FOCUS 2019–The Sabbatical Year

Here the Lord speaks with Moses and introduces a new law—the law of the sabbatical year. This was a new arrangement between God and the people that was to commence once they entered into the Promised Land. What’s a sabbatical year?

A Sabbatical year worked much like a weekly sabbath. However, instead of men working six days and resting the seventh, the land would be worked (tilled) for six years and allowed to rest the seventh ().

Sabbaticals are typically only offered to professionals or senior staff members. They’re basically a leave of absence (often up to a year). They are given to allow the staff member to focus on personal and professional development. The idea was taken directly from the Sabbatical year described in Scripture.

Sabbaticals are only offered today to professionals and senior staff members. They’re given a leave of absence (often up to a year) to allow them to focus on personal and professional development. The idea is taken directly from the Sabbatical year described in Scripture.

Three things were emphasized in the Sabbatical year: rest, release and renewal.

There are three things that were emphasized during the Sabbatical Year:

a time of REST

The sabbatical year was a time where the land received rest. The sabbatical year was a deliberate attempt to limit the amount of production the people were able to get from the land. Whatever was produced from the land during a sabbatical year would not be the result of man’s effort (toiling, farming). It would be completely voluntary on the part of the ground.

By allowing the land to bring forth on its own, the people demonstrated trust in God. They were learning faith! In the Bible, there is a close connection between rest (sabbath) and faith ().

The Sabbath is an opportunity for man to cease from his works and enter into God’s rest (promises) by faith. God finished the ‘work,’ man enters His rest. Entering into rest is difficult for most people because it is often confused with being lazy ()!

Rest (trusting/abiding in Christ) if often confused with being lazy (Luke 10:42)!

RELEASE

We’re dealing with the same event—the Sabbatical year. But, rather than refer to it as “a sabbath of rest,” it’s referred to as “a year of RELEASE.” So, in addition to being a time of rest, the sabbatical year was a time of release. It was a year in which God required people to release/cancel men’s debts ().

God promised to cancel their debts IF they canceled the debts of others (, )! Forgiving (or releasing) others establishes favor with God, but unforgiveness brings a curse.

It was a reminder the people that the land did not belong to them. They were to be stewards over it. Similarly, wealth, money and land are not personal property to be accumulated. They are things given to us so that we might share them with others.

It was a reminder that God is ultimately the owner of our possessions and we are merely stewards over them. Moreover, wealth, money and land are not merely to be accumulated. Instead, they are given to us so that we might share them with others.

RENEWAL

Finally, the Sabbatical year was to be a time of extensive public Bible reading and meditation. It was a time when the people renewed their commitment to the Law and God’s covenant (). Rather than focus on their fields and other pursuits, the people turned their focus to God’s word ()!

The Sabbatical year was to be a time of spiritual renewal. It was an opportunity for people to break with their routine of seeking worldly pursuits, and focus their attention on higher pursuits.

Limiting consumption and production will create the space for higher pursuits.

Oftentimes we approach the new year by looking at what needs to be done and running to do it. I’m recommending that we cease from our works and enter into His Sabbath (power).

Why do we not see these things? Why is it so difficult for us to embrace revelation from God that requires us to be “weak,” “cease from our works” and trust in God? If we would have received a revelation that this would be a year of increase, we would immediately embrace it without a second thought. Why do we hesitate to receive revelation that invites us to abandon worldly pursuits and seek God? Because we are carnal. When Peter rebuked the Lord for wanting to go to His cross, Jesus turned to Peter and said, “You savor the things of man and not the things of God.” Peter couldn’t see the truth in Jesus’ words because his mind/focus was on earthly things, and not heavenly things. We too struggle to receive messages and invitations like this one because, by and large, we’re carnal. We do not have the mind of God. Our minds are mainly on earthly things and earthly pursuits.

Why is it so difficult for us to embrace revelation from God that requires us to be “weak,” “cease from our works” and trust in God? If we would have received a revelation that this would be a year of increase, we would immediately embrace it without a second thought. Why do we hesitate to receive revelation that invites us to abandon worldly pursuits and seek God?

Peter couldn’t receive the in Jesus’ words because his mind/focus was on earthly things, and not heavenly things. If we’re struggling to receive this message of rest, then maybe we’re too preoccupied with earthly things/earthly pursuits.

Limiting consumption and production will create the space for higher pursuits.

This reading of the law during the Sabbatical year was intimately connected with the Feast of Tabernacles (). The Feast of Tabernacles was a harvest feast commemorating Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness. It was a tribute to the time when Israel lived in booths (tents) and ate manna from on high. It reminds them of how God provided for them in the wilderness while they feasted on His word (manna). The reading of the law was to be done especially during the Feast of Tabernacles because that festival, above all others, called to mind God’s provision of the Israelites in the wilderness!

The association of the Sabbatical year with the Feast of Tabernacles is a reminder that this break in their normal routine to seek the things of God was to be a joyous occasion. This celebration of biblical learning was intended to inspire the people to reverence the Lord and carefully follow His commandments. It was to renew the people’s commitment to God and His word.

Limiting consumption and production will create the space for higher pursuits.