holy! (Leviticus 11:45; 1^st Peter 1:15–16)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the REDEEMER of the kingdom of heaven – Leviticus 25 (Acts 3:20–21; Revelation 11:15)