The Sabbatical Year

As you know, we introduced this year’s Focus during our Annual Focus Meeting. We said to you that this will be a Sabbatical Year for us. Some of you may have been a bit confused as to what a Sabbatical Year is and why we’re observing it?

As you know, we introduced this year’s Focus during our Annual Focus Meeting. We said to you that this will be a Sabbatical Year for us. Some of you may have been a bit confused as to what a Sabbatical Year is and why we’re observing it?

WHAT IS THE SABBATICAL YEAR?

As you know, we introduced this year’s Focus during our Annual Focus Meeting. We said to you that this will be a Sabbatical Year for us. Some of you may have been a bit confused as to what a Sabbatical Year is and why we’re observing it? WHAT IS THE SABBATICAL YEAR?

What are we doing?

The Sabbatical Year was a lot like the weekly Sabbath. However, instead of the people ceasing from their work, during the Sabbatical year the people were expected to cease from working the land (, ; , ).

The Sabbatical Year was much a lot like the weekly Sabbath. However, instead of the people ceasing from their work, during the Sabbatical year the people were required to cease from working (tilling, farming) the land (, ; , ).

The Sabbatical Year worked much like the weekly Sabbath. However, rather than commanding the people to cease from working, God commanded the people to cease from working the land. In other words, they were to allow the land to ‘lie still.’ And this was to be observed for an entire year.

The Sabbatical Year worked much like the weekly Sabbath. However, rather than commanding the people to cease from working, God commanded the people to cease from working the land. In other words, they were to allow the land to ‘lie still.’ And this was to be observed for an entire year.

Unfortunately, many religious denominations, like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day (and the Seventh-Day Adventist in our day), are so focused on—a literal reading of the law of the Sabbath. They are so focused on people ceasing all activity that they can’t see the principle of the commandment ().

The Sabbath, whether weekly or the Sabbatical year, is intended to serve man, and not the other way for man to serve God. However, those with a literal reading of the commandment can’t discern this.

The Sabbath is and has always been about putting man (or the land) before the work. It’s not about not doing any work. It’s about focusing on doing those things that bring refreshment and restoration to men (the land).

WHY ARE WE OBSERVING A SABBATICAL YEAR?

Why are we doing it?

Why are we doing it?

First, we’re observing this command because God is directing us to do it.

We made it clear during our Annual Focus Meeting that God is leading us in this direction. I know it seems odd to many of you why God would have us observe a command like this when we’re not farmers nor are we Hebrews.

That’s correct; we’re not farmers. Therefore, we can’t observe this command the exact same way as Israel observed it. We have to focus on the principle (i.e. the spiritual reading) of the commandment.

Unfortunately, people (like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, and the Seventh-Day Adventist in our day) are so focused on the literal reading of this law that they miss the spiritual principle of it ().

We’re observing this command for personal reasons (, ).

We made it clear at the Focus Meeting that this is the vision/direction God has us on in this season. There’s something in this commandment He wants us to observe in our church this year.

Third, we’re observing this command for personal reasons.

The Sabbatical year is about rest for the land. Moreover, the ‘land’ represents the members of the church (). The word ‘husbandry’ is really ‘field’ or land (NIV). We can put a lot of pressure on the ‘land’ to produce profits. However, the Sabbatical Year is not about profiting from the land (the people). The Sabbatical year is about giving the land (the people) rest.

We’re observing this command for spiritual reasons ().

We are also doing it for spiritual renewal. Our duty is not just to come to the Lord and find rest. We are also called to ‘learn of Him’ or develop a relationship with Him and learn his ways. One of the purpose of commanding Israel to allow their fields to lie unworked was so that they could engage in non-agricultural activities like worship, prayer and reading of God’s word.

The Sabbatical year was intended to bring spiritual renewal to the people. One of the reasons God commanded Israel to let their fields lie unworked was so they could engage in spiritual activities (i.e. worship, prayer, Bible reading). Our goal in observing this Sabbatical year will not just be to find rest in Him. Our goal will also be to learn of Him (, )!

We’re observing this command for social reasons ().

There was also a social component to the Sabbatical year. The Sabbatical year was an opportunity to release to the poor (, , ). Rather than gather all their crops for their own personal use or profit, the people were commanded to allow the poor to freely eat of them.

The Sabbatical year was also intended to help the poor.Rather than gathering all their crops and designating them for production or profits, the people were to allow the stranger and the poor to eat of them.

Finally, we doing it in order to avoid a curse. The Sabbatical year was both a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing IF the people observed it. However, it was a curse if they didn’t (, ; ).

Israel was often guilty of using their desire for profit, or even the Law as a way of excusing them from their duty to care for others (). ‘Corban’ is a way of saying that something is dedicated to God. “I would help you, but this money is ‘corban’ (i.e. ministry, the work of the Lord)!”

Finally, we’re observing this command to avoid a curse ().

Israel was exiled largely because they didn’t observe the Sabbatical year. The Sabbatical year was a blessing to Israel when they observed it, and a curse when they didn’t ()!

Those who did not release/free the poor during the year of release committed sin (; ). To ‘despise the poor’ means ‘ignore’ or refuse to help him in time of need ( Message).

Furthermore, this duty was not to be carried out with ill-will or sorrow of heart (; , ; ).

The Church is often guilty of pushing the poor away and telling them, “I can’t help you because this money is earmarked for ministry or Kingdom work” (). To declare something ‘corban’ was to say that it was dedicated to God. This allowed men to keep from helping others (even their parents) in order to keep from breaking God’s commandment (keeping your vow). However, in failing to give to others (honoring their parents) they were breaking God’s commandment. Thus, the Sabbatical year (the year of release) given in order to combat this (, , ).

Somebody might say, “Wow. This is scaring me a little.” Why are we so afraid to give? The Israelites were afraid/grieved to carry out this command, especially the closer it got to the Sabbatical year. They knew, for example, if they loaned someone money on the sixth year there would not be enough time for the lender to pay them back before the seventh year, at which time they would have to forgive all debts! Anyone who operated by this principle was committing a ‘sin’ (; ). What does it mean to ‘despise’ the poor? It means to ignore him and refuse to help him in his time of need ( Message).

The purpose of the Sabbatical year was similar to that of the weekly Sabbath—rest. The Sabbath, whether weekly or every 7 years, was given so that the people (or the land) might receive rest or refreshment. The purpose was not primarily to cause the people to cease from all activity.