Leviticus Well, Good evening.

Transcription

1 Well, Good evening. Leviticus It is great to be here with you all tonight. If you are new here, we welcome you. I want to let you know our format for Wednesday Night. P a g e 1 We have taken on the task of going through the whole Old Testament. We started in Genesis and we are currently in Leviticus chapter 24. Our goal is to have a complete audio library on our website as a resource for anyone who is reading through the Bible. We have almost completed Leviticus, perhaps a couple more weeks and we will be in Numbers. Now last time we were together we looked at the feast and holy convocations of the Lord, we looked at God s calendar as it coincided with the seasons throughout the year.

2 Now as we enter into chapter 24 it might seem this chapter is misplaced, as it sits in between the feasts and two important time periods for the nation of Israel. P a g e 2 But nothing is coincidence in God s Word, and in this chapter, Moses will receive instructions for three Holy things. The first being the Holy oil for the lampstand, the second the Holy bread for the table, and lastly the Holy Name of the Lord. Now God perhaps placed these instructions immediately after the regulation for the Times for Worship, because these Times deal with the products of the fields, vineyards and orchards of Israel. Now we will learn the sacred use of certain portions of the grains and olives. So let us read the first instruction given to Moses Care of the Tabernacle Lamps (Ex 27:20,21) 24:1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 "Command the children of Israel that they bring to you

3 P a g e 3 pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually. 3 Outside the veil of the Testimony, in the tabernacle of meeting, Aaron shall be in charge of it from evening until morning before the Lord continually; it shall be a statute forever in your generations. 4 He shall be in charge of the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord continually. Now in the middle of the camp of Israel sat their most holy and important structure, the tabernacle. And from the outside it would not seem to impressive with the rugged beaver skin protecting this structure from the elements of the harsh desert. But inside, there was articulate beauty, and hand crafted items all within. The tent skins from the inside had beautiful pictures of cherubim all over it, wonderful colors and precise weaves. The furniture was carefully constructed and overlaid with gold.

4 Such creative beauty, but none of it was visible. There were no windows in the tabernacle, only a curtain that opened for the priests to enter and perform their duties. P a g e 4 A heavy darkness would overwhelm the inside of this Holy Tabernacle if it were not for one item within. The only illumination came from one piece of furniture, the golden lampstand with its seven lamps. It was to be kept burning continually inside the tabernacle, and was to be replenished with fuel from pure oil of pressed olives. The lampstand was placed in the holy place, otherwise the tabernacle would have been completely dark. It was the High Priests daily duty to fill and trim the lamps. The people provided the oil from the purest and best olives. This was the highest quality oil.

5 The worshipper brought the best they could provide before the Lord. P a g e 5 The meaning of this symbol was that the people of God were to be the source of spiritual light to the surrounding pagan nations. Bible students typically agree that the oil is a symbol for the Holy Spirit. Here the oil is not anointing, but providing fuel for the light. The prophet Zechariah connects the burning oil in the Lampstands with the Holy Spirit in Zech. 4:1-6 An angel asks Zechariah if he understands the meaning of the vision of the olive oil fueling the lampstand. Zechariah said he did not understand, and the angel clarifies for him. Zech 4:6 Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the Lord of hosts.

6 P a g e 6 In order for the people of God to be a light to this dark world, they needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which the oil represents. Today this responsibility to be a light to this dark world has passed from Israel to the church. On Sunday mornings, we just ended the section in Revelation dealing with the seven churches, which were depicted as Lampstands as well. To the church today, Jesus says Matt 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. And today it is the Spirit of God who empowers the church for this special and noble task of being a light and a witness to those who are perishing in their sins. Our hope is that they would be drawn to truth by the illumination that our life radiates.

7 A wonderful picture here presented through the lampstand in the tabernacle. P a g e 7 And next, Moses will receive instruction regarding the Holy Bread. The Bread of the Tabernacle 5 "And you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it. Two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake. 6 You shall set them in two rows, six in a row, on the pure gold table before the Lord. 7 And you shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, an offering made by fire to the Lord. 8 Every Sabbath he shall set it in order before the Lord continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. 9 And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place; for it is most holy to him from the offerings of the Lord made by fire, by a perpetual statute." Now the people not only brought pure olive oil to the priests, but they also were to bring fine flour for the baking of twelve loaves of bread.

8 P a g e 8 Every Sabbath the bread was presented on the golden table, and the old bread was eaten by the priests in a holy place. These loaves were treated like a meal offering complete with frankincense. On the Sabbath when the loaves were eaten the priests would take a memorial portion from the loaf and burn it on the altar with the frankincense before they ate. There is some interesting factors here. Only priests were allowed to eat this. Yet the people were represented in two ways. Remember the Jewels on the priest s garments, they represented the 12 tribes of Israel before God, as the priest was the mediator for the people before God. Also the twelve loaves on the table were a testimony of the people, and God was present with His people. You see, these twelve loaves served as a constant reminder to any Hebrew in the camp, that no matter

9 where they were their tribe was represented in the Holy Place before God. P a g e 9 Now from the priest s viewpoint, the shew bread was a constant reminder that his ministry was for the people. The priests would be isolated from the people as they labored and worked daily in the tabernacle. In their work, they could easily lose touch with the people they represented before God. Yet in these two sets of instruction we see interaction and continuity between the people and the priests. The people provided the oil for the lamp, and the flour for the bread. These twelve loaves reminded the priests that not only themselves but also all the people were represented before God and were all God s chosen people. The minister here would find his appreciation for the tribes and would work to serve them the best way he could.

10 P a g e 10 This shew bread was also acknowledging that God was the source of their provision. Each week they would be reminded of God s goodness and faithfulness. Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father in Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. God is the source of all our provision. Now next, the Book of Leviticus is interrupted by a case that dealt with a blasphemer. But in the flow of things, it really is not an interruption but an illustration. We will see the basis for obedience to these instructions is the fear of the Lord. And case law will be made for a permanent ordinance for those who have no fear of the Lord. The Penalty for Blasphemy 10 Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and this Israelite woman's son and a man of

11 Israel fought each other in the camp. 11 And the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) P a g e 11 So we have this incident before us involving one individual who was from the mixed multitude that left Egypt with Israel. This mixed multitude was a continual problem for the nation of Israel. We see here even early on being unequally yoked served to be a miserable problem for some. This Israelite woman failed to influence her son more than his heathen father could. The Jews were so fearful of breaking the commandment of Blaspheming God s name they rarely pronounced His Name, and even substituted the Name Adonai with Yahweh as to make it difficult to pronounce for the common people. We do not see this kind reverence here.

12 P a g e 12 This young man, in the heat of the moment, exposed what was in his heart, as his mouth gave testimony to the evil within. Out of the abundance if the heart the mouth will speak. The fact that the father of this young man is not named leaves some to think that he stayed back in Egypt. Whatever the case, the fathers influence was stronger. This boy did not grow up learning proper respect for God or His Name. Even though the mother probably tried to impart truth into this young man, this marriage between believer and unbeliever created a huge problem. Even today, many young people s faith is wrecked because of one parent taking lightly the things of God. Even a mother s strong faith usually cannot withstand a father s evil influence.

13 Now if you are not married this evening, this is a common principle as you are looking for Romeo. P a g e 13 You will pay dearly for marrying an unbeliever, I know too many young girls who have compromised because they were impatient, and the consequences were pretty severe. At the same time, I have seen many godly young men swept off the narrow road, and drawn away on that wide road of the pleasure and intoxication of the seductress. 2 Cor. 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Heed that warning this evening. For the sake of the future of your children, they will follow the example set before them. And for this young man in our story, his fate will set a precedence for every foreigner after him who blasphemes the Name of the Lord while living in the camp of Israel.

14 P a g e Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the Lord might be shown to them. 13 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 14 "Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 "Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death. Now if a Jew had committed this sin of blaspheme, Moses would have known what to do. But the Law so far was silent on this kind of situation, as far as a non-jew blaspheming God. So Moses wisely seeks the Lord, instead of making a rash decision.

15 Moses here humble enough to admit he does not know what to do. And he goes before the Lord. This is a great example for leaders today to follow. Many feel like they have to know everything about everything, and in their pride they will not admit to being ignorant about somethings. P a g e 15 Especially Christian leaders, they many times make up an answer that is wrong, just to save face. I have learned people will respect you no less if you simply say I do not know, let me research that and I will get back to you. Even unbelievers appreciate honesty. Ps 25:9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. Moses humbly seeks the Lord, and gets his answer. This young man was to be removed from the camp as cursed.

16 P a g e 16 The witnesses to this crime were to be the first to administer the penalty, holding them responsible for their testimony. And the law was solidified for both Jew and non-jew alike, anyone who did not fear God and His Holy Name was dealt the severest of penalties. Some think as the stones crushed the offenders head, and killed him, the congregation would heap up stones over his dead body as a memorial for anyone who would pass by. This would also allow the congregation to be free of the corruption of this accursed person by touching his dead corpse. The Lord further applies this legal decision to other areas of the mixed multitudes way of life. 17 'Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death. 18 Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal. 19 'If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him 20 fracture for

17 P a g e 17 fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. 21 And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death. 22 You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God.'" And God lays out the simplicity of His law here, this is known as the lex talionis or the law of retaliation. Now today in our upside down society, where the criminal is put up on the taxpayer s dime, protected with more rights than the average citizen at times. To our twisted culture, these laws would seem to be cruel. And God is usually portrayed as a brutal task master here. But understand the brilliance of this system. The Jews had no prison system, nor did they have a police force supported by the taxpayer. The penalty was swift and severe, anyone with murder in their heart would think twice about acting on their

18 ambitions when they would see the heap of rocks covering the last guy who murdered. P a g e 18 Or if a man was going to kill his neighbors goat out of spite, he would know that it would cost him his own goat. Or if a man in a fit of rage goes too far in a fight, and tries to crush his opponents hand with a rock, he would know in the back of his mind, it will cost him his own hand. God s justice is brilliant here, if you stole you restored. There is no need to drain the tax pool on the criminals in society. Today the criminal has no incentive to do right, if they get caught for their wrongs they get free dental and healthcare. Last night, Jess was at the park, someone shattered her window and stole her purse, and greatly interrupted a mother s life, who had three babies there with her. Yet, it was a seemingly meaningless police report, the contents were not worth enough to make a big deal

19 P a g e 19 about, you can almost see from the gentlemen taking the report that nothing will be done about it. It infuriates me that our justice system is so corrupt. Even if this person is caught, they will get a slap on the hand, and then sent back out to do it again. With no incentive for them to change their life. They are making pretty good money off cheating other people. In God s system, if found they would have to repay the victim, and then some. It was a deterrent. But also this Law served another person, this law of retaliation, made sure the punishment fit the crime. It was an eye for and eye, not both your eyes for my one eye. See, it also restrain the spirit from revenge. This was a system of justice not vengeance. Remember Jesus took this Law and brought it a giant leap forward.

20 P a g e 20 Matt 5:38-42 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Keep in mind Jesus was not considering the principle of civil law here, but was just limiting revenge and retaliation by doing away with that spirit altogether. And I will tell you, last night I was heated, and I really wanted to find these guys who did this to my wife, and greatly upset our lives. Jess would have given them money if they just asked her. They did not need to take it. And this morning we are driving to school, and Sofia says a little prayer.

21 P a g e 21 She says God, help the bad people who did this to get Jesus in their heart. In her simple thinking, Jesus, not justice was the answer. It reminded me as a Christian, that is why Jesus upped the Anny for us. As we love our enemies and do good to those who spitefully use us, we are then son and daughters of our Father in heaven. So pray for me as I aspire to have the heart of my five year old, and I tame my flesh. A brother told me this morning, better to put them in the hands of Jesus, then in my hands. But I admit I really like God s civil system, it really makes sense to me, severe punishments for offenders. It is great until I hold myself up to His Holy Law, and understand how miserable I come up short, and when I take that approach, man, Jesus over Justice sure sounds better to me.

22 P a g e 22 So next Justice is mediated out to the blasphemer, and all blasphemers after him will think twice about acting out in anger against the God they should fear. 23 Then Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they took outside the camp him who had cursed, and stoned him with stones. So the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses. So they obey God, and case law is made here. So this chapter we saw instructions for three holy things, the holy oil, the holy bread, and God s Holy Name. Next chapter we will continue the cycle of consecrated seasons, and will expand on the principle of Sabbath rest to seven-year periods, and to that which follows the completion of seven seven-year cycles, the 50 th year the year of Jubilee. This is a fascinating chapter, some have even claimed this year to be a Jubilee year, but that is almost impossible to know beyond speculation.

23 In fact, there is no record of ancient Israel ever celebrating either of these cycles. They were penalized severely for not trusting God in these ordinances and resting and relying on Him. So let us get into it. The Sabbath of the Seventh Year(Deut. 15:1-11) P a g e 23 25:1 And the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. 3 Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; 4 but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. 5 What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land. 6 And the Sabbath produce of the land shall be food for you: for you, your male and female servants, your hired man, and the stranger who

24 P a g e 24 dwells with you, 7 for your livestock and the beasts that are in your land all its produce shall be for food. This law was prospective; it would be established and practiced in the land of Canaan. This seventh year was to be a sacred season. Their weekly Sabbath recognized God as Creator of the world, as God rested on the seventh day so were they to rest. This Sabbatical year recognized God as the Lord and Owner of the Land. There was to be no agriculture work done this year, whatever grew naturally was for the community. This would remind the Jews that they were only stewards of what God had entrusted them. This was a year of letting the land rest, the hustle and bustle of the working Hebrew came to a halt as they focused on the Lord, and acknowledged that everything came from Him.

25 P a g e 25 Now this would be an act of faith for the fervent tiller of the land, as they had to withdraw from all efforts to get a bountiful crop that year. The people and the farm animals as well as the land would find a year of refreshment. Now this was only a Sabbath rest from the agriculture labors. Of course if a structure needed repairs or other routine tasks that would be okay. But no harvesting, plowing, or sowing was to be done. Every seventh year, poor and rich alike were placed on an equal plane, as God provided without the toil of man s hands. As those who had shared with those who had not, there would be such a joyous freeing feeling within the community. Now it seems as though the people never had enough faith to obey God in this. They disobeyed God in this letting the land rest.

26 P a g e 26 You can imagine this nation of slaves, who only knew hard, driving work, and coming upon this seventh year, and trying to put the brakes on all of their hard work. Six years they have labored and toiled, worked diligently to see mature trees and active vineyards, they found satisfaction in the fruits of their labor. Solomon said in Eccl 5:18-20 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart. Man finds satisfaction and purpose in His labor, and for God to ask him to stop for a whole year, and reflect on where their provision comes from, it would be nothing short of torture for their flesh.

27 P a g e 27 But if they would have just obeyed, oh the satisfaction and rejoicing they would have found in reflecting and accrediting God for their gain. The peace that comes to a man when this revelation is gained to him is life changing. God did not save these Israelites to serve themselves, but to serve Him. You know Jess and I started out our young marriage together in poverty, I was determined to be the man who provided a nice life for her. I worked and toiled, but my own efforts always came up short of the life I desired for her. I remember having an epiphany one day, after toiling night and day and coming up short, my soul never content, always wanting to do more, gain more. I came to the realization that these hands were His, my labor was because of Him, He gave me the ability, and the wisdom to build and work.

28 P a g e 28 He was the source of my provision, and although my paycheck came from Foster s Framing at that time, my true boss was Jesus Christ. My motivation on the Jobsite went from wanting promotion, raises, and personal gain, to serving Jesus diligently. And I will tell you, when that revelation came over me, I had so much peace. And when Jess and I could continually acknowledge God as our source of blessing, well He sure did a lot better than I was doing. When we honored Him in our giving, when we gave honor to Him when increase came, it seemed He took us further than we ever could have gotten on our own. It took faith to stop all of our plotting and planning, and instead focus on faithfulness, and stewardship on our part. But the rewards were so great. I imagine if Israel just obeyed, they would have experienced untold blessing from the Lord.

29 P a g e 29 But because of their disobedience to this, well they found out, you cannot rob from God and get away with it. They ended up going into captivity as explained in 2 Chron 36:21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. This suggests 500 years of disobeying God s Sabbath years. They robbed themselves of spiritual blessings, and they failed to see the strength of the land. By working the land feverishly year after year, they lost the renewal of letting their crops, servants, and beasts rest. They also rejected the blessing that God promised from sharing with the needy. God would was robbed the glory due to Him, as the other nations would have testified of the blessings the nation of Israel would have received.

30 Listen Christian, do not ever take credit, or point to your own hard work, or mistake your abundance for anything but God s Blessing on your life. I have seen many take a quick way down by taking glory in themselves. God is the source of all of our provision. P a g e 30 Acknowledge Him in that all the days of your life, and it will go well with you. So next, we will read about the year of Jubilee. The Year of Jubilee 8 'And you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. 9 Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. 10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his

31 P a g e 31 possession, and each of you shall return to his family. 11 That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine. 12 For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field. So if the seventh year of rest was too much for the nation of Israel to trust God in, this Jubilee would even be more difficult, it would mean another year of rest after a Sabbath Year. This jubilant year that was proclaimed on the Day of Atonement by the trumpet blasts would be a sacred year. The fiftieth year was a year the slave population was emancipated, people were able to return to their properties given to them when God divided up the land. This year would be Holy to God and the Land was to remain idle. And we read further in verse 13

32 P a g e 'In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his possession. 14 And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor's hand, you shall not oppress one another. 15 According to the number of years after the Jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor, and according to the number of years of crops he shall sell to you. 16 According to the multitude of years you shall increase its price, and according to the fewer number of years you shall diminish its price; for he sells to you according to the number of the years of the crops. 17 Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God. Under the regulations for the year the land had to be returned to its original owners. This section maintains the concept that the land is the Lords, and He retains the true title deed to this land. The Jews are just tenants of God s Land. This reset would instill this in their minds.

33 P a g e 33 It would protect them from greed and oppressing the poor, once in every person s lifetime, they would get this reset to do things a little better next time. God demanded that business be done fairly and land sold at a reasonable price depending on the years until Jubilee. The cost would be proportionate to the balance of time remaining in the forty-nine year cycle. So we do not see the outright greed associated with capitalism, or the outright enslavement of the people in socialism, God has a balance between both, as we see often throughout His law. Next we read Provisions for the Seventh Year 18 'So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety. 19 Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety. 20 'And if you say, "What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our

34 P a g e 34 produce?" 21 Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years. 22 And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest. Again we have God s promises if they would simply trust and obey. God would more than provide for the 3 years of waiting for their crop to come in. God would provide a larger harvest, and they could just simply rest in Him. This was clearly a time for faith in God s ability to provide. It was also a time for those poor and those who were indebted to others to have a new beginning. Next we read Redemption of Property 23 'The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.

35 24 And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land. P a g e 'If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold. 26 Or if the man has no one to redeem it, but he himself becomes able to redeem it, 27 then let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession. 28 But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession. 29 'If a man sells a house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year he may redeem it. 30 But if it is not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house in the walled city shall belong permanently to him who bought it, throughout his generations. It shall not be released in the Jubilee. 31 However the houses of

36 P a g e 36 villages which have no wall around them shall be counted as the fields of the country. They may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the Jubilee. 32 Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, and the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time. 33 And if a man purchases a house from the Levites, then the house that was sold in the city of his possession shall be released in the Jubilee; for the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. 34 But the field of the common-land of their cities may not be sold, for it is their perpetual possession. So we see a couple things here regarding the redemption of the land. If a difficult trial came upon a landowner, and he was forced to sell his inheritance, a wealthy relative could redeem it for him back to the family name. Also if fate had changed for the man, he could repurchase his own land back, and the cost of redemption was determined by the length of time the holdings have been under someone else s control.

37 P a g e 37 If they could not afford to redeem their property, they had to wait until the jubilee year, and by law, it would revert back. This did not apply to a property in a walled city, which the former owner only had a year to redeem. These houses within walled city would be more costly, because of the security they offered, who would want to spend so much money and invest into a home that would simply go back to the original owner at jubilee. This was a more permanent deal, plus no farm land would not be involved in the purchase. Another exception here was for the Levites, who had a permanent right to redemption, since his home was his perpetual possession. Remember the Levites will not have an inheritance, God is their inheritance, and their provision comes from the people. Now in the case a Levite sells his possession to another Levite, since they are the same tribe, there is provision

38 P a g e 38 here for the property to return to the original owner in the jubilee year. Next we read Lending to the Poor 35 'If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. 36 Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you. 37 You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit. 38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God. We see here God s standard of loving your neighbor as yourself. The concept God is trying to instill in them is that they are brothers and sisters and responsible for one another s well-being. And we see here even interest or profit made off another s need was prohibited.

39 P a g e 39 Again we see the middle ground between capitalism and socialism as God does not allow any exploitation of the needy. God does not condemn a rich man who has been rewarded by the fruit of his labor, but the wealthy Israelite must remember it was God who freed them from Egypt and gave them the opportunity in the promise land. They needed to be just as generous. Next we read The Law Concerning Slavery 39 'And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave. 40 As a hired servant and a sojourner he shall be with you, and shall serve you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 And then he shall depart from you he and his children with him and shall return to his own family. He shall return to the possession of his fathers. 42 For they are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not

40 P a g e 40 be sold as slaves. 43 You shall not rule over him with rigor, but you shall fear your God. 44 And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. 45 Moreover you may buy the children of the strangers who dwell among you, and their families who are with you, which they beget in your land; and they shall become your property. 46 And you may take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them as a possession; they shall be your permanent slaves. But regarding your brethren, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with rigor. 47 'Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger's family, 48 after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49 or his uncle or his uncle's son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may

41 P a g e 41 redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself. 50 Thus he shall reckon with him who bought him: The price of his release shall be according to the number of years, from the year that he was sold to him until the Year of Jubilee; it shall be according to the time of a hired servant for him. 51 If there are still many years remaining, according to them he shall repay the price of his redemption from the money with which he was bought. 52 And if there remain but a few years until the Year of Jubilee, then he shall reckon with him, and according to his years he shall repay him the price of his redemption. 53 He shall be with him as a yearly hired servant, and he shall not rule with rigor over him in your sight. 54 And if he is not redeemed in these years, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee he and his children with him. 55 For the children of Israel are servants to Me; they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Now today the Bible is criticized for its advocating of slavery.

42 But God never advocates for slavery anywhere in scripture. Here for the first time in history God lays out protection for slaves. P a g e 42 Slaves were treated with barbarity and extreme cruelty in the surrounding civilizations, Israel would stand out once again as a light among a dark system around them. Now on the other extreme, throughout history these verses have been used to prove it was biblical and right to own slaves. Both extremes are wrong, God is making this horrible condition here more humane. The Jews even had to treat their foreign slaves with decency, in fact, if a Gentile slave ever acquired enough money to free themselves they could be freed. Jewish slaves could only be enslaved for six years and had to be released on the Sabbath Year. But never before in civilization was there any kind of regulation for slavery.

43 P a g e 43 God is not condoning slavery here, but He is controlling it. Even in the New Testament, at a time when around 60 million were enslaved in the Roman Empire, neither Jesus or Paul ever spoke against the evils of slavery, yet they preached a message of salvation to individuals. And History would tell you that it was through these saved individuals that slavery was finally abolished. Imagine if the early church immediately started out a campaign against slavery, they would have been marked as another political group in Rome. And the gospel would have lost its effectiveness. Yet as more and more people came to faith in Jesus Christ, slowly the captives were set free. God changes societies gradually through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of God s Word. But here in Israel, slavery was regulated first, freedom came later with the gospel of Grace. We see here something interesting in verses

44 P a g e 44 If a Jew was enslaved by a Gentile, he could be redeemed by a kinsman or relative who was wealthy enough to purchase him back. Notice even the stranger or alien within Israel had to obey the Law of Moses. Now again the price was determined here by the time that was left until the next Jubilee. And if the slave was not redeemed at Jubilee he and his family were released and given a second chance. Pastor Jacob on Sunday mentioned the story of Ruth, and in that book there is a wonderful picture of this law played out. Boaz redeemed both Ruth and her inheritance and married her. Of course, this picture of a kinsman redeemer is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Who made Himself in the likeness of humanity, he became one of us, that He might give Himself as the redemption price that we might be set free.

45 P a g e 45 Jesus was the only One qualified to redeem humanity and when we put our faith in Him He sets us Free. For whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Now it is unfortunate the Jews never obeyed the Laws given in this section. They were too selfish and greedy and it brought ruin to their economic system. God promised blessing if they obeyed, and they instead trusted in their own abilities. This is such a sad story and history given to us, for an example. Understand this tonight; God is concerned with the resources He entrusts to us. He is very concerned how we do business, and treat one another. God will judge those who exploit others for their own gain.

46 P a g e 46 In our system, the rich exploit the poor for their own gain, and the poor exploit the taxpayer for their own gain. Both are guilty of greed. 1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. God would have us love one another and stop the usury. So the message to rich and poor tonight is this James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well May we be guilty of love above all else. In this we will shine as a city set on a hill in these last days. We will be a witness and testimony to the One True God who is Lord of our life. Love church, look out for the interests of others. That s the message tonight.

47 P a g e 47 Well there is a lot going in the world tonight, many are anxious, many are concerned, please come up for prayer tonight if you are here with any burdens tonight. Next week we finish this Book Lord willing.