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Our world is not at rest. Too many of us live at a breakneck pace, trying desperately to stay on top of everything we need to accomplish, 24-7. Society has undergone astonishing changes in recent decades, with advances in technology that once promised more leisure time, yet now only seem to add to our burden, making it more difficult to catch up. Everyone is seemingly frantic – rushing here and there, attempting to get everything done. It is no wonder we feel out of touch with our spouses, with our families, and yes, even out of touch with our great Creator.
This week’s tandem Torah portions are entitled, B’har and Bechukotai, B’har meaning “At the Mountain” and Bechukotai meaning “In My Statutes.” They cover Leviticus 25-27, concluding the book of Leviticus. As we have heard in the previous parashas, Leviticus is far from being the dull read some have portrayed it to be. Instead, if you pay attention, it is a book which conveys the character and the heart of God. These particular chapters highlight the majesty of God and His compassion for His people and Land. The Sabbath, Sabbatical year and the year of Jubilee are just a few of God’s gracious provisions. They stress Adonai’s desire that His people and His Land enjoy special times of rest…to recuperate, to be refreshed spiritually and physically, and to trust that He will provide.
As you read Chapter 25, it is easy to see that this world has lost a true understanding of a God-given rest. God’s desire was for the Sabbath to be a blessing, a time of genuine rest from normal labors, rather than a burdensome duty – something to be enjoyed, not endured. He created the Sabbath for all mankind, and here in Leviticus, Israel is reminded that on the seventh day, each week the nation was commanded to rest. Also, every seventh year the Chosen Land and its people would enjoy the sabbatical, a year where there would be no planting or harvesting permitted, giving the land time to be restored and the human body and mind time to be relaxed. Adonai would provide a threefold harvest during the sixth year, supplying food for not only that year, but also for the sabbatical year and the following year while crops were replenished. Imagine the faith and trust involved in this process. Would you be able to trust the Lord in this way? For most, it would be difficult…we have too little trust, and too much fear of failure, the apprehension of not having enough.
But if we take a good look, we will find that many of our anxieties are based on “what-if’s?” things that might happen. But these fears are unnecessary if we will trust in God in all things. That is why Psalm 55:22 reminds us to cast our cares upon the Lord. When we find the faith to follow Him completely, trusting that He knows what is best for us, we will find new strength. God is more than able to provide for us. This trust in God is what will sustain us through the struggles of each day.
If the Sabbath and the Sabbatical year weren’t enough evidence of His love for us, God also declared another rest at the end of seven Sabbatical cycles, the Year of Jubilee. It was to happen on the Yom Kippur of the New Year and to be proclaimed with the blowing of the shofar.
In verse 8 it states, “Count off seven Sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven Sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. 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. The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields. In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property.”
Now, this was a God-designed reset button of forgiveness and restoration. The Jubilee Year represented a certain perfection of the Sabbath year “legislation.” It provided for a double portion of rest every 50th year. Each 49th year would be a Sabbatical year, followed by the Jubilee Year in the 50th, so that for two consecutive years the people would be obligated to give rest to the land and to themselves, restore personal and economic freedom and most importantly, depend on God.
In summary, the Jubilee Year was intended to be a joyful celebration of God’s sovereignty in which for His people there would be:
- Liberation: Redeemed by God, no child of Adonai can forever remain a slave. The Jubilee was meant to restore equality among the people.
- Social Justice: Equality meant lifting up, as well, those who were in need. God’s kindness towards us is the motivation by which we should show kindness to others. By all rights, Yeshua’s people ought to be the most generous of all!
In Chapter 26 we see that obedience to God would be greatly rewarded, but disobedience severely punished. We have become so accustomed to warnings, and so seldom see them enforced, that we have learned to almost ignore them. Leviticus 26 is one of the clearest words of warning – words that we dare not ignore. It is reiterated more emphatically later on in the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy. The people of Israel did not heed this warning and they paid a severe penalty for doing so.
Leviticus 26 has three major divisions: First, a description of the blessings which God will pour out on His people if they’ll keep His Covenant (verses 1-13); and second, a description of the dire consequences which will accompany Israel’s disobedience of the Mosaic covenant (verses 14-39). Finally, the concluding section (verses 40-45), in which God reassures His people of His unfailing love. Here, there is the promise of Israel’s ultimate restoration and blessing, based upon God’s faithfulness to His Covenant with Abraham and upon Israel’s repentance.
Chapter 27, which concludes the book, includes laws about charitable offerings and tithing to God. It could be said that obediently giving to the Lord marks the difference between those who are worshipers and those who merely pay lip service. Besides giving praise to the Creator, we must understand that God is worthy of our very best. For as we trust in the Lord and give Him our love, our time and offerings, He will assuredly smile down upon us.
So what should we take away from today’s parasha? We, just like the people and the Land of Israel, need Sabbath rest. We must physically and spiritually recuperate, remembering the God of Israel and these great times of rest that He freely gave us. We should give abundant thanks for this rest and, more importantly, for the future rest we will have through our Messiah, Lord Yeshua.
Also, we should see that almost every commandment we receive from our Heavenly Father is accompanied by a promised blessing for obedience and likewise a curse for disobedience. Obedience to His Word brings freedom, personal growth, protection from danger, and many other worldly and spiritual blessings. Ultimately, obedience will lead to eternal life in the presence of God. Disobedience reflects disloyalty and lack of trust. Disobedience causes Adonai to be disappointed in us; and, He will discipline us. Let us strive to be obedient to God.
We should take away that tithing is part of your worship of God — honoring Him as your Provider. Remind yourself that everything you have belongs to Him and was provided through His grace. The practice of tithing provides a regular reminder of your dependence on God. In good times, tithing helps you remember that God is the source of all blessings, and allows you to demonstrate your gratitude for His care. In hard times, tithing motivates you to remember God’s faithfulness, and enables you to demonstrate trust in God to provide for all of your needs.
Finally, we should come to a full understanding that God’s statutes are a direct reflection of His love for us and because of that, we can put our complete trust in our awesome Provider. When we speak of God’s laws, do not think of them as we do secular laws. God’s laws are personal. He loves and cares for us more than any legislator. The statutes given by Adonai are a loving appeal, an instruction and command given by the One that we should be sure to know intimately. The One who has always known and loved us…before we were formed in the womb and before we were set apart prior to birth to bring glory to His Name.