In this chapter we continue studying the book of Leviticus. In this chapter laws regarding the Sabbath Year are given. The people are told to let the land rest every 7th year.

For six years they would sow and reap the land but on the 7th year the land had to rest. They could not plant or reap.

Websters says to reap means to cut grain with a sickle, to clear a crop by reaping.

The AHLB says, reap means to sever by cutting short, such as the reaping of an harvest where stalks are made short or small, to be served at the stalks.

Reaping destroyed the plant and God did not want the plants destroyed because He wanted the produce to be gathered by the poor in the land throughout the harvest season.

While those with means would eat from what they had stored.

The laws for the year of Jubilee were also given. The Jubilee occurred every 50 years. And during the year of Jubilee, slaves and servants were released and returned to their family and property was returned to the original owner.

God told them the land was his and they were only servants or sojourners dwelling with Him. And that he wanted the people and the land granted redemption.

If someone fell on hard times and had to sell their land. They should have a chance to get it back. He did not want certain people amassing land and wealth for their families at the expense of others.

Why should generations suffer due to unfortunate circumstances that required a parent or grandparent to sell their land.

If the Owner could not acquire the money to buy back the land or if they didn’t have a relative to buy back the land. The land was automatically released during the year of Jubilee.

They were also told not to charge interest on their loans or sell food for increase.

They were not to markup food prices to get rich. People needed to eat. Why would they oppress others by marking up food prices to increase their own wealth?

So twice they were told not to oppress each other in those ways.

We note that the Year of Jubilee is also referred to as the Acceptable Year of the Lord. It pointed to the coming of Christ and the work he would do as a Kinsmen Redeemer.

He would release his people from the one’s they had sold themselves to and restore the land back to its original owners.

This has been done spiritually but one day, when Christ returns, the earth and her people, will finally celebrate the Jubilee.

Strongs says, Jubilee means, clamor, that is, acclamation of joy, rejoicing, shouting.

It was a day of celebration. The 50th year was holy and all the inhabitants of the land were set free.

And it all began on the Day of Atonement.

All those who had lost land to creditors, or sold themselves into slavery to pay off debts or had become servants as a penalty for a crime were set free on the day of atonement.

So Jesus said in Luke chapter 4 verses 18 through 21.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.