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We live in a fallen world. It is dark, dangerous, confusing. It’s a hard place to live in. It’s not at rest. Creation is missing the Eden-like rest it enjoyed before the Fall. Those redeemed by the Seed of the Woman will enjoy great rest, perfect rest, in the future. In the meantime, God’s will was for His people and His special land to enjoy special times of rest. Every seventh day the Chosen Nation was commanded to rest. Seven annual holidays gave additional times of rest. Today’s Sedra begins with the Lord’s command to give His holy land and people a rest. Every seventh year, the land of Israel and its people would enjoy a “sabbatical.” Planting and harvesting were not allowed. The land and people would be refreshed. The Lord would provide enough food for His people to make it through this time of rest.

At the end of seven Sabbatical cycles, an extra year of rest was added – Shanat Yovel, the Year of Jubilee. On the Day of Atonement a new beginning was proclaimed. Properties were returned to their owners. If a man became poor and had to sell his family inheritance, it was only leased, not really sold, and the lease ended on Shanat Yovel. The price of the lease was determined by how soon Shanat Yovel would arrive. If a relative had the resources to buy back the land so that his poor relative could return to his property and work it again, that could be done. If the man who leased his property came up with the money to pay off the lease, that could be done. Houses in walled cities could not be bought back – they were a permanent sale; but houses in villages without walls were treated like land, and could be bought back before Shanat Yovel.

If a Jewish man became poor, charity was to be given to him. He was never to be charged interest for a loan. If a Jewish man became so poor that he sold himself as a slave to another Jewish man, he was to be treated well, like an employee, never with harshness. At Shanat Yovel, he was released from his service and could return to his property and enjoy a fresh start as a free man. If a Jewish man became a slave to a foreigner, a relative with the resources had the right to redeem him; or, if the Lord prospered him, the man could redeem himself from slavery. Or, in Shanat Yovel, he had to be released.

Chapter 26: To whom much is given, much is required. The Chosen People were given much, and in this chapter the Lord made it clear that obedience to Him would be greatly rewarded, but disobedience would be severely punished. Faithfulness, obedience would result in the blessings of rain, abundant harvests, plenty of food and wine, protection from wild animals, peace from enemies, supernatural victories over numerically superior enemy armies; and especially the great blessing of closeness to God, with the Lord promising: I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.

But, betrayal of the holy God by the Chosen People, disobedience to the One who created and redeemed us, unfaithfulness to the Covenant He made with us, would result in the most serious punishments: sicknesses and plagues; bad harvests and starvation; death by wild animals; defeat by enemies, exile from our land. If, however, after experiencing these horrific consequences, we humbled ourselves and acknowledged our sins, the Lord would be merciful to us and graciously forgive us and restore us to Himself and restore us to our special land.

The final chapter of Leviticus, chapter 27, gives us laws about voluntary offerings to support the Temple. Beyond the regular tithes and offerings, if a person wanted to, he could give even more. A person could give himself or his cash equivalent, or members of his family or their cash equivalent, or animals, houses or their cash equivalent, fields and crops or their cash equivalent, to support the Temple and the priests.

So, what should we learn from B’Har (At The Mountain) and  Bechukotai (My Laws)? Just like the people of Israel and the land of Israel needed rest, we need shabbat – physical rest and spiritual rest. It’s a good thing to take one day off every seven, rest from work and daily activities and commerce, and get renewed physically and spiritually; to assemble with our Community, and think about the Three-In-One God and the spiritual rest He has provided for us; understanding that we do not work for our salvation, but rest in the salvation provided by Messiah, the Lord of the Sabbath; to thank God for the future Eden-like rest that God’s people will enjoy in the New Heavens, New Earth and New Jerusalem.

What should we learn from B’Har (At The Mountain) and  Bechukotai (My Laws)? To not take advantage of those in need, not charge them interest, but instead, try to help them so they can be restored and get back on their feet.

What should we learn from B’Har (At The Mountain) and  Bechukotai (My Laws)? That the Creator will not be mocked; that He blesses and rewards obedience and punishes and curses disobedience. Throughout our history, the blessings and cursings came true for nation of Israel. For our disobedience and betrayal, the Lord sent enemies at various times to conquer us. He withheld rain from us. He exiled us three times – the first being the Assyrian captivity of the Northern Kingdom; the second being the Babylonian captivity of the Southern Kingdom; the third, and the worst and the longest – the Roman captivity 40 years after the Son of God came, because we betrayed Him and His Father and rejected the wonderful New Covenant He gave us. The good news is that God is merciful, and will graciously restore the Jewish people to Himself, and restore us fully to our Land. But, understand that restoration is connected to our recognizing that Yeshua is the Messiah and acknowledging our sin – which we will do.

And, we should understand that the principle of blessing for obedience, and punishment for disobedience, applies to us as well. We don’t want to make our Heavenly Father angry with us, disappointed with us, grieved by us, inclined to punish us because of our disloyalty, unfaithfulness, disobedience. Rather, let’s try, with our obedience, to make Him happy, and get nachus from us, and be close to us, and maybe bless and reward us.

Finally, we should learn that God is worthy of generous giving. A Jewish person who loved the Lord and had the resources and wanted to express His gratitude could give, beyond his ordinary giving, the cash equivalent of himself or members of his family, or the cash equivalent of houses, animals, fields and crops to support the Temple and the priests. Those of us who know that the Three-In-One God of Israel created us, and then when we participated in the rebellion of the fallen angels, redeemed us, are expected to be generous givers of our time, talents and treasures to serve the Lord and support good works He approves of. And, there may be times and situations where we may want to go beyond that, and be even more generous givers of our time, talents and treasures. I’m sure that will please Him, and cause His face to shine on that generous giver.  Amen?