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By: Anneke de Jong
You may listen to this devotion in audio form via podcast here.
"When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord.” “Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years.” “Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan."
- Leviticus 25:2-4, 8, 10
The lyrics of an old familiar hymn kept running through my head as I considered today’s passage.
“This is my Father’s world;
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
his hand the wonders wrought.”
Or in the words of our Contemporary Testimony – “Our World Belongs to God.”
In giving instructions for a Sabbath year every 7 years, and then a year of Jubilee every 7th Sabbath year, God was reminding the ancient people of Israel that their world belonged to Him. This promised land that He was giving them was His. He was giving it on loan, entrusting each family with a portion to tend and cultivate. But every 7th year, they were to give the land a rest and simply trust that God would provide. While they were free to sell the land to each other if needed, this was not a permanent sale. At the next Jubilee the land would be free to go back to the original family. God was making it clear to Israel that not only were they his people, but the land was his as well. This provision in Leviticus would give a particular rhythm and shape to the way that God’s people interacted with each other and with the land they had been gifted.
What a great comfort to know that this world belongs to God. That all of creation is under his control and his care. Like ancient Israel, we too have been entrusted with the gifts of God’s creation. We are called to steward these gifts in ways that bring honor and glory to God, acknowledging His reign and rule. Yet while we are responsible for cultivating and caring, being fruitful and multiplying, ultimately, this world belongs to God. It’s not really ours.
When we loosen our grip on the things of this world: the work, the land, the projects, the goals that we have; it frees us. Instead of striving to satisfy our own needs and longings, we are free to joyfully serve God, “offering our hearts and lives to God’s work in the world.” Our lives become shaped by a pattern and rhythm of doing God’s work, but also of rest as we totally depend on and trust in God’s provision. Our interactions with each other and with the world we live in are completely reoriented.
In a few short weeks we’ll be celebrating Easter, remembering that in Jesus Christ, God has already provided all that we will ever truly need. The free gift of salvation for all who believe. We can rest from our striving to earn God’s favor and live freely in the assurance that we belong to Him. As we serve God in grateful response, we, along with all of creation, look forward to the final Jubilee. To the true Promised Land and eternal Sabbath rest.