IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LAND

SERIES: 2017 - The Year of Promise

“It’s All About the Land”

RF, February 19, 2017

I love reading the Old Testament!  It is filled with amazing, and sometimes, puzzling stories.  As you read the Old Testament many themes emerge. 

The most important is the Messiah, Jesus, who would come and be the sacrificial Lamb for all eternity.  This is the key theme in all of Scripture.

Then there is the story of Israel, God’s Chosen People, and how their relationship with God develops and ebbs and flows throughout the pages of the OT.  This theme teaches us so much.

1 Corinthians 10:6–11 (NKJV) Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. ⁷And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” ⁸Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; ⁹nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; ¹⁰nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. ¹¹Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Another theme is the narrative of the Promised Land.  Much of the Old Testament is concerned with the relationship of the people of God to the Land of Promise.  It is key to the blessing ofGod in their lives.

Isaiah 1:18–20 (NKJV) “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. ¹⁹If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; ²⁰But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

  

Land was important to an agrarian culture.  Land meant wealth, subsistence, inheritance.  Every tribe and family was given an inheritance in the Promised Land, except for the tribe of Levi (I’ll explain why in a later message).  The land was important and was a perpetual inheritance.

The land really belonged to God and the Israelites were the stewards.

Leviticus 25:23 (NKJV) The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.

They had responsibilities to care for the land. For instance, the land must be rested every seven years. This was called the Sabbatical year.

This was so important to God that if the people didn't do it, God would exact it!

Leviticus 26:33-35 (NKJV) I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste. Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land; then the land shall rest and enjoy its sabbaths. As long as it lies desolate it shall rest— for the time it did not rest on your sabbaths when you dwelt in it.

This was the cause of the Babylonian captivity. For 490 years, they had not given rest to the land: 70 Sabbatical years. So, God put them in captivity in Babylon for 70 years!

Several things happened during the Sabbatical year:

1. The land had rest. The people ate of the abundance of the harvest and the poor gleaned from the resting land.

2. Slaves were freed. This included indentured servants who had been sold to pay off debt.

3. All debts were canceled.

Can we see the beautiful picture of the land as our spiritual blessings in Christ?

1.     We rest in the finished work of Christ!

Hebrews 4:9-10 (NKJV) There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

2.     We are free from our slavery to sin. Even if it is our fault!

Romans 6:6 (NKJV) Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

3.     All our sin debt is canceled!

Colossians 2:13-14 (NKJV) And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

But wait… There is even a greater truth and a more compelling picture!

After seven Sabbatical years, there was a very special year, the 50^th year, the Year of Jubilee!  Not only would all the things of the Sabbatical Year happen, some other very important things would occur.

Leviticus 25:10 (NKJV) 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 possession, and each of you shall return to his family.

1.     Proclaim liberty throughout the land.

Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Every 50 years you got your freedom back!

2.     Return to your possessions.

Isaiah 61:2-3 (NKJV) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Every 50 years you got your land back! No matter the reason why you lost it!

3.     Return to your family.

Isaiah 61:4 (NKJV) And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.

Every 50 years you got your family back!

This was the proclamation Jesus made when He started his public ministry.

Luke 4:16-21 (NKJV) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus was saying, “You don’t have to wait 50 years. Jubilee is here now, today!  He is shouting the same thing to us today!  Today is the day to get your liberty back! Today is the day to get the property back the devil stole from you or that you gave away through sin or disobedience. Today is the day to get your family back!

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV) For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Now let me add one more thing… There is not total agreement among all scholars, but many believe that this year, 2017, is a “Year of Jubilee” on the Jewish Calendar! What does that mean for us? Just a special reminder that this is the “Year of Promise” and God wants to restore to you what the enemy has stolen. Reach out and take it!