The Year of Renewal

The Sabbatical Year was not simply a time of rest and release. It was also a time of spiritual renewal. This was a time God’s people were commanded to come together and God’s word was to be read aloud to them. Since the ground was enjoying a rest from plowing/tilling, the people had time to come and listen to the word without distraction. Moreover, it was during this time that a renewal would take place in the people.

The word “restore” means to bring back to its original condition. To “renew” a thing means to replace or restore what is broken. It’s synonymous with taking your vehicle in for maintenance. Every so often EVERY car requires maintenance (repairs). Renewal is not about starting over and manufacturing a new car. Instead, it’s about restoring a car back to it’s original state.

If you read the rest of this chapter, you will discover that throughout the history of Israel all their troubles were a result of them not remaining steadfast when it came to trusting in God and obeying His commandments.

Every so often it’s good to be reminded that the source of our problems really lies in our lack of steadfastness to God’s word. By the way, the phrase “whose spirit was not steadfast with God” should really read, “they did not rest on God with one heart” or “they did not put their heart in God’s hands.”

There are four key verbs I see in this verse: hear, learn, fear and observe.

To “renew” a thing means to replace or restore what is broken. It’s synonymous with taking your vehicle in for maintenance. Every so often EVERY car requires maintenance (repairs). Renewal is not about starting over and manufacturing a new car. Instead, it’s about restoring a car back to it’s original state.

Hear

God commanded that everyone assemble together (at least every 7 years) and “hear” the word read in public. There were only 4 recorded instances in Israel’s history where the people actually obeyed this command. Once during the time of Joshua (), then 530 years later during the reign of Jehoshaphat (), then 282 years after this during the reign of Josiah (), and then finally 200 years after this during the time of Nehemiah when God’s people returned to Israel from their captivity (). So, that’s roughly 4 times over a 1,000 year period! No wonder they were constantly in trouble.

The same can be said concerning some of us. When was the last time you assembled to hear God’s word read to you? Could that be the reason behind some of your troubles?

Notice how Paul commands Timothy to continue in the same practice of conducting “public readings” of the Scriptures. Why is this so important?

Most people in that day were illiterate. Therefore, public reading was the only exposure they had to biblical teaching. Although, literacy is higher today than it has ever been, there still seems to be an epidemic of ignorance as it relates to the things of God. Society as a whole, is really uninformed regarding God’s truth.

Special grace is given by God to those who listen and hear the word of God read publically (). The public preaching and teaching of the word is God’s method of convicting, enlightening and drawing men to obedience and salvation. It’s God’s way of imparting grace ().

Learn

What good is it to hear the word, if we don’t understand it (, ).

Therefore, we assemble together, not only that we may hear the word, but that we might understand it (, , ). The word “distinctly” means to make clear; to explain or interpret (). The word “expound” is taken from the Greek word hermēneúō and it means to translate or interpret (hermeneutics). The job of the one who preaches publically is to bring clarity (understanding) to God’s word.

Fear

hermēneúō

What does it mean to “fear” the Lord? The fear of the Lord is connected closely with obedience and the keeping of God’s laws (). Therefore, the fear of the Lord is a respectful fear, rather than a dreadful fear. Dread causes a person to be apprehensive and hesitant to act (i.e. “I am dreading to have to write this paper.”). However, the fear of the Lord does not produce a sense of apprehension in a person. Instead, it will motivate you towards obedience and steadfastness.

Moreover, this fear is the product of hearing and receiving God’s instruction (). It doesn’t take long for God to teach a person His fear ().

Observe

The word “observe” means to conform one’s actions to a thing. Therefore, the purpose of the public reading was not simply to transmit information. Instead, it was to ensure that the people conformed their lives to the commandments of God and would not forget or disregard them.

If you read the rest of this chapter, you will discover that throughout Israel’s history their troubles were a result of their failure to set their hearts (trust) firm upon the Lord!

Sometimes we need to be reminded that oftentimes the source of our problems really lies in our lack of steadfastness to God’s word. By the way, the phrase “whose spirit was not steadfast with God” should really read, “they did not rest on God with one heart” or “they did not put their heart in God’s hands.”