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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise I praise you today for being the God of the Jubilee. When Jesus quoted Isaiah—“He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives”—He was invoking the idea of the Jubilee year, a year where the trumpet was blown to proclaim liberty throughout the land (Lev 25:9–10). I worship you as the God who set me free from the chains of sin, and I magnify your name, which is above all other names! Today in Your Word Today you told me about the instructions you gave Moses concerning the oil for the lampstand and the bread of the Presence. Although the lampstand and bread served a practical purpose (they provided light for the Holy Place and food for the priests), they also testified to your continual presence among the people. The daily maintenance of these items was an expression of the community’s commitment to serve you. The light and bread were also symbolic of Jesus who said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5), and “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 48). Through Christ, I am privileged to partake of your light and provision! You also told me about a man who blasphemed your name and cursed you. The man was half Egyptian and half Israelite, and the people weren’t sure what to do with him. You commanded them to stone him, indicating how seriously you take the misuse of your name (cf. Matt 6:9). The penalty also made it clear that justice applied equally to all within Israel’s legal borders (Lev 24:10b). Your statements concerning murder and violence (Lev 24:17–21) teach me that physical assault is analogous to blasphemy, for it is an attack on your image in man (animals were not made in your image; Lev 24:21). You also told me about the year of Jubilee, a year in which all land and village homes were returned to their original tribal owners, and all indentured Israelites were returned to the land of their inheritance. It emphasized that all things, especially the land, belong to you, and that we are to treat the land and others as you have commanded. Reflection You told the people, “You shall not rule over him [a fellow Israelite] with severity, but [you] are to revere your God” (Lev 25:43 NASB). Do I treat fellow Christians who are under my authority with the respect they are due as your children? (cf. Lev 25:55). Request Father, give me a heart of love toward my neighbor. Help me to treat others the way I would want to be treated if I were in their place. Thanksgiving Thank you for the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, my Savior! He “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Tit 2:14). In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Blow Ye the Trumpet, Blow!” by Charles Wesley. Meditation Verse: Leviticus 24:16. |